Oboe soloist Lara Wickes, Maestro Nir Kabaretti and the Santa Barbara Symphony to perform May 16 & 17
Composer Dan Redfeld will premiere “Arioso for Oboe, Percussion & Strings” for Santa Barbara Symphony’s final concert of the season, “Santa Barbara Symphony Presents: Porgy and Bess” on Saturday, May 16, 2015 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 17 at 3 p.m. The piece will be conducted by Maestro Nir Kabaretti featuring oboist Lara Wickes. Continue reading
#TBT time! Having met up with Tom Morello at last week’s May Day rally, this Throwback Thursday post is in honor of “The Nightwatchman.” This interview was originally published in the July 2011 AFM Local 47 Overture.
UNION TOWN EP:
Tom Morello – lead vocals, guitar, harmonica
Carl Restivo – bass, backing vocals
Eric Gardner – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Chris Joyner – piano, keyboards, backing vocals
Ed Roth – organ
Tom Morello is as well known for his heavy guitar riffs with Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, Street Sweeper Social Club and his solo acoustic act The Nightwatchman as he is for fervent political activism. Co-founder of the political group Axis of Justice, whose declared purpose is “to bring together musicians, fans of music, and grassroots political organizations to fight for social justice together,” Morello has championed causes ranging from immigration reform and ending war to abolishing torture and the death penalty. Inspired by the labor struggles in Wisconsin, his “Union Town” EP aims to invigorate listeners to stand up, get active and fight for the rights of workers, with 100% of proceeds from record sales going directly toward this cause. This interview by Linda A. Rapka. Continue reading
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 Dear Local 47 Members:
Unions are complicated, with diverse constituencies and interests. This is particularly true for the American Federation of Musicians, which represents musicians working in many different fields of employment. Local 47 stands as a local voice for Los Angeles’s rank-and-file musicians within the AFM. When musicians “go fi-core,” they are quitting the Union, and no longer accept Union representation. Fi-core is a rejection of wage standards, benefits, and protections for musicians, negotiated by fellow musicians backed by their Union representatives and ratified in a democratic process. When you go fi-core, you are turning your back on every musician who went before you, who stood up against injustice and poverty wages and whose efforts you benefit from today. A divided Union is exactly what will benefit the employers the most. When you go fi-core it hurts every other musician the Local must bargain on behalf of. Fraternally yours, If you have questions about what it really means to go fi-core, please feel welcome to contact me: 323.993.3181 |
Front Row: Dan Fornero (Tpt); David Mergen (Vc); Ken Wild (Bs); Jennifer Choi Fischer (Vln 1) Vladimir Polimatidi (Vln 2). 2nd Row: Mike Gonzalez (Key 1); Valerie Gebert (Assoc Cond/Key 2); Diane Gilbert (Vla); Patti Cloud (Fl); Larry Hughes (Cl).
“Cinderella” enjoyed a successful run at the Ahmanson Theatre March 17 through April 26. The musical was enhanced with the superb musicianship of a Local 47 musical ensemble put together by Center Theatre Group contractor Bob Payne.
Who else caught the incredible show? Let us know in the comments!
Overture Online: May 2015
NEW ISSUE OUT NOW – Read the Overture Online on your smartphone or tablet available from the App Store or Google Play.
While Overture Online is optimized for reading via the app versions, readers may also access the new issue on your web browser (must have flash enabled).
Hanging out with “Proud Union Thug,” longtime Local 47 member Tom Morello (The Nightwatchman, Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave).
Above: Diane Lauerman, John Acosta; below: Gary Lasley, Linda Rapka
Local 47 in solidarity with Raise the Wage, Fight For $15, Black Lives Matter, LA Progressive, the ACLU, and the immigrant rights movement that seeks the implementation of DACA and DAPA without delay!
Linda Rapka, Michael Ankney & Diane Lauerman carrying Old Glory all the way from Chinatown to City Hall!
Honorary Member
11/23/1925 – 4/2/2015
by Heather Gold, wife
Ralph R. Gold, M.D., affectionately aka “The Jazz Doc,” Honorary Local 47 Musicians’ Union Member since 2002, died April 2, 2015, in Rancho Mirage, CA. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Nov. 23, 1925, he began playing bass at L.A. High School and played with the L.A. All-City High-school Orchestra and was principal bassist with the Peter Merenblum California Youth Symphony two of his high-school years. After a stint in the Navy, he had dance bands all through his undergraduate years at UCLA and later at USC’s Keck School of Medicine, getting his M.D. in 1953. He also played two seasons with the Doctors’ Symphony. He had an equal passion for running and was a cross-country runner starting in high-school, also at UCLA, and while there, was a record-holding half-miler. Continue reading
Life Member. French Horn
(8/8/1921 – 12/7/2014)
by the Acton family
Raymond Denny Acton, an accomplished French horn player and manufacturing engineer has passed away at 93. Ray was born in Roundup, Montana and was the youngest of four children. Ray was very passionate about music and developed a love for the French horn at a very young age playing in his elementary school band in Phoenix. After moving to Hollywood, he continued playing the French horn at Fairfax High School. Continue reading
Life Member. Vibraphone
5/16/1916 – 7/13/2014
By Jim Bigsby, nephew
Bob was born in Everett, WA, and grew up in Tacoma, WA, where he often had the lead role in Stadium High School’s musicals. In the summer of 1936 he drove his little Austin 1,500 miles south carrying his vibes on its back in wooden cases built by his father. Continue reading
In Memoriam
Catherine Graff MacLaughlin
Life Member. Cello
7/23/1937 – 5/3/2014
Survived by spouse
Elliot W. Franks
Life Member. Drum Set
11/14/1938 – 6/22/2014
Survived by brother & sister
Harry A. Hyams
Life Member. Viola
5/24/1917 – 1/24/2015
Survived by spouse & child Continue reading