Member Profiles, On the Cover

Nicole Jordan: Advocacy Is Overarching Goal

Chatting with Nicole Jordan of Local 77 (Philadelphia, PA), the first thing you learn is to dispel your assumptions of what an orchestra librarian is, or does. Hint: it’s not what you think when you hear the word “librarian.”  “For starters, we typically don’t have degrees in library science,” says Jordan, a Philadelphia native and […]

Jacqueline Pickett: Community Is Everything

Earlier this year, a new nonprofit called the League of Women Bassplayers (LOW B) held its first conference aimed at exploring community and addressing the needs of women bass players around the world. LOW B’s founder and president, Jacqueline Pickett of Local 148-462 (Atlanta, GA), says the organization is designed to explore community and address […]

Benjamin Wright: Recognizing—and Honoring—a Legend

You might be forgiven for not recognizing the name of Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) staple Benjamin Wright, but you will almost certainly have heard his work. With a career spanning 60 years as a music director, arranger, songwriter, and producer, he has a staggering resumé of nearly 250 songs to his credit, either as […]

Way to Go, Leisa Way!

Leisa Way of Local 226 (Kitchener, ON) uses her platform as performer and concert producer to educate younger musicians on the power of unionism. Singers Aren’t Musicians, and Other Myths There’s a tired old saw passed around among instrumentalists that singers aren’t really musicians. Rather than arguing to the contrary, however, vocalist and producer Leisa […]

Mary Corbett: Positive Energy Creates Positive Outlook

“It’s a remarkable thing that we get to do this for a living,” says Corbett, a violinist in The Florida Orchestra (TFO) since 1989 and member of Local 427-721 (Tampa Bay, FL). Her warmth and enthusiasm are infectious as she speaks about her good fortune. “Even after all these years, I know how tremendous it is that I am able to make my living doing this, and I never stop appreciating it.”

Julie Ferrara: Broadway Tours Embracing Positive Change

Julie Ferrara of Local 802 (New York City) likes to joke that her career has gone in reverse. “Most pit orchestra musicians get on tours with the hope of eventually making it to Broadway,” says Ferrara, a woodwind doubler currently touring the country with Disney’s musical Frozen. “Instead, I worked on Broadway for 14 years before entertaining the opportunity to go on the road.”

New Orchestra for San Antonio Brings Fresh Approach

With astonishing speed, the musicians of the former San Antonio Symphony, Local 23 (San Antonio, TX) have launched a brand new organization.

Stephanie Matthews: We Are Here

Los Angeles musician and consultant Stephanie Matthews of Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) has a message: “We are here.” That message is directed at anyone doubting the level of Black string talent in today’s music industry. And she should know. Matthews has put together string sections for some of the biggest stars. In 2020, she […]

Evan Walsh and Toy Soldiers Win Organizing Campaign

Working to secure our rights as performing and recording musicians is a crucial part of what we do, and stories of successful organizing campaigns are at the heart of unionism and activism. Those successes feel even sweeter when the campaigns are won against big corporations—and they don’t get much bigger than The Walt Disney Company. […]

Carol Jantsch: Philadelphia Orchestra Tuba Player Embraces Another Role Offstage

A typical orchestral tuba weighs about 25 pounds, which is less than you might expect. Local 77 (Philadelphia, PA) member Carol Jantsch, principal tuba of the Philadelphia Orchestra, has been used to lugging that weight around since she started playing the instrument at the age of 12. These days, though, she is carrying an added few pounds on top of that. Jantsch is expecting her first child—a girl—in late July.