Symphony says Cobb high school choirs not performing to give other schools a chance
Several upset Cobb parents alerted me to this story, but their version of why the Lassiter and Walton high schools choirs are not performing with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra this year differs dramatically from that of the orchestra leadership.
The orchestra contends it has nothing to do with the lack of racial diversity of the two choirs, but reflects the need to give other choirs a chance to perform with the ASO.
To be fair to the symphony, I have seen several holiday shows over the years, all with different local choirs. I am uncertain why there would be any expectation that once invited, a choir would be back every year.
For the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, it never rains but it pours.
On top of money troubles and bitter ongoing contract negotiations, the ASO has provoked a nasty public backlash when it was reported that the orchestra disinvited choruses from Lassiter and Walton high schools from the ASO’s holiday programs because the choirs weren’t “diverse enough.”
Websites lit up with negative responses.
“The ASO has just lost my business,” posted Linda McMichael, mother of a Cobb County high schooler. “They should be sued for racism.”
Earlier this week, Stanley Romanstein, president and CEO of the ASO, told Channel 2 Action News, “We want the stages of the Atlanta Symphony, whether here, Verizon, or Chastain, to reflect the diversity of Atlanta.”
But contacted Friday afternoon, Romanstein said he was referring to the eclectic programming offered by the ASO. The symphony has previously performed with the like of ZZ Topp and Dolly Parton.
“My comment was taken out of context,” said Romanstein, “and I’m not very happy about that.”
To the rescue Friday came the ASO Players Association, making an offer to stage free concerts at Lassiter and Walton. “The musicians have felt kind of helpless through this whole thing, trying to repair the relationships with the community,” said players representative and ASO principal trombonist Colin Williams. “The only way we know how is by performing.”
Jay Dillon, spokesman for Cobb County schools, said he didn’t know whether the schools were aware of the offer. “I will forward it to them as it seems like a reasonable remedy,” he said.
Romanstein said the controversy developed through a “misunderstanding.” Four years ago, he said, the ASO invited the choirs at Lassiter and Walton to participate in the symphony’s yearly holiday performances, which include Christmas carols, Hanukkah songs and appearances by Santa Claus. The ASO has a long tradition of performing with amateur groups, including the Atlanta Boy Choir and glee clubs at Spelman and Morehouse colleges.
At the end of the 2010 season, the schools were told the ASO could collaborate with Grady High School in 2012.
“We wanted to make sure other people had a chance,” said Romanstein. “The directors were cordial and understanding and thanked us for the opportunity to sing with the ASO. … How this got twisted on Monday into a racial battle … is really alarming.”
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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126 comments Add your comment
Pardon My Blog
August 18th, 2012
8:46 pm
Just ignore Bernie, it’s people like him that keep this Country divided and he is personally not worth our time. To the subject at hand, the ASO is not obligated to include any high school choral groups but did so to promote the arts. Unfortunately they chose to utilize the same choral groups for several years and probably someone got their panties in a wad because they wanted their child showcased. There are alot of talented kids in all areas of Metro Atlanta and there is alot of talent beyond Morehouse but ultimately it is who can help fill the seats. I think you will find some great holiday concerts at the local high schools complete with a full orchestra and choral group without the high price. Try it, you may like it!
NewsReader
August 18th, 2012
8:51 pm
JMHO, but I believe two things here. First, this is much to do about nothing that has been so far blown out of proportion it isn’t even funny. Second, I believe this entire thing is the result of a story published and designed to sell papers, and the accuracy is about as credible as any other story experienced by anyone who has ever had any contact with any news reporting agency. In other words, they get just a few facts of it right, and the rest is sensational drama and rhetoric. I don’t believe for a second the ASO had any ill will or intentions, and somebody or entity in Cobb has their panties in a knot because they are not going to get to go this year.
Follow the Coursee
August 18th, 2012
8:58 pm
Pardon My Blog … Agreed … this “entitlemenent” issue has been established over the years, what has happened is a “habit” of these choirs preforming … this “habit” has become an “entitlement” … and it is habit so therfore the Choirs should be rotated … but the funding to the ASO may well be affected.
Roxy
August 18th, 2012
9:14 pm
NewsReader–NO-we cannot “all get along” that’s what people say when they trash others and are floored that there is opposition. If you have standards and THE TRUTH on your side, you say, “This is the truth of the situation. While you may disagree with this position, these are the facts and the truth.” Then, the only educated response is, “I don’t agree, but, those are the facts.”
