Collateral Damage, coming soon to this musician's blog - A tale of two stories, or what happens when the door is slammed in your face when you least expect it

The door to my musical home for the last  45 + years has been slammed in my face and I wasn't even expecting it, nor did I have all the necessary documentation to prevent it from happening .

Susan Whipple Rogers . . . . . . . . . SSO 2nd Horn . . . . . Collateral Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . 

So, here's a story for you

Remember when orchestra musicians received an update of "IMPORTANT CHANGES" and REVISIONS in a CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) before voting on a new  Contract Agreement? Especially, language in articles that have not seen notable revision in years? Not just salaries and services, but ALL pertinent information that might affect the way the orchestra members vote? 

Shouldn't providing this information in a timely manner be a requirement, at least a courtesy? But what if this same information is NEVER PROVIDED during the length of that current collective bargaining agreement? And what if that same language revision is suspect of inattentiveness, carelessness or lack of proofing? What if same language suddenly allows others to control your life and tenure in the orchestra without your knowledge because you've never seen the language and you are not privy to these revisions? Two years after the signing of "A" contract document by both parties and you've never seen this revised language, nor has it been provided to rank and file members of the orchestra. Suddenly within a period of two days, you are without your job and your income. 

Who is responsible for this "mistake" and the collateral damage fall out? And make no mistake, the collateral damage has fallen on only one member of the orchestra - me! Why? NO OTHER ORCHESTRA MEMBERS were effected because NO OTHER ORCHESTRA MEMBERS failed to receive an individual contract offer on May 15 after having received the legal INTENT LETTER for the coming season on March 15 during negotiations . Thank about it. An INTENT LETTER is issued "in good faith" on March 15 and rescinded on May 15, two months later.  Again, how does that situation happen? How was it "allowed" to happen and who is ultimately at fault?

What would you do if this situation happened to you? What avenues are open within the orchestra family and outside the family? 

SSMF - more FREE jazz - August 25 and September 1 at the LA State Exhibit Building Auditorium

The Shreveport Summer Music Festival Eddie Kozak Jazz Series returns this Saturday and Labor Day week-end for the final two concerts in the series of four. These performances are in their inaugural season and we would love to see the series return next summer.

This Saturday night September 25, the Jazz Professors take the stage at the Louisiana State Exhibit Building on the Fair Grounds in Shreveport, LA.

Saturday night September 1, The Brad Kozak Jazz Project will entertain and delight.

Both concerts are free and open to the public.

LA State Exhibit Bld.

3015 Greenwood Road

7:30 PM

ULM - On the road again 8-17-2012

Ahhhhhh, "You're getting to be a habit with me".  I'll have to research the composer who wrote that song, but I feel as though I could have written it myself. No, I don't think my sisters and I ever sang that one as we never travelled to Monroe when we all lived here although 2 of us did travel to Natchitoches for the orchestra/band ensemble festivals (on a school bus). Loved to play horn duets, trios and quartets. And we always made a "Superior" rating for solos and ensembles. Judy Causey was in our horn group at Lakeshore Jr. High and later Fair Park H.S.

This time on my weekly trip to Monroe, I certainly wasn't bored. No music this time, but two lanes of east bound traffic suddenly came to a screeching stop when a very large 18 wheeler threw what was left of a tire all over the road right in front of us. Thank you, hubby, for replacing my break pads recently. My Volvo stopped on a dime only inches from the auto in front of me. Whewwwwwwwww! Last week, driving back home, I ran over what appeared to be a huge chunk of scrap metal which I couldn't avoid and heard it whap and clang underneath the car as it worked its way out from under the back bumper. Kept checking the gauges all the way to Shreveport for any signs of a problem, leakages, etc. Harold checked as well a few days later and said I hit it just right - in the middle of the undercarriage. I don't even want to repeat what he said could have been damaged or torn off. Several thousand dollars of car parts!! Plus all the labor,  his labor, of course.

James Boldin and I worked on some excerpts and went through our usual duet routine switching off parts. So, now I have the Brandenburg Concerto No. 1, 2nd Horn part and am reminded of my previous efforts many years ago. It's been about 30 years since I have played it, and I had forgotten what a bugger it is. I remember being on stage some years ago at the Civic Theatre and playing the 1st part to the last movement for some show. Now that was exciting!!!! Or should I say painful? I love those high "c's" . . . . . . . uh . . . . . . I'm speechless. They just go on and on if you are playing ad libitum.


Dr. James Boldin - excerpts

protein bar, green tea, my "bag" and this time, my Lawson,

although I dearly love my Rauch

Passing the time buzzing

An old friend from the past greets me with a "hello" again and a "how are you   playing 
this week?" 

SSMF second Jazz concert - Saturday 8-18-2012

***********FREE JAZZ PERFORMANCE *********

Bassist Chris Allen is bringing several friends with him to the Louisiana State Exhibit Building on Greenwood Road Saturday night for a look at blues and jazz in our culture. Special guest, singer Seva May, joins the ensemble to round out an evening which promises to leave you begging for more. This performance is the second in a series of three jazz concerts presented this summer by the Shreveport Summer Music Festival with Director Leonard Kacenjar. Named in honor of local musician and educator Edward (Eddie" Kozak this is its inaugural season, with one more concert to follow next Saturday, August 25, also at 7:30 PM, also at the LA. State Exhibit building on the State Fair Grounds.

