Every three years the American Federation of Musicians convenes to hold elections of officers, enact legislation and create policy for our entire union. This June 19th the 103rd AFM Convention will meet in Ottawa, Canada. I will be leading our Local 47 delegation, along with Secretary/Treasurer and Delegate Gail Kruvand, Delegates Meredith Snow and Allison Allport, and, serving as an International Executive Board Officer, Vice President John Acosta. Diana Wade will be participating as a Delegate from the Recording Musicians Association, alongside the delegates from all of the AFM Player Conferences.

One thing musicians around Los Angeles really need to hear more about is health care in our union. As a guitar player and having worked in the trenches myself, I can say straight up — what Local 47 offers is pretty rare in this business. In most freelance music situations, health care feels almost impossible unless you’re in a major orchestra or working full-time, which is a rarity these days. But here at Local 47, musicians can become eligible for insurance with roughly $700 in contributions. That’s actually attainable for real working players — whether you’re teaching music, gigging in clubs, working as a side musician, playing church gigs, doing studio sessions, or performing with one of the many community orchestras in our jurisdiction.

Timothy Snyder, author of “On Tyranny, Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century” wrote about defending our political order from the threats of authoritarianism, which is on the rise not only in the United States but across the globe. 

Protecting our democratic freedoms and institutions requires active participation. We cannot rely on others to vote and engage with the issues that challenge our future. Here in Los Angeles we saw firsthand how our elected officials, union members and social justice organizations stood up in the face of ICE raids which have been a part of our lives for a year this month. We’re all suffering from fatigue from the daily news cycle and overnight rants from the White House but please don’t let complacency rule. 

AFM Local 47 Organizing Director Eva Nevarez provides a June update on the union’s organizing and outreach efforts.

Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles’ Teaching Artists’ negotiations are underway.  After successfully organizing their unit with the support of AFM Local 47 and the AFM Organizing Department, over 120 Teaching Artists at YOLA received union recognition late last year. YOLA Teaching Artists bring music education to underserved schools in LA, developing students’ musical artistry and creating tomorrow’s orchestra professionals. This year, the unit’s stellar organizing committee gave way to an equally impressive bargaining committee. Proposals were (and continue to be) formulated, and now, discussions with the LA Philharmonic for a first contract are in progress. 

Photo: Maestro James Conlon and the LA Opera orchestra rehearsing for his final production, “The Magic Flute.” Photo credit: Cory Weaver.

Los Angeles Opera Music Director James Conlon, one of classical music’s most recognized and respected conductors today, has led the LA Opera for 20 of its 40 years since it was formed in 1986. He has been instrumental in elevating the LA Opera to the international status that it enjoys today. His tenure as Music Director with the institution will conclude at the end of this season, with him subsequently taking the title of conductor laureate. “The Magic Flute,” which is running until June 21, will be Conlon’s final production as Music Director with the LA Opera.

AFM Local 47 Member Spotlight 

AFM Local 47 member Alyssa Park is an internationally known violinist and has been appointed as the new concertmaster of the Los Angeles Opera. She has served as concertmaster for the New West Symphony since 2015 and has been the first violinist of the Lyris Quartet since 2008.  She has toured all over the world and appeared as soloist with major orchestras in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia.  She is the youngest prizewinner of the International Tchaikovsky Violin Competition and continues to champion new music having premiered dozens of works.  She is a recording artist under several labels and is also concertmaster for numerous composers for TV and Film. 

Local 47 had a chance to sit down with Alyssa and talk about her illustrious music career.

Many of you will have seen the email that Local 47 sent out on April 9 title Important Announcement Re: Theme Park Productions, Inc. Musicians came to us looking for their union’s protection, citing a lack of health care and pension contributions, the requirement to sign an abusive and far-reaching waiver, and, while hourly wages seemed high, the prospect of not getting paid right.

In just four months, a great deal of progress has been made when it comes to strengthening our Local’s resources, improving operations and expanding opportunities for members. It is a reminder that when we stay focused, motivated and creative, we can make some shizzle happen. A major focus has been increasing revenue from our building while also reducing expenses and making better use of our assets.

The current state of our Local reflects a dramatic transformation from our circumstances only one year ago.