On September 4, San Francisco Symphony Chorus Director Emeritus Vance Y. George sent a personal message to Symphony CEO Matt Spivey and the SFS Board Officers, expressing his concern about the drastic proposed Chorus budget cuts. Today, with his permission, we are sharing the letter more widely.
Vance George is recognized internationally as one of the world’s leading choral conductors. During his 23 years as conductor with the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, the Chorus was hailed as one of the finest in the world, and he accepted two Grammy Awards and one Emmy on behalf of the Chorus.
We cannot thank him enough for standing with us as we continue our fight to SAVE THE CHORUS. Thank you, Vance!
VANCE-GEORGE-SFS-Letter
Text:
| Sent on behalf of Vance George |
| September 4, 2024 Matt Spivey Chief Executive Officer San Francisco Symphony Dear Matt, The Symphony management’s intention to make a drastic cut in the Chorus budget is simply awful. It’s a shockingly poor sign for the Chorus’s future, and deeply insulting to those who have given their time and talent to the Symphony, from the Chorus’s founding to its celebrated half century. Over this time, much devotion has been invested in building the character and quality of the Chorus. This has gained it national and international recognition as (in the words of one acclaimed guest conductor) “a model for the world.” Management’s cut would squander that investment. Diminishing the role of AGMA members or severely reducing their compensation would undermine the Chorus’s artistic integrity. It would, for example, frustrate maintaining continuity of vocal color and character across programs and seasons, and it would run counter to building group cohesion. The Chorus as a whole is an artistic community, not a random collection of interchangeable parts. Throughout my 23 years as Chorus Director, and since then when I’ve attended rehearsals and performances, many guest artists, critics, audience members, and patrons have enthusiastically expressed to me what the Chorus’s past and current work means to them. I am profoundly saddened to see the message that the current actions of the Administration is sending to the Chorus and to the public, that the Chorus’s value to the Symphony is now held in extremely low esteem. I urge you and the Board to reassess the devastating damage your proposed cut would have to the Chorus, whose character and quality have been lovingly built by its artists—and held in the Administration’s trust—for over fifty years. Most Sincerely, Vance George Chorus Director Emeritus San Francisco Symphony cc: SFS Board Officers |