Now is the right time to become an American Federation of Musicians member. From ragtime to rap, from the early phonograph to today's digital recordings, the AFM has been there for its members. And now there are more benefits available to AFM members than ever before, including a multi-million dollar pension fund, excellent contract protection, instrument and travelers insurance, work referral programs and access to licensed booking agents to keep you working.
As an AFM member, you are part of a membership of more than 80,000 musicians. Experience has proven that collective activity on behalf of individuals with similar interests is the most effective way to achieve a goal. The AFM can negotiate agreements and administer contracts, procure valuable benefits and achieve legislative goals. A single musician has no such power.
The AFM has a proud history of managing change rather than being victimized by it. We find strength in adversity, and when the going gets tough, we get creative - all on your behalf.
Like the industry, the AFM is also changing and evolving, and its policies and programs will move in new directions dictated by its members. As a member, you will determine these directions through your interest and involvement. Your membership card will be your key to participation in governing your union, keeping it responsive to your needs and enabling it to serve you better. To become a member now, visit www.afm.org/join.
December 20, 2015
IM -In celebration of the Musical Instrument Museum’s fifth anniversary, the Phoenix, Arizona, museum is lanching the exhibit Stradivarius: Origins and Legacy of the Greatest Violin Maker, showcasing 10 exceptional historic and modern examples from the string family, including a 1728 Stradivarius violin on public display for the first time in the US.
This one-of-a-kind exhibition introduces the story of how early violin makers from the modest Italian city of Cremona shaped music from the 16th century onward. The timeless masterpieces were handcrafted by master luthiers like Andrea Amati, the founding father of the violin; the rogue genius Guarneri del Gesù; and the master himself—Antonio Stradivari. The exhibition includes several modern-day masterworks that demonstrate the continuing influence of early masters.
Stradivarius: Origins and Legacy of the Greatest Violin Maker is presented in partnership with the Cremona-based Museo del Violino and the Friends of Stradivari. As part of the exhibit, guests will be able to hear and see the instruments on display using audio and video technology that bring the violin to life as never before.
“We have transformed the exhibition space into a multi-sensory experience complete with compelling sound and visuals,” says Kathleen Wiens, PhD, MIM’s curator for Europe. Wiens continues, “When visitors walk into the gallery, they will be taken on a journey from the Fiemme Valley forest, where the early masters sourced their wood, through violin maker’s workshops, European royal courts, science labs, and finally to the thrilling concert stage. It will be an experience like no other.”
Visitors to this exhibition will have the rare opportunity to see firsthand the fine craftsmanship of these extraordinary treasures. Similar violins have garnered increased attention on the collectors’ market and most recently the “Lady Blunt” Stradivarius was purchased for more than $15 million. In addition to appreciating their value, visitors will discover what makes these prized instruments unique, both in design and tone.
Stradivarius: Origins and Legacy of the Greatest Violin Maker will be on display from January 16 through June 5, 2016. To commemorate the exhibition, MIM will host concerts featuring some of the world’s most talented violinists—virtuosa Rachel Barton Pine of Local 10-208 (Chicago, IL), jazz violinist Regina Carter of Local 5 (Detroit, MI), and Mark O’Connor of Local 257 (Nashville, TN). As a finale to this special exhibition, MIM will celebrate Italian music and culture with an “Experience Italy” weekend June 4 and 5.