RIver City Brass Band

Brass Band fighting to play on
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
By Andrew Druckenbrod, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The River City Brass Band has postponed rehearsals this week, but officials hold out hope that the next set of concerts -- and the band itself -- will continue.

"I think that we will have a clearer picture of the future in a week," said executive director Robert Parkinson. "We have been working on this since our December board meeting and staff, musicians and board members are working as hard as they can to find solutions. There are a series of events that we have to work through: agreement on expense cuts, raise the immediate cash and implement the long-term plan. The foundations have been fabulous, but they are strapped."

Later this week the band is looking to hear responses from foundations to its request for immediate funds. The River City Brass Band, which formed in 1981, is also talking to the musicians union about restructuring the collective bargaining agreement, which is due to expire in June. The 28 musicians are paid "per service"; many also teach or play in other groups.

The staff, which is salaried, has already been asked to take "painful cuts," Parkinson said. If the band gets the necessary funds in time to squeeze in the "requisite number" of rehearsals next week -- four plus a dress rehearsal Feb. 26 in the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Homewood -- then it will proceed with a series of concerts, "American Graffiti," beginning March 1. That concert takes place at the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center in Johnstown, with concerts to follow throughout the region.

For more details, read tomorrow's Post-Gazette.
Classical music critic Andrew Druckenbrod can be reached at adruckenbrod@post-gazette.com. He blogs at Classical Musings at www.post-gazette.com.
First published on February 17, 2009 at 6:32 pm