Seva May of SB Magazine

The "other" friends are drummer Galen Smith, keyboardists Matt Harris and Winston Hall and jazz flutist/saxophonist George Hancock.

Saturday 8-18-2012

Louisiana State Exhibit Building on Greenwood Road

7:30 PM, concert time

Galen, Chris, Matt

Winston and Chris

the performance

the Friends - Matt, Chris, Winston, Seva, Galen, and George

MORE INFO. to follow

Violist Marcus Rose sets recital for Friday August 17, 2012

Marcus Rose will be in recital at Frost Chapel, FBC  . . . Friday August 17, @ 6:30 PM

Violist Marcus Rose - Juilliard student

Marcus Rose, a former student of local professional violist Borys Smolaga is now an undergraduate student at the prestigious Juilliard  School of Music in New York. I asked him to update me on his studies and here is his reply:

"Well , I've been home for a little over a month after finishing a half session at the Castleman Quartet Program in NY.  Other than that I've just been preparing for the recital and trying to get the word out as much as possible.  I'm at Juilliard right now studying with Steven Tenenbom, head of Chamber music at Curtis Institute, and Heidi Castleman.  I got to perform with Juilliard orchestra at Alice Tully and Avery Fischer Hall.  And I got a loaned viola from the Virtu foundation.  That's pretty much my recent life in a nutshell."

IN A NUTSHELL? Hardly! ...... Wow. Marcus is still a teen-ager.

In 2009, while still a student at Caddo Magnet School, Marcus won the TSO Youth Solo Competition held annually by the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra. He also played in the Marshall Symphony, The Longview Symphony and was an active musician in various church programs and social functions.

Marcus at the Perot Theatre in Texarkana, working with his
viola teacher Borys Smolaga before orchestra rehearsal

Marcus, a Marshall Symphony section violist

This Friday night August 17, Marcus will be giving a FREE recital at 6:30 PM at First Baptist Church, Frost Chapel. Featured are works by Bach, Faure', Paganini, Schubert, Bartok, and Dr. Todd Gabriel. 

I plan to be there and I hope you will be, too. Let's support our young musicians. They are our future!!

ULM driving time from Shreveport? Depends on the RV's, trucks, day of the week and your choice of music

For me, driving to Monroe to work with ULM's James Boldin once a week has not been that much of a hassle. Now, driving west toward Dallas from Shreveport for the same distance is sometimes a wall to wall nightmare, especially since I-20 West speed limit is now 75 MPH. Yes, that's what I said, for those of you who haven't ventured into East Texas in the past few months. So, now instead of driving 80, motorists, truckers and RVers  are now driving 85. Now that's scary!

So, my trip this week wasn't monotonous, but I decided to listen to the radio. Turned it onto Public Radio, KDAQ, and there I was listening to the "Beatles". I looked again. Did I plug in the wrong station? Where was my Tchaikovsky and Brahms, Chopin and Mozart? It was Regional Orchestra time!! No, It's right where I always have it, my number 1 on the Hit Parade! It wasn't the wrong station. What then? Had to wait for for some commentary, and lo and behold, I was listening to a South Arkansas Symphony concert from last season, 'The Beatles, Magical Mystery Tour". OOOh! "Hey Jude', I was in my younger days singing along, a time when my boys were growing up and everyone was protesting something. Made me feel younger just thinking about those times. Since I have a birthday arriving on Wednesday this week, I tearted myself to an early BD present.

Telemann, anyone?

Holton Descant

Gunther Schuller studies last Friday (plus others, of course) and long tones and duets. I've owned the Schuller studies for many years, but their faint calling to me has been missing over the years and so I am reacquainting myself now with the vigor and vitality they deserve. Did I say that?

SSMF Kozak Memorial Jazz Concert series takes off this Sunday August 12, 2012 @ 2:00 PM

 . . . . . Sunday IS THE DAY . . . . .

August 12, 2012 -  2:00 PM

The newly established Shreveport Summer Music Festival's Kozak Memorial Jazz Series in honor of well known Shreveport musician Edward (Eddie Kozak) kicks off this Sunday, August, 12, 2012 at 2:00 PM 

The Waterford  @

2220 E. Bert Kouns

All 3 concerts are FREE and open to the public

Brad Kozak and Company with singer Seva May

Brad Kozak

SSMF Director Leonard Kacenjar

Be there with us to hear and see son Brad Kozak and his jazz ensemble along with Seva May play and sing those great jazz hits you crave to hear again and again!!

 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Also mark these dates for more concerts in the Jazz Series

Saturday August 18th -  7:30 PM

Bassist Chris Allen and Friends with singer Seva May

Auditorium of the LA State Exhibit Bld. 3015 Greenwood Rd

Saturday August 25 - 7:30 PM

The Jazz Professors

State Exhibit Bld. 3015 Greenwood Rd

SSMF Jazz Series begins Sunday August 12, 2012