SYRACUSE -- The musicians who once made up the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra are out with blistering criticism of the plan to bring live symphonic music back to Central New York.
Recently, a five year phased plan was revealed that calls for a new Syracuse Philharmonic in partnership with Syracuse University.
New musicians would not be hired, under the new plan, for a full three years into the creation of the Philharmonic.
The musicians say they've been left out of the planning and have been led to believe the new Philharmonic would be a mixed orchestra consisting of full and part-time professional musicians, training program fellows, and graduate students from Syracuse University.
The musicians say it is unlikely many of them would be able to survive in our community for several years with no guaranteed minimum salary, and possibly no benefits.
The new Philharmonic would also not be as good as the former Syracuse Symphony which went bankrupt. In a statement issued by the musicians, signed by Jon Garland, the Chairman of the Symphony Syracuse Foundation, he writes "As it has been proposed, the Syracuse Philharmonic will not be an orchestra which comes anywhere close to the artistic quality or stature of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra."
The Syracuse Philharmonic has planned two community forums. They will be held on Tuesday, September 13th from 3-5 pm and Tuesday, September 27th from 7-9 pm in Memorial Hall at the War Memorial at OnCenter, 515 Montgomery Street, Syracuse.
