UPDATE: Music director Denis Colwell to leave River City Brass Band

UPDATE 3/2/09

Well, the upheaval continues, sort of, with the River City Brass Band. The band confirmed that music director Denis Colwell plans to leave the group when the time is right. I talked with him today, and he feels it is just the right time for new leadership. He has been the director and conductor for 15 years and his loss will certainly be felt by audiences. More in an interview to follow.

Concertmaster Bernie Black said that the RCBB concert in Johnstown on Sunday went well. It was the first since the musicians and band management reached a tentative agreement on a new contract after a struggle.

"It was very positive with lots of energy," he said. "We got through the tedious rehearsals (four in three days) and still had the chops to perform. It was very enthusiastic."

The unionized musicians have not yet officially signed the new CBA with RCBB, but it is expected to be voted on this week, before the next concert, Friday at Gateway High School

UPDATE 1/26/09:

The band will play on.

Addressing its rocky financial situation, River City Brass Band management and musicians yesterday reached a settlement on a new collective bargaining agreement.

Its steep cuts in pay will help the band, founded in 1981, to avert a shutdown and ensure its scheduled concerts in spring will take place, starting with a performance Sunday in Johnstown at the Pasquerilla Arts Center.

"We will put on a great show on Sunday," said executive director Robert Parkinson. "We are all prepared to get back to work and to entertain our audiences."

After a meeting yesterday with a federal mediator, the two sides came to the following two major terms, with specific language to be worked out in the coming days for the final vote:

• All River City Brass Band employees -- the unionized 28-member band and the seven-person administrative staff -- will take a 15 percent cut in pay, effective until June 30, 2010. Music director Denis Colwell agreed to a 30 percent cut.

• The number of rehearsals (currently four plus one dress rehearsal) will not be changed this spring, but in fall they will be reduced to three (plus a dress rehearsal). The musicians, members of Local 60-471 of the American Federation of Musicians, are paid "per service." That means a loss in a rehearsal service results in further cut in pay, said Philip Webster, a percussionist in the group and the head of the band committee.

For the rest of the article, click here

Finally, the saga is over. It is good news, but of course also rough news as all the employees are taking a 15% pay cut (!) with the musicians losing even more in the fall with a cut in rehearsals. That is a tough pill to swallow, but at least they get to keep playing, and hopefully it will only be temporary.

UPDATE Wednesday, Feb. 25:

Like most negotiations that concern people's livelihood, the talks between the River City Brass Band, Inc. and its unionized musicians are continuing in tough, back-and-forth manner. Actually things got a little extra heated this week, but the musicians convinced management to accept a non-binding federal mediator to help cool them down and it seems that has had a positive affect. They are meeting today hoping again to hammer out a deal that will let the band continue.

Already one concert has been cancelled, but it is a lesser one (actually a dress rehearsal they sell tickets to) and there is still time to save the rest of the March ones. Finding time and availablity for those and getting the band members to make them will be difficult, but they should ultimately work).

But both sides need to make a deal that will allow the possibility of next season working, not just to make it to the end of this one, and the band's endowment may not give emergency funds if the former doesn't look possible.

For the sake of both the musicians and staff, I hope the deal gets done, but for the sake of the audiences that love RCBB, we all do.

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Since my article ran Saturday outlining the struggles of the River City Brass Band, I have gotten several supportive e-mails from fans. There is definitely a fanbase out there locally for RCBB, but will it will be enough to counter-balance the bad economy and problems the band is facing?

I sincerely hope it is not the end for this group. Keep an eye on the Post-Gazette in the coming days and weeks as we continue to follow this story.

UPDATE: Our latest update on the band is that it has postponed concerts this week, but that the concerts in March could still happen. Things are up in the air, folks, so if you want to express your support, call or write them:

800-292-7222 or RIVER CITY BRASS BAND, 500 Grant Street / Suite 2720,Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2502