News

If you have an instrument that you are not using, consider donating it to a student who may not otherwise have an opportunity to own, rent or play one. Here’s how we do it:

Donate an Instrument

 

Our next membership meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 21 at 7:00. The meeting will held online through gotomeeting.com or, on the telephone if you don’t have a camera or microphone on your computer.

https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/561602045

You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (872) 240-3212

Access Code: 561-602-045

New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/561602045

Dear fellow Local 14 members,

It is with great sadness that I write to inform you that Local 14 President Emeritus Neil Brown passed away on Friday, August 7.

Neil was a longtime pianist-member, Secretary/Treasurer, President of Local 14, and when I became President, he graciously volunteered to come back from retirement as Secretary/Treasurer.

On a personal level, I became friends with Neil through playing gigs, but he became a mentor to me when I became vice-president and then president. Besides showing me the ropes in dealing with the AFM, he taught me the importance of leading through consensus, and bringing people with varied backgrounds and opinions to be on the same page.

He will be missed by many. Neil’s obituary can be seen here:

https://www.newcomeralbany.com/Obituary/187781/Neil-Brown-Jr/Albany-NY

In solidarity,

John Van Voris
President of our Albany Musicians’ Association   

Congratulations to the 2020 Tommy Ippolito Scholarship Awardees!

Sam Hatfield from Burnt Hills/ Ballston Lake High School, a drummer who will be studying Commercial Music/Jazz Studies/Jazz Performance at Belmont University.

Catherine Jantson from Bethlehem High School, a vocalist who will be studying Music Education at Ithaca College.

William Han from Shenendehowa High School, a cellist who will be studying Cello Performance at SMU.

 

That Life is Gone.

It was always hard making a living as a musician in New York City. The quarantine has made it impossible.

 

Dear fellow Local 14 members:

It is with great sadness that I write to you to advise of the passing of longtime Local 14 jazz pianist, Scott Bassinson. Scott was a very talented musician, and a great man. He will be missed. (Obituary).

