June 2, 2016
Your Network, Voice and Forum for Classical Music in the West
Mitch Menchaca
ACSO Announces New Executive Director

Chorus America's vice president and COO Mitch Menchaca will be the next executive director of the Association of California Symphony Orchestras beginning late September 2016. Menchaca's appointment concludes a nationwide executive search that began in early 2016. Menchaca will succeed Kris Sinclair who is retiring this September after 31 years.

Read ACSO's press release here.


We Stopped the "Warning Label" Bill

CalNonprofits has reported that AB 2855 was held in the Appropriations Committee on May 27, 2016, and will not advance. ACSO and more than 700 nonprofit organizations spoke up to oppose the bill.

AB 2855 would have required nonprofits to place unnecessary and burdensome notices on every document that includes a fundraising message -- not just California nonprofits but any nonprofit that attempts to raise funds in California. Read what's wrong with this bill.

New Overtime Rules for Nonprofits in California

New regulations from the Department of Labor will change how nonprofits classify employees and whether or not they must be paid overtime. However, the new federal overtime rules will play out differently in California. Here's how California will be affected.

Music Notes

Welcome to these new Board members at the Ojai Music FestivalJerrold L. Eberhart and David W. Oxtoby.

Congratulations to the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale on a successful and critically acclaimed North American tour. The 16-day tour included sold out concerts at Carnegie Hall, Qubec City's Palais Montcalm and Montreal's Bougie Hall. Additional concerts were held in CA at Segerstrom Center, Weill Hall and the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

San Diego Symphony pianist Mary Barranger, and violinists Randy Brinton and Pat Francis have stepped down. Francis, the Symphony's longest-tenured musician, was with the organization for 61 years, and Barranger and Brinton both started with the Symphony in 1975. All three musicians were honored at the Symphony's May 29th concert.
 
The San Luis Obispo Symphony has received a $10,000 grant from The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County. The grant will be used to support music education programs. The Symphony is expecting a growth in enrollment in its six music education programs for the 2016-2017 academic year.
 
Youth Orchestras of Fresno celebrated its 65th anniversary and honored its past conductors and music directors with a free concert at the Saroyan Theatre on Sunday, May 29th. The organization began as the Kiwanis Youth Orchestra and was incorporated as Youth Orchestras of Fresno in 1995.

Up and Down the Scale

Pasadena Symphony and POPS has announced a contract extension of principal pops conductor Michael Feinstein through the 2019 season. Feinstein was originally contracted in June 2013 for a one-year term which was immediately extended to run through the 2016 season following his critically acclaimed conducting debut.
 
Gregg Gleasner, of independent artistic services firm Gleasner Music, is the new artistic administrator of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Gleasner had been assisting the Orchestra with its artistic leadership transition, and had previously had the position of director of artistic planning at the San Francisco Symphony. Gleasner's appointment follows the resignation of Daren Fuster as director of artistic operations.

The American Youth Symphony has announced that Carlos Izcaray will be its new music director, and Juan Felipe Molano will be its new resident conductor.
 
Izcaray, current music director of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, has toured throughout the US and Europe as a guest conductor, and has partnered with leading world music education institutions including El System in Venezuela, Cambridge University Music Society, London Schools Symphony Orchestra, and the World Youth Symphony Orchestra. 
 
Molano currently conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA), and had previously held the position of conductor with the Colombian Youth Philharmonic and the Batata Colombian System of Youth Orchestras. Molano served as music director of the Yucatan Symphony Orchestra for five years, and has conducted many top orchestras throughout Europe, the US, Asia, and South and Central America.

Take to the Road - Summer Music Festivals in California!

Ventura Music Festival; Bear Valley Music Festival; Music in the Mountains

California is home to some of the most fabulous Music Festivals in the world.
Links at Your Fingertips


ACSO members save $100 on the 3-day rate.
Save an additional $26 when you register before June 30th.

Online registration closes July 24th.

Book your hotel room at the Oakland Marriott City Center today!
Room rate cut-off: 11:59 PM on Wednesday, July 13, 2016, or when room block is full. Rooms are filling up fast so please reserve early to avoid disappointment!
Thank You to Our Partners
     
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T.S. and K.D. Glide Foundation
 
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