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Items related to the Arizona Opera Orchestra Musicians Association (AZOOMA) and musician-related topics of interest.
Recent Posts Tagged With 'arizona opera orchestra'
Out of the Pit: Post Concert Thoughts
Nine members of the Arizona Opera Orchestra were joined by 4 guest players, as well as conducting intern Jackson Warren and the voice of the Arizona Opera broadcasts- radio personality Michael Dixon, for a concert on the Arts Alive! Series at Orangew...
Out of the Pit: Post Concert Thoughts
Nine members of the Arizona Opera Orchestra were joined by 4 guest players, as well as conducting intern Jackson Warren and the voice of the Arizona Opera broadcasts- radio personality Michael Dixon, for a concert on the Arts Alive! Series at Orangew...
It's Official - We Have a New Contract!
After 17 long months of preparation and negotiation, we are happy to report that AZOOMA, the Arizona Opera Board Chair and Executive Committee have all ratified our new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Full details of the agreement may be found at ou...
Macro-Cleaning and a Microsite
Well, it has been a while since an AZOOMA blog has been posted. After the conclusion of our marathon contract negotiations, some well-deserved time off was needed. Whew! In the meantime, while we wait for a contract ratification vote next month, some...
A New Beginning
In Tucson, the musicians of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra have shifted their union representation from the "Guild" to the American Federation of Musicians. In a statement posted in the ROPA Internet Mailing List: "The musicians of the Tucson Symphon...
Florida Grand Opera Fires Orchestra
A news item at TradingMarkets.com reprinted from the Miami Herald mentions that the Florida Grand Opera has decided not to renew the contract for its orchestra, the Florida Classical Orchestra. Conducted in other venues by the renowned Richard Hayman...
A Magical Flutist
Arizona Opera is currently engaged in performances of Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute." In a recent review in the Arizona Daily Star, reviewer Cathalana Burch commented:As a whole, "The Magic Flute," absent from Arizona Opera's repertoire for a dozen...
On the Road Again
The musicians of AZOOMA spend a lot of time in the car driving to rehearse and perform with the Arizona Opera. We live in one of three cities in Arizona - Phoenix, Flagstaff and Tucson - and being an Opera musician requires us to regularly travel to ...
Tentative Deal
From the Arizona Daily Star: The Arizona Opera Orchestra narrowly averted a strike that could have disrupted this weekend’s run of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.” The orchestra and opera management struck a tentative deal late Monday afternoon th...
A Brave New World
Since its launch last November, AZOOMA.org has generated a wave of support and interest in both Arizona Opera and the Arizona Opera Orchestra. As a part of its three-pronged mission, AZOOMA aims to reach out to the community and spread the word, both...
At the Opera - A New Video
The Arizona Opera and the Opera musicians are currently in contract negotiations. A 4th YouTube video in a series presented by the Arizona Opera Orchestra Musicians Association (AZOOMA) has been posted on YouTube to propagate this message. It makes ...
A Theory of Relativity
AZOOMA has a strong and vested interest in Arizona Opera and its future. Our talented and highly-skilled orchestra is an essential contribution to the high-quality productions of Arizona Opera. We are stakeholders invested in performing som...
AZOOMA TV Strikes Again!
A new video has been posted on our YouTube Channel, AZOOMA TV. It spells out some basic facts about our organization and its mission.Please visit our main site ...
How To Be An Opera String Player
Violist Katie Shields has submitted a tongue-in-cheek article on the trials and tribulations of being an opera string player. Written like an informal journal, it offers witty insights into the life of a musician. It begins: *************************...
Looking Ahead to Next Season
Arizona Opera has announced its 2008-2009 season. Productions include:Verdi: RigolettoGilbert and Sullivan: The MikadoDonizetti: The Elixir of LoveMozart: Don GiovanniPuccini: Tosca These productions will feature both familiar faces and Arizona Opera...
Getting Dressed Up (and Spreading the Word)
Reaching out to our community with an outreach initiative. (January 24, 2008) - The Arizona Opera Orchestra Musicians Association (AZOOMA) began an Informational Outreach Initiative at the Arizona Opera "Gems" concert in Phoenix Symphony Hall in dow...
On the Lighter Side
Humorous opera bits from the 'net universe Murder and mayhem... Executions and torture... Deception and (gulp) incest.... Where else can someone see freaky, macabre stuff like this on a public stage and call it "Art" but at the opera? While looking ...
Getting Dressed Up (in Red!)
Arizona Opera Orchestra goes "red." In support of ongoing contract negotiations and as a demonstration of solidarity, orchestra members wore red shirts to the dress rehearsal for the upcoming Arizona Opera "Gems" concert. AZOOMA asked this of all orc...
Getting Dressed Up
For the upcoming Arizona Opera "Gems" concert, the Arizona Opera Orchestra will be front-and center and on stage. In the usual fully-staged productions with singers, sets and costumes the Opera Orchestra is typically under the stage in an area known ...
There's No Place Like Home
The second in a series of articles featuring AZOOMA musicians. Many Opera musicians pursue other work to supplement their opera income to make a complete living in music. It takes some creativity and planning to accomplish this. Quite a few musicians...
"Thank You, Next..."
It's not like American Idol, but there are similarities... The Arizona Opera recently announced auditions to fill vacancies. At one time or another each musician in the Arizona Opera Orchestra has had to pass a rigorous audition. Since these are pai...
Love and Marriage (Redux)
The first in a series of articles featuring AZOOMA musicians. Revised 1/11/08. "All married couples should learn the art of battle as they should learn the art of making love. Good battle is objective and honest--never vicious or cruel. Good battle i...
Keeping it Fresh
Audition information for open positions has been recently added to the main web site. Under the terms of our master agreement, these positions have been advertised internationally in the American Federation of Musicians' publication, The Internation...
Reflections
The AZOOMA.org site has been online for over two months now, and as is the tradition this time of year, a review -- of where we are, what has been accomplished and where we are going -- is due. Our Network In the article "The Expanding Universe of AZ...
Prepping for "War and Peace"
According to a recent article in Tucson's Arizona Daily Star written by Cathalena Burch, our esteemed Maestro Joel Revzen has been very busy preparing the Metropolitan Opera over the past few months, getting them primed and ready for upcoming perform...
"Opera is Hot"
In a previous article, some of the hazards of playing in an opera pit were briefly mentioned. Back in December 2004, a fire alarm scare was a real "show stopper." Twenty minutes into Act II of Arizona Opera’s matinee performance of Giaocchino Ros...
A Clean Sweep and Our "Fine Flutist"
From AZOOMA WebMaster, Bruce Hembd: After reading an article on blogging written by the originator of the weblog, I have decided to do some housecleaning. Jorn Barger of Robot Wisdom coined the term "weblog" about 10 years ago to describe the daily ...
The X Factor
Within AZOOMA.org three words are presented as our slogan: Expression. Experience. Excellence. These words are the basic tenets behind AZOOMA, the Arizona Opera Orchestra Musicians Association. They are intertwined with our spirit and our mission. E...
State of the Arts
Until the 1960's Phoenix was mostly known for the state's "four C's" - copper, cattle, cotton, and climate. "Culture" was almost unheard of. Today in Arizona the scene is much different. The Valley's rapid growth spawns new art and culture venues a...
The Expanding Universe of AZOOMA.org
From Bruce Hembd, AZOOMA Webmaster To better fulfill our mission of spreading the word about AZOOMA and Arizona Opera, AZOOMA now maintains a variety of web accounts and spaces in the "Web 2.0" universe. The AZOOMA network currently includes: The ...
