2024 ICSOM Conference: Making Our Workplaces Safer for All

October 1, 2024

Laura Ross  -  

This year’s International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM) Conference, hosted by the musicians of the Oregon Symphony and Local 99 (Portland, OR), was held at the historic Benson Portland Hotel, August 21-24.

Wednesday morning began with the traditional new delegate breakfast. It included a number of additional alternate delegates and orchestra members who were encouraged to attend the conference because of the subject matter being addressed. This 62nd annual ICSOM conference was
ICSOM Chair Keith Carrick’s (Local 104/Utah Symphony) first since assuming office. Much of the conference agenda was dedicated to internal organizing and a workshop on sexual abuse with the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN).

The general session began with the orchestra roll call, introduction of guests, and welcome remarks from our hosts: Oregon Symphony ICSOM Delegate Zach Galatis of Local 99, Local 99 President Dana Rokosny, and Oregon Symphony Music Director David Danzmayr and President and CEO Isaac Thompson. These were followed by reports from ICSOM Secretary Laura Ross (Local 257/Nashville Symphony), Treasurer Peter de Boor (Local 161-710/Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra), and Senza Sordino Editor Mike Muszynski (Local 3/Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra). Paul Austin (Local 56/Grand Rapids Symphony) gave his final address as ICSOM president as he prepared to step down after the conference, and Carrick delivered his first address as ICSOM chair.

AFM President Tino Gagliardi gave a brief address and invited AFM Vice President from Canada Allistair Elliott to offer comments. Players Conferences Council leadership held a moderated panel discussion. Attendees heard from Sarina Roher, president of the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals and secretary-treasurer of the Oregon AFL-CIO, who shared her experiences in a presentation entitled “Organizing Victories: Lessons Learned from a Portland Union Leader.” The mixer that evening was hosted by Local 99 and was held at the Oregon Symphony’s new event space.

On Thursday morning, attendees heard an informative presentation by ICSOM Counsel Kevin Case of Local 10-208 (Chicago, IL) regarding individually negotiated overscale. Then, he spoke about discipline, sexual harassment, just cause termination, and employer and union obligations in providing a safe workplace.

Delegates broke into four orchestra budget size groups during lunch. Various ICSOM reports followed, along with Symphonic Services Division (SSD) Director Rochelle Skolnick’s presentation, entitled “Artistry and Accommodation: Assisting Colleagues at the Intersection of Artistic Discipline and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).” SSD’s Wage Chart Coordinator Laurence Hofmann discussed changes to the wage charts.

Over two days, on Thursday and Friday, Sarah Hughes and Mark Brenner of Labor Notes, a nonprofit media and organizing project, presented two sessions about organizing the workplace. Our closed town hall sessions for delegates, alternate delegates, and the governing board, were also held over two days, following dinner on Thursday evening, and then on Friday afternoon.

Friday morning began with member at-large speeches. Nicole Jordan (Local 77/Philadelphia Orchestra) was elected as ICSOM president by acclamation on Thursday, and Ross was reelected as ICSOM secretary, a position she has held since 2002. After seven ballots, Rebecca Matayoshi (Local 677/Hawai‘i Symphony) and Sharon Yamada (Local 802/New York Philharmonic) were elected to two-year terms as members at-large, and Jack Latta (Local 56/Grand Rapids Symphony) was elected to a one-year term as member at-large. Following the second Labor Notes presentation and a member at-large/delegate luncheon, Jessica Schmidt of Orchestrate Inclusion, spoke about “Building Belonging in Orchestra Settings.”

On Saturday morning, conference attendees participated in a three-hour workshop led by RAINN Director of Counseling Services Jessica St. Germaine and Senior Consultant Rebecca Cásarez. The workshop was designed to help attendees understand the complexities of sexual misconduct and to examine the factors that contribute to and influence their understanding of what people go through. Because our employers are responsible for ensuring we have a safe workplace, we hope orchestra committees will work with their employers to identify meaningful training for all their employees.

Delegates passed amendments to the ICSOM Bylaws to add a $1,000 payment to members at-large (which will require ratification by the majority of ICSOM member orchestras by November 22); to allow the governing board to determine the order of the conference agenda; and to edit the ICSOM Bylaws, replacing gendered pronouns with nongendered pronouns. Additionally, delegates passed resolutions to support and provide resources for survivors of sexual assault and harassment in our member orchestras and to encourage the elimination of all forms of sexual assault; to increase support for mass transit; to remember former Utah Symphony member Frances Darger; to thank Bert Witzel (Local 3/Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra) for his work on ICSOM’s website; to honor and thank Rob Schumitzky (Local 7/Pacific Symphony) and Jessica Phillips (Local 802/Metropolitan Opera Orchestra) for their service as members at-large; and to honor and thank Austin for his service as ICSOM president and to confer to him the title of ICSOM president emeritus.

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