In solidarity,

John Van Voris
President of our Albany Musicians’ Association

Dear fellow Local 14 members: I hope this email finds you healthy and well. Tino Gagliardi is the International Representative to the AFM from the Eastern Region, and by the way always a great help to me and all of us. Tino put together this listing (below) of information & resources that can help musicians financially through this tough time. Some of them I had already sent you, but there are new ones too. I hope they help. In solidarity, John Van Voris President of our Albany Musicians’ Association Local 14 – American Federation of Musicians 2nd VP, Eastern Conference of Locals   Generally-available resources   Music Covid Relief https://musiccovidrelief.com/?fbclid=IwAR0PLV_cYG7pVx9EOS8U2ehBVZB7sHNp8LBDcQ6lxLuJLFSy96kVpthXQZc   Equal Sound Corona Relief Fund https://equalsound.org/project/corona-relief-fund/   Creative Capital List of Arts Resources https://creative-capital.org/2020/03/13/list-of-arts-resources-during-the-covid-19-outbreak/   MusiCares https://www.grammy.com/musicares   US Federal disaster relief https://www.disasterassistance.gov/get-assistance/forms-of-assistance/4466?fbclid=IwAR3Ct7WFQ2ZBqhS07iZYT5maoRaJC7BWjbpIs3YC1iZIYCeI8CYEUCRbVgM   FEMA Unemployment Insurance for non-employees through State UI agencies www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1528984254955-49515ab3f8eeca0627f777a8abe4347a/DisasterUnemploymentAssistance.pdf   Misc. Resources (separate list grouped by genre/location, with some duplication) https://www.nicolericcardomedia.com/covid-19-resources?fbclid=IwAR0tSwvDMjzV8h1UCqYLL21MZ2FZtKlRWaW9lg_Ui6sWvtEcSIkg_XAitQ0   CARES Act webinar (Weinberg, Roger & Rosenfeld) https://zoom.us/rec/play/75V7I-2rrmo3GIWSuASDAKJwW9W6evishiRIrPZZmk7gWiYGYAeiZrZEMOGlQnOag6QsyCvlebAZb-_U?continueMode=true&_x_zm_rtaid=fCZV-4QVQAG4StBaA9b6rA.1585753947648.0bec30bcc738cb07455180f6654c60f3&_x_zm_rhtaid=931   AFM-specific resources   AFM Lester Petrillo Memorial Fund for those diagnosed or quarantined https://www.afm.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Petrillo-Fund-Application.pdf   Posted by SSD, available through afm.org AFM.org COVID-19 Resources page https://www.afm.org/covid-19/?link_id=0&can_id=2f3c17ba0c0400fa8cb36b04a35d8ef1&source=email-covid-19-update-12&email_referrer=email_748693&email_subject=covid-19-update   Union Plus Hardship Assistance Mortgage https://www.unionplus.org/hardship-help/mortgage-assistance Hardship Help https://www.unionplus.org/hardship-help/union-plus-hardship-help-benefits   Public information resources   AFL-CIO COVID-19 Resources https://u1584542.ct.sendgrid.net/mps2/c/DAE/ni0YAA/t.301/A4F6JL6vR0q1Szrtq6C1jA/h1/bYLVi6t3-2FW1nVWcg-2FMzbnpH0nMGjpUnZAalvH1o-2BxEMB-2F7Sh99VA4YmhhPioceJ7W1xqcFbmu6x-2B6TVFiJ18XkCms7aJQ2ndT9hgcYhH9KDWnxxX1YAHXpri-2FsFYeAlTp3Z-2Fgjagye1kQskA8WY12fyQzinbVde4DXtykRCVl-2BKdoktyXcd0HWeM4UGScqEVU8f7B5KqwzUUTfNJCXq4KzoX9cQ7NJ06stsMs-2FMFB8k-3D/kAs0   Center for Disease Control (CDC) Prevention and Treatment  https://u1584542.ct.sendgrid.net/mps2/c/DAE/ni0YAA/t.301/A4F6JL6vR0q1Szrtq6C1jA/h2/1YXpTJLyDzcgYlh6nZhZs0A6M8-2FvHxLR6fPemZ4MRxFFnSICj3gv-2FQExxxeSfVHDBdJ7-2BuUAwq8lYHfGw7XaY-2FnnQslXv0IgTfw0dBUefK6N7UMohyKFnWNK7zwcclphTU6z5WOpADkoPY8h75GTg-2FvDsIEXAFr9Tr31iFL-2BaqHoppwbExou0aNMiUYru-2F9RoXdXWmSzCS3u-2BLpsVQ3vftPOamGX9Q1eEhweCiwp2tI-3D/ewim   Center for Disease Control (CDC) Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers  https://u1584542.ct.sendgrid.net/mps2/c/DAE/ni0YAA/t.301/A4F6JL6vR0q1Szrtq6C1jA/h3/gLfiC-2BORwlvX5HliZ-2BrktrtQ3o-2F1mJECMc0hZj1hLvI27Q-2BxeC4WP-2BeLpVtBugikvKiCllP4AaAAynkfIQCMuNmpfGoQp1poMaofLFPnnY2yo5EzBd0qwjln4KQ5pXiE07aniJpBEupwocp19G0XAT3P3jBRX1P2gTjanRpHf8H3Cv-2B7cw2TkNbuLSRtsUECh22Ma-2BgA2u5A94xvZOuKkRiwvnq1ub08PH404PlhM0Df-2BGBxrMmH9BSsxtfsczDeFdhgOY-2F2XbJI4jotIqn6MqsHAye0fdgDlugLnazGzvw-3D/gmeg   Occupational Safety & Health Administration  https://u1584542.ct.sendgrid.net/mps2/c/DAE/ni0YAA/t.301/A4F6JL6vR0q1Szrtq6C1jA/h4/1YXpTJLyDzcgYlh6nZhZs0A6M8-2FvHxLR6fPemZ4MRxHHEyAG3JVGvbhBKuquVD1qvVac8aAOcsT6mXeLnnHv0oOKDuPCOX8ByvNkwFluavTcnKw8EyrPMLEDCXxQKdTce4bxLrTAHBzaVd0tZH9ok0tTgmhu7mG0TiAowlyx2sMzLwDxPJEsZlT45D8XN4DN5nzQ8tR4NWClyliS3sAUCxtbwrjCBdGmutLUkwAuU0s-3D/DKFG   Public Health Agency of Canada’s COVID-19 Updates and Resources  https://u1584542.ct.sendgrid.net/mps2/c/DAE/ni0YAA/t.301/A4F6JL6vR0q1Szrtq6C1jA/h5/2q-2FcO1wL0nM5egmGYAWG85TJlp8I-2BTrob3aRWJ2fpALtJRlhDZilzlJEBRasiHwq5rP84RMtiZl98UuxbeyFC-2BfVIzAhUE4vAAzXNLNH4XQdOuOpYaahSO9LA5yw5t7Xh8RHGXZnyl4zZbIF8Qjif5klvhwDBvrThiv4cRwVrZSML3FI6tSx-2BJ-2BeWxPKP4Q4mwQpfm6ZoXcx-2F9BNCDaRlsl-2Byj1yCl-2BgqtQEzMBEjO38lJjmACCsiTaYiI4JzsnLUEh3x85l3BkprhzBpsh36l-2FMNMF1DOwWW0IYuiwLj3DIB1XKRxractj9h53npjf8/JSyr   Public Health Departments in the United States  https://u1584542.ct.sendgrid.net/mps2/c/DAE/ni0YAA/t.301/A4F6JL6vR0q1Szrtq6C1jA/h6/gLfiC-2BORwlvX5HliZ-2BrktmCUh0HpJcn8x-2FE-2FUPgOFDQOmXxy6GXrE0hM8QbYntoihUI3xgQ-2B1LzUjYIuCE18t5jCJIrs3IG-2BSTtFtB4hniS-2B6JfcYFkGyuG627VRJXqPnOWMq2IceD-2BeyaFyzUuKumyXOTnQebnKGbxARusD10FP-2BpxUUZoWkadGmo2C2SWda3lAUFbmD44LfrmQu2KPauytv70l1TKSiK4xoy-2F0FDTWV1blXXcqNC2XmN5yQjDb-2FoJfshr-2BY6TLhCYCjjidF-2FcoNd6vzgP-2FzWelZHIczY4-3D/dP80   World Health Organization  https://u1584542.ct.sendgrid.net/mps2/c/DAE/ni0YAA/t.301/A4F6JL6vR0q1Szrtq6C1jA/h7/wchnW42zxje2dEKtXYNysPbp4d0EfEUUB-2FzcjMsKArmJM6fUTz0oYKF-2F5UbFYlhDDD1o6sUAkeL4zKVFhs5rk-2BrsuVCG8d4x1oUW5OLlv8v4k-2FvZP2lEdS2o4KUim-2BeOKTxMsUHlNtlVr0CKt3Ay2UGpVNc1gvDfx-2FcOP7lGjcka9rttDE4xMWoNNTU8efaZIoKcXhKoSEkbICckrZ8hcz3wFHMM9TuqsnrdQ7YBmFnHTeldYWiwWK40Cfo3-2FAHYD-2F2AAGKfHIkBppHbxcHD8Q-3D-3D/Z30W

