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Posted September 3, 2005 at 6:22 AM (MST)
Violinists in New Orleans Need Your HelpA 'Monday Morning Gossip' Extra on Hurricane Katrina: LPO violinist trapped in NO, an exclusive LPO interview, and ways to help musicians in need.By Darcy Lewis LPO Violinist Trapped in New Orleans All members of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra are believed to be safely evacuated from New Orleans, with one exception. “Most members have checked in and we are looking for a ride for the lone violinist left behind,” says Jack Gardner, LPO Personnel Manager. Violinist Burt Callahan is trapped inside his second-floor apartment in the St. Charles neighborhood of New Orleans. Friend and colleague Scott Slapin has managed to get through on his cell phone nearly every night. “He can usually receive incoming calls late at night but can’t call out,” Slapin says. “He lives in a large building that is now totally deserted except for one other person.” Slapin says Callahan has plenty of food and his spirits are holding up pretty well. “But Burt has asthma severe enough that he has to go to the ER at least a couple times a year,” he says. “We’re all worried about him down there without air conditioning.” Slapin has attempted to notify the authorities about Callahan’s plight and whereabouts, as well as posted his name on several “I’m OK” bulletin boards. Callahan has no car. Slapin and wife Tanya Solomon urged Callahan to come with them when they evacuated New Orleans before the mass exodus. “I just wish he’d come with us, but this was before the big panic, and maybe he just didn’t want to be a burden,” says Slapin. “By the time the situation became a crisis, it was too late.”
Violinist.com exclusive interview: When Scott Slapin and Tanya Solomon left their New Orleans home last Saturday night, they figured they’d relax with friends in Knoxville, Tenn., for a few days, then head home, relieved that the Big Easy had once again dodged the Big One. But the world knows all too-well what happened instead: Hurricane Katrina came to call, and life on the Gulf Coast will not be the same again for years, if ever.  The couple, both violists starting their third season with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, was relatively unconcerned about the impending hurricane. “It seemed like just another hurricane evacuation,” says Slapin. “We only left Saturday night because we knew traffic would be gridlocked on Sunday.” Their strategy worked: After putting both violas, a couple suitcases of clothes and a laptop computer into their new Saturn coupe, Slapin and Solomon made it to Knoxville in 9-1/2 hours, the normal time for such a drive. Solomon also remembered to grab the “hurricane box”—the always-ready-to-go repository of insurance papers, passports and other important documents—and a handful of Mardi Gras beads to hang over their rearview mirror for luck. This mélange now constitutes the sum of their worldly possessions. “We know we lost everything else,” says Slapin. “We’ve seen photos of our neighborhood, and it’s entirely under water. Tanya recognized the elevated sign of a gas station near our house—the gas station itself was totally submerged.” The couple had just moved into their 2,500 sq. ft. ranch house in July. Located around Robert E. Lee and Paris Avenues, the home’s location near City Park and less than one mile from Lake Ponchartrain sealed its fate. “What’s painful to think about are the other instruments, record collection, artwork and family photos we left behind,” Slapin says. “I had compositions from my composition teacher who has died, and I’d just been given our family’s oldest family heirloom, a pair of 150-year-old candlesticks from Russia.” Solomon hopes to be able to return soon to sift through the wreckage for the metal candlesticks and other fragments of their former lives, but not Slapin: “I think there’s so little benefit to going through that ordeal just in the hope of finding a few things,” he says. “I can’t bear to see the devastation, and I think they’ll end up bulldozing our neighborhood, anyway.” Of all their worries, concern for the fate of the LPO ranks high on their list. “We both took a significant pay cut to come to New Orleans, but we loved the city and the orchestra so much, it was worth it,” says Slapin, who has played in the orchestras of Knoxville, Louisville and Sao Paolo. “Because it was a co-op and self-run, the players really put their hearts into the music and made it fun. We’re going to miss that.” Slapin, Solomon and other players believe the orchestra’s outlook is bleak, given New Orleans’ catastrophic damage. “I’d love to go back to a properly rebuilt city and the orchestra the way it was, but I just can’t see how that will happen,” says Slapin. “In the meantime, we and all the other players have to find jobs in another city, move there and start over.” When asked how he can summon the discipline to focus on preparing for auditions now that he’s homeless and jobless, Slapin’s reply is emphatic: “I have to focus. There’s no choice,” he says. “Tanya and I are fortunate that we’ve got lots of audition experience under our belts—we’ve both been in the finals five out of our last six auditions—and can do what we need to do.” He has one audition scheduled. The couple’s fallback plan is to retreat to the Vermont home of Solomon’s parents. Despite the magnitude of their loss, Slapin is able, in his better moments, to see the situation as liberating. “When you remove all the extraneous ‘stuff, what’s important in life becomes very clear,” he says. “We’ve always been so focused on getting jobs together, not taking professional steps backward. Now, anything that would grant us a basic living is an option.”
