Local 47 Celebrates Grand Opening

July 2, 2018

Local 47 Vice President Rick Baptist cuts the ribbon on the new facility. (photo credit: Tom Pease)

Local 47 President John Acosta welcomed 300 attendees at the grand opening of its new Burbank headquarters. (photo credit: Linda Rapka)

A group of officers and officials from Local 47 gather for a photo at the Burbank office grand opening festivities. (L to R) are Local 47 President John Acosta; Director Pam Gates; Trustee Judy Chilnick; Director Andy Malloy; Secretary-Treasurer Emeritus Serena Kay Williams; Secretary-Treasurer Gary Lasley; Directors Phil O’Connor, Bill Reichenbach, and Vivian Wolf; and Trustee Dylan Hart. (photo credit: Tom Pease)

(L to R) Local 47 President John Acosta, Secretary-Treasurer Gary Lasley, and Vice President Rick Baptist unveil a bronze plaque dedicating the building to “our talented membership and hard-working staff who stand committed to the advancement of music and musicians.” (photo credit: Tom Pease)

With construction on phase 1 of the new Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) Burbank headquarters complete, around 300 musicians, dignitaries, and friends turned up on May 21 to celebrate. The evening began with a rousing drumline of students from the Burbank Unified High School Marching Band. Everyone gathered in a giant tent set up in the building’s parking lot. AFM Local 47 President John Acosta and Vice President Rick Baptist acted as masters of ceremony for the evening filled with good wishes and excellent music.

“As we begin a new chapter here in Burbank, we will continue to advocate for professional musicians,” says Acosta. “Whether it be for film and television tax incentives to bring jobs back to the state of California, to advocate for more funding for our orchestras through the National Endowment for the Arts, or for fair pay for musicians performing in nightclubs, Local 47 will continue to be the voice of the professional musician in our new home for many, many years to come.”

Among the invited dignitaries who spoke at the opening were AFM Secretary-Treasurer Jay Blumenthal; Burbank Chamber of Commerce President Gema Sanchez; Burbank Mayor Emily Gabel-Luddy; Jason Maruca from the office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger; Pamela Marcello, district representative for Congressman Adam Schiff; Victoria Dochoghlian, field representative for Assemblymember Laura Friedman; and Arda Tchakian, district representative for Senator Anthony J. Portantino. Serena Kay Williams, secretary-treasurer emeritus, shared memories of joining Local 47 in downtown Los Angeles and attending the 1950 grand opening of its previous Vine Street location.

Guests were entertained by a quartet made up of Los Angeles Philharmonic musicians, as well as the Mike Barone Big Band, featuring special guest soloist Rickey Woodard on tenor sax, all of them Local 47 members. Each received a commemorative grand opening program book.

Guests were invited on guided tours of the 25,000-square-foot facility, which included the Local 47 financial offices, state-of-the-art rehearsal rooms, a recording studio, and an artists’ lounge. Phase 2 construction will include a multi-purpose space, which will serve as an auditorium and meeting hall.

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