Los Angeles, CA [January 6, 2026] — Members of the American Federation of Musicians Local 47 have elected a new slate of titled officers to lead the union into its next chapter. Marc Sazer will assume the Presidency, with John Acosta returning as Vice President and Gail Kruvand continuing in her role as Secretary/Treasurer. All three officers ran unopposed.

Also elected were Trustees Alex Iles, Bonnie Janofsky and Phil O’Connor; Directors Allison Allport, Marcus Eley, Pam Gates, Lynn Grants, Aaron Smith and Meredith Snow; Hearing Officers Scott Higgins, Marisa McLeod, Allen Savedoff, and Byron Sleugh; Allison Allport, Phil O’Connor and Meredith Snow as Delegates to the AFM Convention; Steve Dress for First Alternate Delegate to the AFM Convention; and Pam Gates for Second Alternate Delegate.

The newly elected titled officers and executive board members will be sworn in for a three-year term at the union’s Inaugural Meeting of the membership on January 12.

President Marc Sazer, a lifelong violinist, has enjoyed a long career both in the recording studios of Hollywood and in Southern California concert halls. A native Angeleno and graduate of the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, he has performed for innumerable film, television, recording and other media projects, from TV shows like “Animaniacs” and “Pinky & the Brain” to “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” and “Empire,” films from “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” to “Star Wars Episode IX,” to sound recordings for Shirley Horn, Frank Sinatra, Randy Newman and more. He also served as a longtime tenured member of the first violin section of the Pasadena Symphony. Sazer’s history of activism is based deeply in committee work — bargaining committees, organizing committees, AFM Convention committees, political engagement in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. and more. He has served as Vice President of Local 47 since 2022.

“I am thrilled to be able to work to advance musicians’ interests in this new role. We’ve assembled a stellar leadership team, and look forward with optimism and excitement to helping our musical community build a strong and thriving future together!”

Vice President John Acosta, New York-born, Los Angeles-based musician, returns as vice president after previously serving as president of Local 47 and most recently as a director on the executive board. A composer, producer, and internationally recognized labor advocate, Acosta has been a powerful advocate for musicians’ rights through his work with the American Federation of Musicians over the past two decades. He has championed causes such as fair wages, workplace diversity, and protections for recording and live musicians across film, TV, and other media. Acosta has also served as Regional Coordinator for Latin America for the International Federation of Musicians (FIM), where he led labor training initiatives, helping organize unions across Central and South America. He has been a member of the AFM International Executive Board (IEB) since 2016, advocating for musicians across locals large and small, with a strong emphasis on equity, access, and representation for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and women musicians.

Secretary/Treasurer Gail Kruvand, now re-elected for another term, has served in this position since winning a special election in April 2023. Kruvand’s career as a bassist in New York City spanned 40 years, working in many areas including the major orchestras of Lincoln Center, freelance concerts, recording and Broadway. As a member of the New York City Opera Orchestra, she served on the orchestra committee and was elected as a delegate to ICSOM, one of the five Player Conferences in the AFM. She served on the Executive Board at Local 802 from 2010-2017, graduated from the Cornell University Union Leadership Institute in 2014, and earned a Certificate in Labor Relations from the City University of NY in 2015. In 2017, Kruvand was appointed as a rank-and-file trustee to the American Federation of Musicians and Employers’ Pension Fund, and chaired the Measures and Benefits Committee at the AFM Convention in both 2016 and 2023.

About AFM Local 47 – Local 47 is a labor organization formed by and for musicians over a century ago that promotes and protects the concerns of over 5,000 musicians throughout the greater Los Angeles area in all facets of the music business. Local 47 is affiliated with the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada, the largest organization in the world representing the interests of 70,000 professional musicians.