A computer-savvy LPO member has set up a group on Google for LPO members. The first posts were of the “I’m safe” variety, often giving contact phone numbers in distant cities such as Houston, Dallas, Las Vegas, Portland, Chicago, Dayton and Washington, DC. More recently, the topics have addressed such concerns as how to file for unemployment, whether and how to cancel utilities and whether the LPO health insurance is still in effect. MyAuditions.com has also set up forums relating to hurricane-displaced musicians.
It appears, though unconfirmed as of this writing, that serious plans are underway to gather the LPO outside the hurricane region to perform a benefit concert for themselves. Details are expected to be announced by early next week. Also coming is a fund for financial donations to aid displaced musicians. Full details will appear on Violinist.com as soon as they are available.
Drew McManus (whose blog "Adaptistration" appears on the Arts Journal web site) has established a dedicated LPO relief page to connect those from the LPO who are looking for work with those throughout the country who might have work (or shelter). Here is a link to that page: Please let Drew know if you have any offers of help--he may be reached through the above link. The AFM’s response Nathan Kahn, Negotiator in the Symphonic Services Division of the American Federation of Musicians, has circulated a request that orchestras consider LPO players to help fill all their artistic needs as long as they don’t adversely affect employment opportunities for their current or substitute musicians. Here is an excerpt: I have e-mailed a general address at the Biloxi-based Gulf Coast Symphony and not gotten a response. Does anyone know about the status of this orchestra’s musicians, staff and hall? If so, e-mail me news@violinist.com. And what about any non-LPO classical musician living in the devastated region? Please send any news about any musical performer, teacher or student to me at news@violinist.com. Finally, if you have a music-related hurricane story to share, e-mail me at news@violinist.com. From Cynthia Faisst on September 4, 2005 at 3:19 AM (MST)
I belong to a church community that is very interested in what the arts can do for the health and healing of humanity. Our prayers on the hurricane disaster lasted most of the evening. And we very much lamented that such a rich artistic culture is in a state of collapse & Diaspora for the survivors.It seems obvious to me that one of the most healing things that we can do for the 1 and 1/2 mill. people who are in a state of disorienting grief is to get some of our nations most unique and gifted musicians (including the LPO) back on the job when we need them the most. Let’s start a movement to convince some of our nation’s wealthiest corporations (i.e. Exxon) to fund some serious Music Therapy Activity at the National level that can be made available to the growing number of displaced and depressed refugees of Katrina's wrath who are now strewn across the country in what amounts to remote storm shelters. It is music that will help this nation rise out of its despair. It will take time for these shelters to process so many displaced people. Surely a traveling 'artist in refuge/residence' program should be imrovised on the cuff with the aim to meet the spiritual, educational (for the children) and inspirational needs of the survivors of the region. This is not to mention the musical and artistic work that needs to be done in memorial to the thousands who perished. Is it not the power of music that can inspire hope for the devastated? Let me know who we can start calling and emailing.
