Ted was an acclaimed Denver pianist and teacher whose influence spanned decades. Viewing, 8/8, 4-6pm at Fairmount Cemetery and services, 8/9, at 10am at Fairmount Cemetery and 12:30pm at Ft. Logan. 

On August 14, I will perform a concert in Littleton, Colorado at a venue called Hudson Gardens. This show, like several I have done in the past year, will be me acoustic, and twenty local string players. I've had the pleasure of performing this way in the recent past with great players in Ocean City, Md; Sandy, Ut  and Durant, Ok.

 

I recently became aware that the musicians approached by Hudson Gardens were asked to perform at my show for no fee but with the promise of more paid work in the future at other shows. I had no knowledge of this at the time it was proposed, as the hiring and payment of the local players was not something I nor my team was responsible for in this case. Anyone who knows me knows this would not sit well with me, and I would never want any musician to perform for free.

 

Informed that this was anathema to my sensibilities, Hudson Gardens subsequently hired another set of musicians at an appropriate and agreed upon wage, and we are all eagerly looking forward to performing the show.

 

I realize these are incredibly stressful and unpredictable economic times, and what any individual chooses to accept or negotiate is his or her choice, but I strongly urge any and all venue representatives and concert promoters to please keep in mind that without musicians, there is no music business. In my life and career, in both pre and post successful times, I have had countless experiences where I chose to forego a fee for a variety of circumstances, and have no regrets. But no musician should ever be put in a position to feel compelled to work for free.

 

Richard Marx

 

Richard Marx's Facebook Page 

www.richardmarx.com  

 

Editor's Note: Richard Marx's statement is appreciated as it points to unfairness and exploitation that musicians face on a daily basis. Sadly, the truth behind this engagement is even harsher than Mr. Marx portrays since there was no promise of paid work in the future.  Hudson Gardens' Press Release attempts to cover up this truth, and fails to mention the fact that the musicians were wrongfully replaced once it was understood that they must simply be paid.

 

Pete Vriesenga 

By Deborah Newmark, Director, AFM Symphonic Electronic Media
 International Musician
August, 2011

Convergence-what does it mean? The basic definition is the coming together of two or more distinct entities. One way the media world defines convergence is in the combining of two or more technologies into a single device. Examples are mobile phones that not only make traditional phone calls, but also include cameras, camcorders, music players, gaming applications, and voice recorders. This brings together computers, communications, and content. We are living in a world of rapid convergence and it both complicates and simplifies how we interface with that world.

Our content is either being created as digital media or being converted to digital media. Once digitized it is possible to send those files through cable, satellite, or wireless networks, which can then be seen and heard on a multitude of devices from computers to cell phones to smartphones to televisions and DVRs. These advanced technological capabilities have brought about convergence in the business world as well, and content creators form partnerships with tech companies to bring the product to the consumer.

In the US, the symphony, opera, and ballet world has tried to stay ahead of the technological curve by attempting to anticipate trends and changes that will affect our ability to create and distribute product.
Read On

 MICHELLE BREIDENBACH,
Syracuse Post-Standard, August 7, 2011

 

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - The unemployed musicians of the bankrupt Syracuse Symphony Orchestra have rallied on stages from Fayetteville to Rome this summer to keep the music alive.

While they played "Pomp and Circumstance" at free concerts, a group of power players has worked behind the scenes to bring a full-time orchestra back to life.

It has been such a secret that musicians who are packing up to leave Syracuse say they don't know about it.

Syracuse University is leading the quiet effort to bring a symphony back to Syracuse, according to Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney.

SU officials are not ready to talk about the details. But almost immediately after the SSO filed bankruptcy, Syracuse University Chancellor Nancy Cantor committed staff and resources to revive symphonic music in Syracuse, Mahoney said.

The Denver Municipal Band is the oldest professional concert band in the continental United States.

 

The Denver Municipal Band was founded in the late 1860s by Alex Sutherland, bugler at the "Charge of The Light Brigade." Surviving the ordeal, he settled in Denver where he was active in many of the city's early musical activities. Originally constituted as the GAR Post Band, it performed early municipally funded concerts throughout the 1870s and 80s, changing its name to the Denver Municipal Band in 1891 when it began its continuous history of Denver Municipal Funding.

 

 

 

Upcoming Concerts   

August 12 - 8:00 PM Concert Band with Fireworks at Sterne Park for Western Welcome Week
August 14 - 7:30 PM Jazz Band at Washington Park
August 19 - 7:00 PM Jazz Band at Bates and Hobart Park
August 26 - 6:30 PM Concert Band at Chessman Park
August 27 - 7:00 PM Jazz Band at Mayfair Park
August 28 - 1:00 PM Jazz Band at Main St. Gazebo, Parker Co
September 11 - 12:00 PM Brass Ensemble at the Broomfield Auditorium for a 9/11 Commemorative Tribute
September 24 - 7:30 PM Brass and Percussion Ensemble at Buck Recreation Center*   

2011 Summer/Fall Schedule 

Park Locations
DMB Website