Too bad ASO is so busy being politically correct that TRUTH got lost. Seriously–say what you mean, and mean what you say.” It’s just fashionable these days to criticize anyone who dedicates their life and paycheck to providing every opportunity to their children. We work tirelessly to live in EC so that our children have chances rather than HANDOUTS AND ENTITLEMENTS>
Melaine
August 18th, 2012
9:21 pm
Hey ASO, you made the news across the pond. Just read about this in a UK paper. Gotta love it.
Bernie
August 18th, 2012
9:36 pm
Pardon My Blog @ 8:46 pm -”Sic gorgiamus allos subiectatos nunc” — “We gladly feast on those who would subdue us”. Not just pretty words.-Morticia Addams
Burroughston Broch
August 18th, 2012
9:56 pm
@ CapricornToo
The ASO hires on the basis of whom you know in upper level ASO management, the ASO Board, and the Woodruff Arts Center Board.
Burroughston Broch
August 18th, 2012
10:10 pm
It’s interesting to compare the ASO staff to the slimmed-down Philadelphia Orchestra staff. The Philadelphia Orchestra is in bankruptcy and the ASO seems to be headed that way. Here are staff numbers with ASO first and PO second: administration 73/54, conductors 5/3, and librarians 3/2. Overall, the ASO has 37% more staff.
Sara
August 18th, 2012
10:29 pm
I am a long-time subscriber of ASO. I want the opportunity to hear different youth groups each year. I have no interest in hearing the same group of kids. It is a privilege to be able to perform with such amazing performers and there are many excellent, deserving groups out there. Why be limited? Granted, whether the choice of words were taken out of context or not, parents need to stop whining about their kids not getting what they want. Too much of that going on!
The Sanity Inspector
August 19th, 2012
12:05 am
This all sounds like something from the Too Good To Check File. The ASO wanting to have other area choruses have a turn sounds very reasonable to me.
bu2
August 19th, 2012
12:10 am
Its funny to see the people defending Romanstein and attacking “Cobb County Republicans.”
If he had replaced Morehouse with Emory and said he wanted to reflect the diversity of Atlanta or said he wanted a choir more similar to our subscriber base, these same people would be calling for him to be run out of town on a rail. But now, it is a misinterpretation of words and over-reaction.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 19th, 2012
8:46 am
“I am uncertain why there would be any expectation that once invited, a choir would be back every year.”
———————
Well, your paper’s own article says they were “disinvited”. Had they not been invited to perform this year, perhaps the expectation that the invitation would be honored would not exist.
SmallSites
August 19th, 2012
9:46 am
I’m going to point out something here that may be perceived (although not intended) as a defense of the ASO management actions regarding the “diversity” issue. Read it all before you jump to a conclusion.
First off, I think the whole diversity thing is beyond stupid. Next, I think it’s wonderful that the ASO musicians are choosing to use their resources (i.e., time and talent) to make that point.
However…
while I have NO doubt that there are those within the organization’s management who buy into the belief that such criteria for participation are valid, I would put forth that the foundation of the practice is tied more to monetary, rather than social motivations. I’ve spent many years writing grant proposals for arts organizations seeking the awarding of public grant money (Fulton County Arts Council, GA Council for the Arts, etc.), and I can tell you that the most common and consistent “concern” stated in panel reviews of those proposals was the “lack of diversity” in membership. One group in question was/is a volunteer organization, open to anyone who wanted to participate, and dependent on government grants for a significant portion of its operating budget. Here is a quote taken directly from one of the panel concensus statements: “Panel expressed concern with the organization’s efforts to diversify (ethnic/racial) its musicians”. Apparently, those who were already volunteering their time and efforts to operate the organization on a shoestring budget were expected to then go out and recruit new members based on the color of their skin. This particular organization was never denied funding based on this issue, but I know for a fact that others in the Atlanta area have been denied for this exact reason.
Basically, arts organizations are threatened with losing public funding unless they “diversify”…unless they play the government game of “political correctness” in order to avoid the APPEARANCE of being exclusive or discriminatory. I will grant (pun intended) that these days the amounts coming from government sources represents an ever shrinking percentage of any organization’s budget, but the fact remains that arts organizations need money to operate, and playing the game is often the way to get it…whether it makes sense or not.
Again – my point here is that this kind of basis for decision making has absolutely no place ANYWHERE (arts organizations or otherwise). But I have to wonder, for example, how many people who were so outspoken when the GA Council for the Arts was threatened with dissolution a few years ago are now denouncing the ASO’s actions, and how many of those realize that the government organization they supported is actually perpetuating the actions and policies they now decry.
