 |
| Carolyn Kuan |
Statement From Carolyn Kuan, Music Director of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra:
I have always believed that orchestras exist to serve their communities. I have been tremendously grateful for the support, enthusiasm, and dedication of our audience, donors, and community over the past five years.
It has been a privilege to work with the Hartford Symphony musicians, who are not only tremendous artists, but are also passionate, caring and beautiful human beings--on whom I can depend and for whom, I can be there. Together, along with our incredibly dedicated staff, it has been an honor to make a difference in our community. Making a difference: that has been what drives us as an organization, and I have always believed that if we do the right thing — serve the community — support will come.
In the past five years, we brought awareness to issues of conservation and environment with "Life: A Journey through Time." When Governor Malloy talked about Connecticut having a greater presence in China, "Yellow River Cantata" brought the China Consulate General to our stage, and the news of Hartford Symphony's performances was broadcast throughout China. We actively seek to serve and collaborate with local organizations from The Wadsworth (Coney Island exhibit, Sunday serenades and a variety of other programming), Hartford Stage (A Midsummer Night's Dream), Hartford Chorale, Goodspeed Opera, Nutmeg Ballet, The Hartt School, University of Connecticut, Farmington High School, Arthur Murray Dance Studios and countless others. We perform masterworks as well as introduce world-class artists of unusual instruments such as sheng, koto, kamancheh, bagpipe, beatboxing, and more. In our desire to serve Hartford, Playing with Food was created in response to Mayor Segarra's call for more people to visit downtown restaurants.
In ways both big and small, and with impacts ranging from artistic to societal, Hartford Symphony makes a difference in our community. It is our highest aspiration to continue our service: we want to do more and we can do more.
But first we must resolve our present contract challenges.
Given the urgency of the situation, I want to personally recognize the substantial cuts being asked of the musicians of the HSO and offer publicly to share their sacrifice by reducing my salary commensurately. I had intended to do this privately, but I am hopeful that making this gesture public might help, in a small way, to resolve the present crisis.
I truly love this orchestra and this community, and hope all of us who care about Greater Hartford, culture, and a higher human spirit can now come together to help, and find a fair and workable solution.
Most of this statement is full of empty platitudes and the conductor obviously doesn't choose to take a stance one way or the other. But we read that Carolyn Kuan is willing to take a 40% pay cut to keep the music playing? Forgive my cynicism, but I'll believe it when I see (or hear) it.
I believe that she will take 40% pay cut, though she is making with salary and benefits well over $170,000 per year. This, while a "core" member of the orchestra is currently lucky to make $25,000. So each get 40% pay cut, it's still not exactly fair. And management, who does an execrable job, won't be touched!
ReplyDeleteI'll be surprised if they actually do take her up on her offer. I think the point was to put the entire burden on the musicians' shoulders, and that Steve Collins was hired largely for this purpose: to sit across the table and extract punitive cuts from people he should view as colleagues, brothers and sisters.
ReplyDeleteSomething in his career must have driven a wedge between himself and musicians.