Thanks Chris, I hope the written version of my words didnât come across as taking great offense or anger and certainly there are no hard feelings. Thereâs obviously a lot going on that I donât know about and I realize that some of the details may not lend themselves to public display. I look forward to learning more. Certainly itâs one of the goals of EMA to provide resources for emerging artists to develop their careers and the more I learn about the barriers, the more I may be able to help effect change.
Danny > On Feb 28, 2015, at 10:53 AM, Christopher Wilke <chriswi...@yahoo.com> wrote: > > Dear Danny and all, > > I want to apologize for my recent comments in this discussion. It was my > intention to shed positive light on what is often seen as a taboo topic in a > constructive way. Instead, the discourse devolved in the opposite direction. > In retrospect, I can see that my own comments are wholly to blame for this. > > I believed that the copious unfortunate anecdotes regularly related in > private discussion between numerous fellow freelance artists and myself were > representative of a state of affairs that is self-evident to all. I > appreciate and respect that others hold equally valid views informed by > completely different experiences. As this subject directly effects my and my > family's financial health and future prospects, I inappropriately projected > my own feelings into this dialog. > > It was never my intention to accuse you, Danny, nor anyone else, of > misrepresentation. My choice of words was very regrettable and for that I am > especially sorry. > > I hope that you will accept my apology and that we may continue to be friends > and artists working in an atmosphere of mutual respect. > > Chris > > > > Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone <https://overview.mail.yahoo.com/?.src=iOS> > > At Feb 26, 2015, 4:36:42 PM, Daniel Shoskes<'kidneykut...@gmail.com'> > wrote:Well, I guess that my ignorance comes across as being disingenuous. > People sure seem to think I know more than I do on this topic. Here's MY > administrative side: > > 1) Vice President of the Board of Apollo's Fire: the board has no say in > which guest artists are hired. A pretty clear meritocracy from what I have > seen. And of course, merit to be hired for an ensemble requires skills that > go beyond the purely musical (show up on time, be prepared, work > collaboratively with others, etc) > > 2) Board Member Early Music America: not a presenting group but does sponsor > competitions. I haven't judged them myself but I've also been very impressed > by the winners > > 3) I set up and funded the Pat O'Brien lectureship for LSA. Based on who Pat > wanted. Purely subjective and not based on any independent assessment of > merit. Tough luck there. > > 4) Used to be on the Board of LSA. Never had a say in who the seminar faculty > would be (other than the POB lecturer). Not every single faculty member at > every LSA seminar of all time would necessarily have been my first choice if > I was the King of LSA but certainly most would have been. Of late, every > faculty has included both big names and emerging talent (or at least first > time faculty) > > So no, I don't know who these organizations are that present solo lutenists > or small ensembles and who seem to be cutting you and Ron out of your > deserved shows and CD contracts for political reasons, if that's really what > all the euphemisms mean. Or faculty appointments? Board memberships? Spots on > the Tonight Show? It is of course also a business, so a talented "name" that > sells out a hall will always be preferred over a talented newcomer that > doesn't pull in a crowd, but so that has been since the early days. > > And also to emphasize, the fact that I don't know who these groups are > doesn't mean that I dismiss the possibility that they are out there. "Just > because you are paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you" (Joseph Heller) > > Danny > > > On Feb 26, 2015, at 1:34 PM, Christopher Wilke <chriswi...@cs.dartmouth.edu > > <mailto:chriswi...@cs.dartmouth.edu>> wrote: > > > > Danny, > > > > I must respectfully say that I think you're being disingenuous here. You've > > been on the administrative side of things long enough to know that merit is > > rarely a prime consideration when it comes to who and what is promoted by > > arts organizations. Beyond a certain level of competency, institutions in a > > position to help advance careers frequently anoint "beautiful ones" on the > > basis of political, rather than aesthetic criteria. I'm not at all > > suggesting that you are personally involved in any of this, but over the > > years I have trouble believing you've never witnessed it happening. > > > > Having been a victim of this system myself (repeatedly and much more > > frequently lately, it seems), I can totally understand Ron's reticence in > > naming names. Even describing scenarios in a general manner is a great way > > to lose old friends, make fresh enemies and work yourself out of work. > > However, a dismissive, "There's no Establishment or Conspiracy. You're > > paranoid," is not an appropriate response to legitimate issues. > > > > Keeping one's mouth shut and pretending there is no dysfunction in the > > early music industry is absolutely unhealthy. We should ALL be keenly aware > > of that in the wake of the recent Philip Pickett scandal. (For those who > > aren't aware, Pickett was a long time professor of early music at the > > Guildhall School of Music who, just convicted of raping several students, > > is currently serving an 11-year prison term. Sickeningly, the school > > administration was informed of his behavior and responded by telling the > > students to simply switch schools.) I'm not suggesting that anyone else is > > involved in such horrible activities, but those who use their influence to > > squash the deserving deserve to be called out. Many in high places are long > > overdue for a harsh dose of karma. I have a feeling it's finally starting > > to happen and will be here in force soon. > > > > Chris > > > > > > > > > > Dr. Christopher Wilke D.M.A. > > Lutenist, Guitarist and Composer > > www.christopherwilke.com > > > > -------------------------------------------- > > On Wed, 2/25/15, Daniel Shoskes <kidneykut...@gmail.com > > <mailto:kidneykut...@gmail.com>> wrote: > > > > Subject: [LUTE] Re: Lute in the Future > > To: "Ron Andrico" <praelu...@hotmail.com <mailto:praelu...@hotmail.com>> > > Cc: "Lute List" <lute@cs.dartmouth.edu <mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu>> > > Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2015, 1:07 PM > > > > Ron: when I read many of your posts, > > I sometimes feel confused and undereducated. You often refer > > to âthose people we all knowâ or âcertain groupsâ > > and I guess Iâm not with the âin crowdâ because I > > honestly donât know who or what you mean. > > > > So, for the information of me and others like me on the > > outside looking in, what âcertain incorporated non-profit > > organizationsâ are you referring to? > > > > Danny > > > >> On Feb 25, 2015, at 8:15 AM, Ron Andrico <praelu...@hotmail.com > >> <mailto:praelu...@hotmail.com>> > > wrote: > >> > >> ... but as far as I can see the only > > viable solution in > >> our niche market is to ask our certain > > incorporated non-profit > >> organizations to stop behaving like > > fan clubs and make targeted funds > >> available to energetic and motivated > > artists for recording worthwhile > >> projects - and not with limitations so > > the funds apply only to the > >> select few students of the gatekeepers > > who have been running the racket > >> for far too long. > >> > > > > > > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > > <http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html> > > > > > > > > > --
