{"id":4945,"date":"2018-05-23T11:22:19","date_gmt":"2018-05-23T18:22:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.afm47.org\/press\/?p=4945"},"modified":"2018-05-25T08:24:21","modified_gmt":"2018-05-25T15:24:21","slug":"a-truly-grand-opening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/afm47.org\/press\/a-truly-grand-opening\/","title":{"rendered":"A Truly Grand Opening"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(Linda A. Rapka)<\/p><\/div>\n

Close to 300 musicians, dignitaries and friends turned out on the evening of May 21, 2018 for the official Grand Opening Dedication Ceremony to commemorate the new home of American Federation of Musicians Local 47 at 3220 Winona Ave. in Burbank.<\/p>\n

This past summer, our union began our relocation from Hollywood to a beautifully renovated building in Burbank. With Phase 1 of construction recently completed, we were ready to celebrate in style!\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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(Tom Pease)<\/p><\/div>\n

Guests filtered in to a giant tent set up on the parking lot in front of the main entrance of the new building. Students from the Burbank Unified High School Marching Band kicked things off with a rousing drumline. Among the many VIPs in attendance were the building\u2019s architect, John Cambianica of CBA Architects, and general contractor, Mike McCormick of McCormick Construction, and representatives from labor unions and organizations including SAG-AFTRA, Film Musicians Secondary Markets Fund, Musicians At Play, The Actors Fund, AFM Local 6 San Francisco, NABET-CWA Local 53, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, California Jazz Foundation, Los Angeles Jazz Society, Formosa Group, Burbank Cultural Arts Commission, Los Angeles Community College District, and many more.<\/p>\n

AFM Local 47 President John Acosta and Vice President Rick Baptist served as masters of ceremony. “As we begin a new chapter here in Burbank, we will continue to advocate for professional musicians,” Acosta said. “Whether it be for film and television tax incentives to bring jobs back to the state of California, to advocate for more funding for our orchestras through the National Endowment of the Arts, or for fair pay for musicians performing in nightclubs, Local 47 will continue to be the voice of the professional musician in our new home for many, many years to come.”<\/p>\n

The impressive lineup of special guest speakers included:<\/p>\n