News
LISTEN LIVE - WWFM-CLASSICAL MUSIC www.wwfm.org click on listen live. 3:00 pm August 7 and 14. (In the Lehigh Valley you can hear WWFM at 92.7 FM)
The ALLENTOWN BAND will be featured on WWFM, Clasical Music Station, Trenton, NJ. During the entire month of August, WWFM (Trenton) will play daily, two tracks from the recently released LIMITED EDITION of a double-CD recording of "A Retrospective- The Golden Age of the American Concert Band."David Osenberg, host of Ca...denza iinterviews Ronald Demkee, Conductor of the Allentown Band aired at 3:00 pm August 7 and 14. Complete information on the recording can be found on the band's website www.allentonwband.com
Covenant Brass to Perform for Opening Ceremonies of the PA AFL-CIO Community Services Institute
The Community Services Committee of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO is holding their 51st Community Services Institute at the Holiday Inn Express (9th & Hamilton Sts, Allentown) from July 18 - 22. Not only are we pleased that the event will occur in Allentown, but we are most pleased to announce that Local 45 musicians of the Covenant Brass will perform for the opening ceremonies. If you are interested in attending this multi-day Institute, please contact the Local 45 office (610-791-2921 or Local45@afm.org) for additional information.
Local 45 President El-Chaar Receives Diversity Award at AFM Convention
At the last AFM Convention, Local 45 was recognized for bringing diversity to the Local and more specifically, for electing more women to the board. This year, President Karen El-Chaar was honored as a semi-finalist for the AFM's Charles Walton Advocate Award for increased diversity activities and outreach towards youth.
Allentown Band Plays the Kennedy Center
The Allentown Band has toured Europe, performed in the famous Carnegie Hall and can now boast a performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Presented as the "showcase band" at the awards ceremony of the Washington International Music Festival (25 April 2010), the band played a wonderful array of selections. Whether it was the beautiful harp work of Sue Moll in Percy Grainger's "Colonial Song," the flawless flying fingers of former Philadelphia Orchestra principal trumpet Frank Kaderabek in Herbert Clark's "Carnival of Venice" or the gentle expressive oboe solo by Greg Hulse in John Philip Sousa's "Mars and Venus" (from Looking Upward) the audience was enthralled, entertained and thoroughly enthused. Clarinetist Steve Reisteter led the section in an exquisitely synchronized "mad dash" of a million notes in Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Jesters" while Frank Kaderabek superbly traded melodies with nine-year old trumpet wonder Geoffrey Gallante in "Trumpeter's Lullaby." Conductor Ron Demkee and the Allentown Band musicians are certainly excellent ambassadors for Allentown. How does one top this? Perhaps a Presidential inauguration...or...the Olympics? Stay tuned.
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Conductor Ron Demkee & the Allentown Band
Suspended
The following members have failed to pay their 2010 membership dues and, not having initiated the required procedure for reinstatement, are suspended from Local 45 effective 08 March 2010:
| Benjamin Aston |
Wendy Davis |
Michael Lorenz |
Michael Spadafora |
| Christina Bonavita |
Alexander Ference |
William Murnin |
Patrick Stanley |
| Elizabeth Boyer |
Dustin Hartman |
Michael Neel |
Christine Stehly |
| Michael Broschak |
|
Thomas Ovens |
Ken Sugihara |
| David Campbell |
Nicholas Krolak |
Rebecca Reichert |
Anne Wheeler |
| Karl Constantino |
Jessica Laubach |
Andrew Sak |
Caryn Widrick |
| Robert Czopoth |
Carl Lindner |
Brenda Simons |
Jason Zeidman |
To be reinstated, please contact Matt Cascioli at 610-791-2921. All members in good standing are hereby notified that they will violate AFM bylaws if they perform with any of the above-named persons.
Why Belong to the AFM?
Professional pride
AFM and local websites, access to on-line forms, contracts & links to music-related sites
Member directories
Booking and referral programs
AFM Employers' Pension Fund
Music Performance Fund
Collection and distribution of "new use" money
Partnership with Sound Exchange
Assistance with recording and broadcasting agreements
Negotiation and administration of Collective Bargaining Agreements
Equipment and liability insurance
International Musician and local newsletter
AFL-CIO Affiliation
Access to Union Privilege programs
Access to health and disability insurance
Legislative representation in Washington, DC
Access to credit cards with preferred rates
Discounts on computers, cell phones, cars and musical instruments
Organizing assistance
Historical Perspective: the American Federation of Musicians
While musicians know the many benefits of AFM membership, conversation rarely includes the origin of the “musicians union.” Here is a brief historical perspective on the organization.
- In the mid 1800s musicians in the United States began exploring ways to improve their professional lives.
- They formed Mutual Aid Societies to provide members with loans, financial assistance during illness or extended unemployment and death benefits. A number of these organizations became early unions serving various constituencies.
- In 1896, delegates from these organizations gathered at the invitation of AFL President Samuel Gompers to organize and charter a musicians’ trade union.
- A majority of the delegates voted to form the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) representing 3,000 musicians nationally. They resolved, “That any musician who receives pay for his musical services shall be considered a professional musician.”
- Within its first ten years, the AFM expanded to serve both the U.S. and Canada, organized 424 locals, and represented 45,000 musicians throughout North America.
Source: AFM publication “Interactive Officers Workshop 2009”
Dorothy "Dottie" Knauss
In January 2010 at age 103, Local 45 harpist Dorothy Knauss passed away. A stalwart in the local arts community, Dottie's achievements were endless. She entertained Allentown Symphony Orchestra audiences for thirty-two years, participated in the pit orchestra for Municipal Opera Company of Allentown theater productions for fifty-six years and impressed audiences both here and abroad during her sixty-seven year tenure with the Allentown Band. Dottie was a wonderful and talented individual, always willing to help and share her knowledge and love of music. Our most sincere condolences go out to herfamily and friends. Dottie will be sorely missed.
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