Music director sues for unfair dismissal
OrchestrasRosemary Thompson, who was fired last week after 16 years as music director of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, has briefed lawyers to sue for unfair dismissal.
She says she was dismissed over the engagement of ‘guest artists representing Indigenous cultures and improvisatory traditions outside the OSO’s classical roots, and are without merit.’
Should make an interesting day in court.
The OSO is a Canadian ensemble based in Kelowna, British Columbia… The orchestra plays throughout the Okanagan valley, in Kelowna, Penticton and Vernon.
The decline of art begins with the validation of mediocrity.
Your message is absolutely correct. Thank you from a professional Classical musician fighting for the maintenance of standards.
Finally, somebody standing up. Every classical institution across North America is being compromised and victimized by having non-western cultural influences thrown upon it, like it has a gun to its head. When was the last time you saw anyone from the Netherlands on an African continental drumming tribe? When was the last time, anyone gave a second glance at football, basketball, baseball, with the same thought of skin color/ethnic equality? I hope she fights, and I hope she wins. Get this crap off of our concert stages immediately.
Perfectly put. Thank you.
I’d like to watch you trying to convince Yo-Yo Ma that the Arabic, Persian, North African, Mongolian, and other indigenous musics he features as part of his ongoing musical endeavor “The Silk Road Project” (which has been selling out the world’s greatest concert halls for over a decade) is “crap” and dragging down cultural standards. Hundreds of western-style classical composers, incl, Handel, Mozart, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Ravel, have incorporated “indigenous” or improvisatory music into their works over the centuries, which apparently isn’t objectionable to Ms. Thompson’s supporters. Does this mean such music is objectionable only when performed by indigenous people?
Sorry, but the NFL has been giving a “second glance” to team hiring practices for years in an effort to increase Black representation in front office and coaching staff. Not a good comparison.
I think you’ll find, looking into it, that she was the one promoting indigenous music, as in her last concert, which contained elements of rap, beatboxing, and throat singing
People only covet that which they regard as better than they’ve got.
Where is the story? Is she objecting to using government grant money that is tied to including programming of the type she and her very conservative area do not appreciate? I regularly attend choral concerts that have such programming in Vancouver. The audiences seem appreciative and I find that with competent program notes and interpretation it enhances the experience.
The dismissal is somehow related to the concert with indigenous music and performers, but no mention anywhere that Rosemary Thomson objected to it. The review indicates the opposite: https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/458522/Beatboxing-throat-singing-and-Indigenous-songsnot-your-typical-symphony-concert
Perhaps objections came from others?!
What is the real story of her being “dismnissied”? The newspaper report said it was ‘allegations’ relating to a recent concert that led to her firing, and it is these ‘allegations’ that are without merit, not the programming of indigenous and improvisatory performers, which she, according to other news stories, supported and enjoyed.
I don’t disagree with the comment about mediocrity. However, I have been a professional classical musician for more than 40 years (multiple advanced degrees) and I’ve heard plenty of mediocrity in my life which is intended to represent the Western Musical tradition. I support DEI endeavors to a large degree. However without knowing more facts, and granted we know nothing from this, my questions would be more about process than about the music/artists that was/were included. No musical director of any organiz ation can function autonomously. There must be a board, and surely there were discussions about these things. Many things have a legitimate place in our artistic life. Rational people can agree on standards for inclusion.
Woke programming results in lower attendance, less sales, decline of the classical art form. And it is the music director’s responsibility to assure the organization thrives and not push a narrow, woke narrative that doesn’t fit in the classical music space. Period.
I bet there is much more to the story. Conductors don’t typically get sacked just for programming. Would love to know what went on behind the scenes!
I’m just curious as to why Western musicians making use of traditions from other cultures is “cultural appropriation” or (LOL) “colonization,” but when it takes place in the opposite direction it’s “diversity.”
Oooo…do I smell white priviledge here? I embrace new music in the concert halls today. And I still love Beethoven and Schubert too! Yo-yo Ma’s Silk Road Project is a beautiful project that I’ve followed for years!! Plenty of room at the table for many musical influences to be represented!