From Scott 68 on September 5, 2005 at 6:35 AM (MST)
I heard they found fats domino in the rubble
From Darcy Lewis on September 5, 2005 at 1:24 PM (MST)
I received a wonderful and generous e-mail I wanted to share with you all.Dear Darcy,
From Bernard Wong on September 6, 2005 at 2:08 PM (MST)
Me & my 9 year old boy were discussing how little children all over were doing whatever they can to help the relief effort, like donating extra clothes, & selling lemonades to raise money. My son plays the violin & it just click on us that he can play to raise money for the American Red Cross.We decided to pick the supermarket hoping to catch a big crowd for the labor day BBQ. So we went down to the local supermarket & talk to the people there. They have already setup for the Amercian Red Cross for the Hurriacne Katrina donations. So yesterday, we went there in the afternoon & my son picked out a bunch of songs from his mostly Suzuki books & played for 2 hours non-stop.The manager count the money & he was able to raise over $500.00 . My son was very excited about the amount that made him forget his tiring fingers & sore feet. Just want to share this with you.
From Cynthia Faisst on September 6, 2005 at 6:57 PM (MST)
I hear that there are some Suzuki teachers in the Dallas area who are organizing to assemble the health kits that the churches and the Red cross need for distribution. Some of the piano teacher wanted to do something since it was kind of hard to show up with a violin with out some planning. I'm sure they will need food drives etc. in the future to help those who need the most time to find accomodations and employment. But assisting your local Red Cross to obtain extra cash is probably the most immediate need.I also heard that many of the victims were insulted when they were referred to as refugees. The term is normally use to describe people who are not citzens of the US. I appologize for the inappropriate terms in my last post.
From Gale Brom on September 7, 2005 at 6:51 AM (MST)
Thank you to everyone for expressing concern about my cousin, Burt Callahan. As of 9/6/05, Burt FINALLY arrived in Houston after his ordeal in NO. His family (aunts, cousins, etc.) are grateful he is alive and thank everyone for their moral support & prayers. To those of you who know Burt, if there is ever a next time to evacuate, drag him and Sparkle with you! Sparkle is safe and will be arriving this week. God's Hand was in this; protecting Burt from the lawless element, providing communication, gas for cooking, a dry environment, etc. Burt can be reached at our home this week or we can take messages and get them to him as he may stay with another friend (who has an extra bedroom) in our area (League City/Houston TX).
From Rick Floress on September 7, 2005 at 8:17 AM (MST)
Bernard,What an awesome idea!!!! Great way to introduce your kids to the idea of reaching out. We might give it a shot here this weekend.
From Laurie Niles on September 7, 2005 at 8:50 AM (MST)
Gale, how did he finally get out of there?
From Darcy Lewis on September 7, 2005 at 11:02 AM (MST)
The Elgin Symphony Orchestra is playing a benefit concert tonight, Sept. 7, to assist in the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. The concert, which starts at 7:30, will be hled in the Hemmens Theatre, 45 Symphony Way, in downtown Elgin. Admission is free and all proceeds will go directly to the McCormick Tribune Foundation Hurricane Katrina Relief Campaign. The McCormick Tribune Foundation will match the first $2,000,000 contributed to the campaign at 50 percent.
From Darcy Lewis on September 7, 2005 at 11:28 AM (MST)
If you are seeking information about a specific member of the LPO, visit http://groups.google.com/group/LPO-family. We will post a current status list shortly.
From Darcy Lewis on September 7, 2005 at 11:30 AM (MST)
Two funds have been set up to benefit displaced musicians:Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra Relief Fund You can make deposits to this account at any Bank One or Chase branch. Also, the American Symphony Orchestra League has established the Gulf Coast Orchestra Relief Fund to support storm-affected orchestras, including the LPO, the Gulf Coast Symphony in Biloxi, the Meridian Symphony Orchestra and the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra. To contribute, send a check payable to the ASOL, 33 W. 60th St., 5th Floor, NY NY 10023. Write "Gulf Coast Orchestra Relief Fund" on the face of the check. For further information, contact Stacey Weston at sweston@symphony.org.
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