More Trouble for the Honolulu Symphony
June 5, 2009
The administrative offices of the Honolulu Symphony were broken into last week, according to a report by the Pacific Business News. An undisclosed amount of money was stolen.
The break-in follows months of bad news from the organization, as they struggle with a deficit of over $2 million for the 2008-2009 season. The 64 full-time and 20 part-time musicians of the Honolulu Symphony have reportedly not been paid since early 2009.
Tom Gulick, the executive director of the Honolulu Symphony, has resigned from his position, effective June 30th, and a replacement has not yet been found. At least 3 musicians have also resigned during the past season.
According to a recently released compensation report from Adaptistration.com, the base musician salary for the 2006/2007 season at the Honolulu Symphony was $26,800. The executive director position earned $171,936.
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6/26/2009
That’s why they call it the Honolulu SYMPATHY Orchestra…because the Honolulu Symphony is always trying to generate money and support through sympathy.
If any other Hawaii business were to experience a break in (of which there are and have been many)…this paper and the media would make little or no mention of it.
That is probably why the amount of money stolen was undisclosed. In order to play down the insignificance of this event, especially when compared to other real significant financial losses throughout Hawaii.
6/26/2009
I seriously doubt the complexities concerning the current state of the HSO are that great. Considering the number of people in general (it IS an island), the number of people interested in such a musical genre, not to mention the many island locals who often times claim to harbor a resentment of European descendants occupying the islands to begin with (“cracker” : mainland :: “holly” : islands), and the amount of reasons why the HSO is in trouble starts to diminish significantly.
Also, could it be that they just aren’t as good as they think they are? The appreciation for the style of music doesn’t necessarily translate into accepting all those who perform the style.
7/23/2009
Symphony members getting aid and donations to work around children for school programs…I don’t think so.
The current Honolulu Symphony Principal Horn Wade Butin has a propensity to recommend and try to hire ex-girlfriends (i.e. Kim Penrod & Michelle Perry) and what would this say to our aspiring young music students? That they have to date the principal player in order to get a job in music? Yet another principal player and conductor (Stewart) was witnessed exposing his genitals to other fellow musicians which caused so much concern that he would do the same to young students that he was voted down for the position of Honolulu Symphony Educational Director – Conductor. What if one of these un-certified performers starts to sue the state for frivolous sexual harassment complaints…ala second horn player Michiko Singh…against school faculty, staff or even worse enters into an inappropriate relationship with a student, staff or even worse enters into an inappropriate relationship with a student and exposes that student to illegal drugs as which is suspected of George Warnock to his former student Brad? In fact this has already occurred and has resulted in the expulsion of the student from his private school with no reprimand to the symphony musician who introduced him to the illegal drugs. The principal oboists Scott Janusch’s landlord Kiku is constantly screening his personal messages in fear that he will continue to pick up men at bars and bring them home to her place. With regards to the second French horn player Michiko Singh…how many times was she arrested by police during Honolulu Symphony concerts for violations to TRO restraining orders issued by her neighbors and part time boyfriends?? The clarinetist James Moffet moved in so fast on former girlfriend and Honolulu symphony cellist Nancy Masaki after her husband died that she did not have time to grieve. And he was later seen trying to pick up and meet other Japanese girls at the Mai Tai bar in Waikiki despite a huge lifestyle upgrade to Nancy’s home from a small studio across from Safeway near Foster Botanical Garden with married (to Honolulu Symphony Ann Krinitsky) timpanist Stuart Chafetz. Often composed and arranged by Honolulu Symphony violinist and orchestra “pimp” Rami Gepner.
Other Honolulu Symphony men such as Honolulu Symphony Associate Principal Percussionist Riely Francis were witnessed having gay sex in the public backstage Neal S. Blaisdell concert hall bathroom with another former guest oboist and now permanent Associate Principal Oboist Brian Greene. Associate Principal Trombone Eric Mathis has been witnessed engaging in road rage with other volatile Hawaiian drivers. His affairs with pianist Ann Agino are also well documented.
Given all of the dysfunction stimulated by symphony musicians are these really the type of people we want to provide financial support to and expose to our children in our school systems?
9/13/2009
@David –
How is any of that relevant to the organizations funding? These are personal attacks, what look to be unfounded rumors, and completely irrelevant to the issue.
Even if it were true – are you expecting them to play Mozart on Saturdays, or give a sermon on Sundays? When did musicians become the moral authority in Hawaii? Stay out of their business.
If you don’t want an orchestra in Oahu, so be it. Don’t fund them. But if you are looking for a group of saints, look somewhere else.
9/14/2009
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