Hold the ASO management accountable for their actions and let them know how ridiculous they’re being? Absolutely! Write, call, comment, blog…do it all! But I would challenge every taxpayer who holds that opinion to repeat every one of those communications to every public funding organization, right up to the NEA…because THAT is where these policies start…and they’re using YOUR tax money to enforce them!
And if you’re just dying to give yourself a headache, have a look at one of the forms that goes along with these funding applications: http://fultonarts.org/images/contracts-for-services/2012/demographics_chart.doc
derekcrane
August 19th, 2012
11:09 am
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra President Stanley Romanstein argues that it’s one of the goals of the organization to “reflect the diversity of Atlanta.”
Take a look at the job Romanstein has done for diversity with his orchestra. Aside from a few Asians, it is all white. Not a single black to “reflect the diversity of Atlanta” unless you count the librarian.
http://www.atlantasymphony.org/About/ConductorsAndMusicians.aspx
CapricornToo
August 19th, 2012
12:35 pm
@B. Broch – Sir, with all due respect that’s the silliest thing I’ve read here. Please inform us how many audition committees you’ve sat in on.
A world-class orchestra that is invited to play Carnegie Hall every year and amasses 20+ Grammy awards isn’t assembled by “who you know.” The competition for a job with the ASO is fiercely competitive, and the ones who survive the process are the best of the best.
Burroughston Broch
August 19th, 2012
7:54 pm
@ CapricornToo
I should have been clear that my post was aimed at staff, not musicians. I agree whole heartedly with you about the musicians, but staff is another matter. Staff hiring is based on whom you know.
monroe
August 19th, 2012
11:46 pm
The ATL–black mecca! not enough african americans in these cobb county choirs—atl needs more minorities to perform at the concerts–not rich white kids from suburbs.
KIM
August 20th, 2012
9:54 am
Grant writing is an art. It is also a perfect game play attempt. And that game has to include
“diversity” and appeal to the underserved. That is the name of the game…in arts, education, medicine. It is back breaking. And, unfortunately, some of the hardest working talent is left in the dust in order to play the game. Attempt to read the federal grants catalog…find a grant that just says “will be awarded to the most deserving due to hard work.” Good luck. Find ONE that will be awarded to an entity that serves those who work their fingers to the bone, or voices to the hilt, in order to produce a beautiful, well trained and projected product.
APS Parent
August 20th, 2012
11:45 am
As a (white) upper middle-class parent of a (white) member of the Grady High School chorus, I want to assure “@B” and other concerned commenters that the Grady High School chorus contains a sufficiently high percentage of Caucasian singers that you will not at any time feel that you are being subjected to (horror of horrors) a performance by a group “with a higher percentage of blacks in their choir than Walton and Lassiter have whites in their program.” My son and other outstanding musicians (black and white) at Grady High School will be surprised to learn from reading these blog comments that ASO’s invitation to them (and failure to recognize the continuing entitlement of Walton and Lassiter to this gig) constitutes an example of (1) racism; (2) “bashing East Cobb for their superior accomplishments;” and (3) proof that the white middle class are being “screwed.” I can only imagine the burdens and discrimination one must have to overcome while facing life as a middle class white person living in East Cobb County, but I am confident that the WHS and LHS communities are strong enough to survive this terrible indignity.
JustMe
August 20th, 2012
1:28 pm
I guarantee they have a higher percentage of blacks in their choir that Walton and Lassiter have whites in their program.
Actually they don’t. Grady is 66% black, Walton is 75% white and Lassiter is 80% white. All information came from here … http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools
JustMe
August 20th, 2012
1:38 pm
And to add a little bit more info to my last post, notice also that Walton is just 6% black (total minority 25%), Lassiter is 11% black (20% total minority) and Grady is actually 26% white (enrollment excluding blacks but including white is 33.2%).
Teacher, Too
August 20th, 2012
2:10 pm
Talent should be the criteria for inviting the different choirs. If Walton and Lassiter are performing in various competitions and winning, then they have earned the invitation to perform with the ASO. Just like in athletics, atheletes get invited to play in sports leagues and school football teams on their talent and performance. So, if there are more African-American athletes in basketball and football, should they not be on the team because there isn’t enough “diversity” ? Imagine the outrage…not enough Hispanic, Asian, and Caucasion football players and basketball players. Wait, too many Caucasion, Hispanic, and South American baseball players, but not enough African- American players. This is ridiculous. Let all people earn their way through hard work, diligence, and talent.
PapaSmurf
August 20th, 2012
5:22 pm
We’re getting very close to the tipping point. This thread is a great example. White, middle-class America is sick & tired of the PC Diversity crap. I hear this every day. Change is coming folks. One step closer to a meritocracy.
