Letter to the Editor, Cleveland Plain Dealer

13 January 2010

One of the things that drew me to move to Cleveland was the greatness of the Cleveland Orchestra. If that greatness is diminished in any way, it will negatively impact this community in incalculable ways.

Let me share with you what I know about orchestra musicians- they are highly trained and conditioned athletes. Most began their musical schooling when their parents still had to hold their hands when they crossed the street. Even after winning their highly competitive positions in the Cleveland Orchestra, they continue to hone their skills some 40 to 60 hours per week, not the 20 hours per week that was recently published. Not a single one of them would keep their coveted jobs if they only played their instruments the hours they are required to be on stage. Does LeBron James play basketball two hours a day only at games?

Many of these orchestra musicians own instruments that cost more than their home mortgages. This labor dispute is not between the orchestra musicians and the management or the board, this dispute is between the arts and our region. Decades ago, the citizens of Cleveland decided that they would support one of the world’s best orchestras, if not the world’s best orchestra. It is up to the philanthropy of those in this community who believe in what this orchestra and all of the arts bring to the region who need to step forward and support what is truly theirs- the musicians of the great Cleveland Orchestra.

A silent concert hall is a terrible place.  Don’t let that happen in your own back yard.

Peter Landgren
Conservatory Director
Baldwin-Wallace College
Former Associate Principal Horn
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra