Biz news: Young Concert Artists fires its talent management
NewsThe New York-based non-profit promotion agency for young musicians has dismissed Monica Felkel, director of artist management.
No reason.
She’s been there 32 years.
The company’s president Daniel Kellogg succeeded the founder Susan Wadsworth two years ago. Kellogg was Young Concert Artists Composer-in-Residence in 2002.
There is just one manager left to look after 25 artists.
What???? Monica is an institution and knows that organization backwards and forwards. What a shame but I’m sure another company will scoop her up in no time.
She is a wonderful professional, always a pleasure to work with. This is very strange!
Oh my goodness, why? My orchestra booked YCA artists through Monica for almost 30 years. She was a paragon of integrity whose judgment and opinion I knew I could trust.
I dislike this organization very much…. Anyone who thinks they can accurate judge 2+ hours of offered rep in a 10 minute audition is seriously misguided.
Maybe they want someone who is “diverse.” It’s really sad if this is the case. She capably has led that organization for decades, now to be tossed out? Experience is diverse, just nobody cares to consider that. So is age, the forgotten factor in all this diversity/inclusion stuff.
Monica is a real pro and wonderful to her artists and the presenters she works with. This is a terrible, terrible loss for the artists and for YCA.
Wow, another major transition in our sandbox. If not a voluntary departure I am saddened as Monica is among the most open, generous contributors to the management field, having shepherded scores of young artists through the critical initial years towards a sustained career. I am sure if she wants there will be many opportunities to ply her deep experience and talent.
Let’s face it, boards do little and destroy a lot. YCA board made a huge mistake when they chose this guy over who should have been the natural successor to Susan Wadsworth for whom YCA was her life. This guy, I predict will kill this incredible organization in NO TIME! Pathetic! He knows nothing about YCA, and clearly doesn’t want to learn. He shouldn’t be able to fire at his whim! He should be fired. #FireKeloggSaveYCA
This is a truly difficult one to explain, but will surely not add much to the festive atmosphere of the upcoming YCA 60th Anniversary Gala in October.
One gets very tired of seeing non-profit Boards hire people to be in charge who don’t know what they’re doing. As long as the arrogance level matches the Board members’, they buy it. Of course, since Boards no longer have any clue what their organizations do, I suppose it’s understandable that they can’t identify good leaders.
We loved working with Monica as YCA artists back in the 90’s. She was the consummate professional and a caring, warm-hearted agent to young musicians. I’m very disappointed in YCA.