Bellevue Philharmonic Director is Out
The fat lady appears to be singing for the Bellevue Philharmonic. What started as an ugly labor fight spiraled into a tanking budget, poor ticket sales and canceled concerts. Yesterday the Seattle Times reported that Executive Director Jennifer McCausland will step down in mid-May. Philharmonic Board Chair Dale Miller told the Times that the group will seek an interim director, but possibly not until next fall. 
This comes on the heels of a press release the Philharmonic sent out last week announcing their final concert on May 17. At that concert, the release states, the ensemble "bids adieu to Maestro Kajima and other dear friends in a emotional and uplifting concert featuring great music on Sunday, May 17th."
Sounds a little more like a final curtain than a season finale.
Update after the jump:
The announcement of McCausland's exit coincides with a meeting held last Friday between the Board and the local affiliate of the American Federation of Musicians. Union president Motter Snell says the Board, which originally backed McCausland's refusal to negotiate with the musicians as a union, changed it's tune about a month ago when a committee representing the musicians said the only way they would be willing to participate in the season next year is under a collective bargaining agreement.
Miller says the Board was willing to work with a Union, but with the personality conflicts last year and the tough financial situation (he says board members were digging into their own pockets at times to make payroll) that just didn't seem plausible. But over the last few months, he says, the musicians in particular have shown a willingness to find ways to improve the financial situation--they're not playing for compensation at the May 17 concert in hopes of bolstering the Philharmonic's budget for next season. Miller sees that as a sign of good faith and says it's part of the reason the Board started negotiating with Snell's union.
As to surviving next season, he says, the organization moved its executive offices to cut costs and is planning only three of the expensive masterworks concerts along with a pops concert and the annual Messiah. He's also going before the Bellevue City Council tonight to seek additional funding from the city.
Snell says she's been encouraged by the process so far. Another meeting with the board to discuss contract specifics is scheduled for Wednesday. "It's very, very exciting," she adds.
7 comment(s)
Experienced Musician says:
Everyone is working very hard to revive the Bellevue Philharmonic--the musicians, the union and yes, the board. Now that the curtain has gone down on Jennifer McCausland and her side kick John Kim and their unprofessional antics, the curtain can at last go up on the orchestra!
Posted On: Monday, Apr. 27 2009 @ 9:46PM
t dodd says:
I really don't see how you get "Sounds a little more like a final curtain than a season finale" from this press release. This orchestra has come very close to disappearing this year, but as "Experienced Musician says: Everyone is working very hard to revive the Bellevue Philharmonic", and any negative publicity could hurt us. Please see this for what it is, an honest attempt by the musicians, board, and union to work together to keep this orchestra that has been a part of the arts in Bellevue for 40 years alive!
Posted On: Monday, Apr. 27 2009 @ 10:06PM
DHM says:
Bravo! It's nice to see that the conniving witch is finally gone. Her and her nepotistic/incompetent daughter will not be missed. How they ever managed to wrangle their way into power, give themselves massive salaries, and suck the reserves of the BPO dry while the musicians remain unpaid (sometimes months after a gig) remains a complete mystery to me. Here's to hoping they never resurface in the local music community again.
Posted On: Tuesday, Apr. 28 2009 @ 11:16AM
DHM says:
Bravo! It's nice to see that the conniving witch is finally gone. Her and her nepotistic/incompetent daughter will not be missed. How they ever managed to wrangle their way into power, give themselves massive salaries, and suck the reserves of the BPO dry while the musicians remain unpaid (sometimes months after a gig) remains a complete mystery to me. Here's to hoping they never resurface in the local music community again.
Posted On: Tuesday, Apr. 28 2009 @ 11:43AM
DHM says:
Bravo! It's nice to see that the conniving witch is finally gone. Her and her nepotistic/incompetent daughter will not be missed. How they ever managed to wrangle their way into power, give themselves massive salaries, and suck the reserves of the BPO dry while the musicians remain unpaid (sometimes months after a gig) remains a complete mystery to me. Here's to hoping they never resurface in the local music community again.
Posted On: Tuesday, Apr. 28 2009 @ 11:43AM
t dodd says:
I would like to ask that my friends and colleagues please not mention anyone by name or implication in a negative manner. It could easily make the members of the orchestra look bad, and we don’t need that. Whatever we think about this orchestra season's management, it's now over and we can be happy to move forward. I personally want the community to see us as the good guys for all the work WE are doing in conjunction with the board to try to make this orchestra work.
Posted On: Tuesday, Apr. 28 2009 @ 1:43PM
SRR says:
Carlos is smiling! Great job gentlemen and ladies of the BPO. I know that he would have applauded your efforts and joined in your cause. Before he passed away he spoke with great passion about the orchestra. You have kept it alive; for him, and for the community.
Posted On: Tuesday, Apr. 28 2009 @ 6:40PM