We, the musicians of AFM Local 14, continue to hope for the health and safety and economic relief for all.

Please see the following links to resources, including financial, for working musicians.

Coronavirus Resources for Music Creators
https://musicunitesus.bandzoogle.com/home

COVID-19 Resources for Artists and Arts Organizations
https://www.arts.gov/covid-19-resources-for-artists-and-arts-organizations

Our deepest appreciation to jazz pianist-composer-educator and Local 802 member Francesca Tanksley for sharing these resources widely.

As coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to impact people around the world and confirmed cases grow throughout North America, health and safety are our top priority. Doing everything possible to limit the spread of COVID-19 is vital, but we understand the disastrous financial impact this will have on many musicians and other working people. AFM is calling for immediate action to provide economic relief including expanding unemployment benefits and an immediate moratorium on evictions, foreclosures, and utility shut-offs.

This is an evolving situation that we are closely monitoring, but in the meanwhile please stay current with national, state/provincial and local public health guidelines. Please visit the links below for more information.

• AFL-CIO COVID-19 Resources
• Center for Disease Control (CDC) Prevention and Treatment
• Center for Disease Control (CDC) Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers
• Occupational Safety & Health Administration
• Public Health Departments in the United States
• World Health Organization

 

Local 14’s Annual Music Showcase at the NYS Museum has been postponed until late Summer or early Fall. Stay tuned and we’ll be in touch!