The Silence of the Board Members ... from Sloan Atwood

Dear ASO Board,

I have been a member of this chorus since 93-94, the Shaw days, I have re-routed most of my life, jobs, marriage, time with children, any and all other activities outside of work for this organization because I believe in the permanence and healing power of music that spans the ages. I am not on any salary from the ASO and never will be, I simply do what I do for future generations and because it has enriched my own life beyond measure.

In negotiations, one practice, is to always make sure the other party has a way to save face. In order for this to happen, both sides have to be present and listening even when it is difficult to hear. Sometimes it is in this hearing that a way to accomplish this "saving of face" occurs.

I am very fearful for the future of this orchestra, for all of the time, care, and talent that has been so generously given by the members of this chorus for 42 years. For the lifetime career choices of the orchestra that you simply cannot replace with a new group. What we have took 70 years to make. When we are on that stage we are one heart beat, one organism.

This level of silence is very disturbing, it tells us that maybe things are so bad that you dare not speak to
us. What is so bad that you believe that people that have met in love, in community, for their livelihoods, are unable to hear? Do you believe that what you know is so bad that we can in no way work together to fix it? Is what you are not saying so horrible that it would be easier to destroy an entire orchestra than to sit together in disagreement until something can be worked out?

Please consider that we are all adults that want to play again, to have music fill the halls, please consider that we will not be musically diminished in this process. You cannot be great and then at someone else's bidding become smaller and less than you can be, the human spirit does not work that way unless it has been conquered, is this your goal? To conquer and rebuild because it is easier than facing the horribleness of our financial reality together?

Please let us preserve this artistic achievement, enter into honest conversation together so we may all find a way to "save face".

Sloan Atwood
ASOC #409