Grady Chorus Student
August 20th, 2012
6:18 pm
We in the Grady chorus room are paying careful attention to this ongoing debate. We have yet to see one article posted that gives credit to Grady as one of the finest chorus programs in the state, and from what it seems, everyone seems inclined to forget that Mr. Hill and the chorus students have worked incredibly hard to get to the point that we are right now (albeit, might I add, the difficulty of getting enough funding, or a system wide arts program that focuses on keeping the arts available for all students). And yes, we pride ourselves in our diversity, both racial and otherwise. I can proudly say that the Grady chorus is essentially an accurate reflection of our school’s population (around 65% black, 35% other I believe), and the students come from all kinds of social groups. Even at incredibly diverse schools, oftentimes the chorus will not be an accurate reflection of the school, as it becomes the “cool thing to do”, or the “white thing to do”. I admit that I fall into the category of “over-privileged white kid”, but at Grady, I take incredible pride in the school’s diverse student body, and not just racially diverse. After attending this school for 3 years and paricipating in almost all of the musical programs Grady has to offer, I can’t in good conscience say that the chorus deserves anything less. I don’t believe I deserve it… I have a stable family who supports me, pays for music and instruments, and is willing to drive wherever I need to stay involved in what I love. However, many of my friends and classmates don’t have his luxury, and the amazing part of Grady is to always see that and be humbled. Most students in the suburban schools are well-off. They have had opportunities to sing with the ASO, and both have thriving arts programs. Their parents stay involved and fight for them. By all means, I understand how, from their perspective they feel as though they have earned this. But then look at a chorus like Grady’s, which definitely has students like me who have those extra opportunities, but for the most part is a self-motivated group, and tell me or anyone else that we don’t deserve that chance. Diversity is not a racial issue. However one wants to spin it, Grady’s population has more students who don’t get those opportunities, who don’t get the parental involvement, who don’t grow up in middle class families than our counterparts at Walton or Lassiter. The ASO should be proud of providing those students, not me or a wealthy kid at Walton, a once in a lifetime opportunity to do something that they’ve worked up to get, and the entire community should be proud of them as well.
GRADY BIHH
August 20th, 2012
7:31 pm
Go in, Heffy, go in! And on the actual issue at hand, you guys screaming “talent should be the deciding factor” etc. etc. are being extremely naive. Anyone who grows up in the real world (maybe not a gated community in Cobb county) knows that rarely are people hired or chosen based on talent. In today’s disgustingly prejudiced society (and not just race), people are chosen over others because of privileged. If you don’t believe this, please crawl back into your suburban mansion anddon’t come out. the current presedentail candidates are not there becaause they are the most talented people in the nation for the job. They are there because they are RICH and PRIVILEGED. I’m sure all you East Cobb people know about East Cobb baseball. This program, if a kid sticks with it and works hard, Is almost a guarantee at a D1 scholarship. The problem. It costs the parents thousands of dollars a year so that their kid can get that privileged to be coached by the best. Again, the most talented baseball players at 10 years old aren’t going to be the ones getting drafted. It will be the one’s whose parents payed $30k to get them through East Cobb baseball program. I’m sure you smart people can come up with a myriad of examples, but I think I’ve proven my point. What ASO is trying to do is get the kids without the PhD parents an opportunity to show themselves to a large audience and try to get their own scholarship money. I know some of the Grady chorus kids, and I guarantee you many of them work just as hard as anyone from the suburbs. But they are not getting the opportunity, the PRIVILEGE to show their talent like these kids from Lassiter and Walton do every year. So why don’t we allow these kids the privilege to show what they’ve got, and maybe they’ll have a scholarship waiting. And trust, me, they need that money much more that your kids do.
Glynn Finley
August 21st, 2012
2:59 am
http://www.atlsymphonymusicians.com/1/post/2012/08/atlanta-symphony-musicians-offer-to-perform-for-free-with-choral-groups.html
Atlanta patrons need to read this article in order to validate that the musicians of the Atlanta Symphony are the ones willing to compensate for the sub-standard performance of management within the Atlanta Symphony. Upper management seems to be unwilling to accept a responsibility for mis-management, be it financial, structural or in the arena of public relations. If it were not for the musicians, the musical and cultural opportunities available for the patrons of Atlanta would not exist. These musicians have consistently demonstrated their personal/professional commitment to culture and the “Fine Arts” as well as their commitment to the city of Atlanta by their training (from early childhood), quality of performance, public relations and continued willingness to compromise. The only professional/personal commitment management has demonstrated is their completion of a degree in business management while demonizing the musicians at the expense of the city of Atlanta, its patrons and the benefactors it has a responsibility to serve.