After 17 years with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel is leaving at the end of his contract this summer to become the music and artistic director of the New York Philharmonic. LA Philharmonic musicians share their words below on working with the celebrated music director over the years to build the orchestra into the world-famous institution that it is today.
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Late July and August are generally busy times for Local 47 leadership, as well as leaders from around the AFM. Our AFM Player Conferences and other AFM meetings typically occur then, and this year is no exception. I have just returned from a week in Dallas to represent 47 at the annual conferences of both the Theatre Musicians Association (TMA) and the Regional Orchestra Players’ Association (ROPA). In both cases our players were also represented by rank-and-file delegates; Stephen Green for TMA and Lynn Grants for ROPA.
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For most of us, touring is why we do what we do. There’s nothing like the rush of a live set or the connection with a new crowd. But let’s be real: behind the curtain, the road can be a grind that wears down even the toughest players.
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Seventy three years ago in the December 1953 Overture, our Local 47 leadership urged members to take political action with the following list of “Ten Ways to Join Political Fight”.
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Lynn Grants, Pasadena Symphony Delegate to the Regional Orchestra Players Association (ROPA), provides a report on the 2026 conference.
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The following report from the 31st Conference of the Theatre Musicians Association in Dallas, TX held on July 27 and 28 was submitted by Stephen Green, Vice President TMA SoCal Chapter.
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Member Spotlight
AFM Local 47 member Paulinho Da Costa made history in May as the first Brazilian-born entertainer to earn a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The achievement is in recognition for a life spent recording on some of the most recognizable and best-selling albums and soundtracks of all time. His mastery of over 200 percussion instruments and infectious rhythms can be heard on hundreds of works spanning five decades.
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In recognition of America’s 250-year celebration, composer Peter Boyer and photographer Joe Sohm have created a multi-media work called American Mosaic, which is being performed across the country. They bring a wealth of creative talent and experience to the project, with Joe having more than one million published images over a career of forty years, and Peter composing a catalog of orchestral works which have received nearly one thousand live orchestral performances, and contributing orchestrations to many high-profile film projects. Local 47 talked with Peter and Joe to learn more about American Mosaic.
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The 103rd AFM Convention was held in Ottawa, Canada in June, and your representative Delegates who attended were myself, Secretary/Treasurer Gail Kruvand along with Local 47 Executive Board Officers Meredith Snow and Allison Allport. Vice President Acosta attended as an AFM International Executive Officer.
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No musician should ever have to choose between pursuing their art and protecting their health. Yet rising healthcare costs, coupled with the reduction of Affordable Care Act subsidies, are creating unprecedented sticker shock for working Californians. Too many musicians are finding themselves forced to drop their health coverage simply because they can no longer afford it.
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