The fate of the Archer review into Arts Council England (ACE) has been unclear for some time. After a government review of ACE was announced in March—led by Mary Archer, a former chair of the Science Museum Group—the public review was paused before the general election in July. After an email from a Labour government […]

The post The UK government closes its review into Arts Council England appeared first on VAN Magazine.

On July 11, a public inquiry in the UK heard that the funeral of Cornelius Cardew, and a memorial event held in his memory, were both attended by an undercover police officer deployed by a specialist police unit to infiltrate revolutionary communist groups. Though it was conveyed to him through a manager at the Special […]

The post Cardew and the Spycops appeared first on VAN Magazine.

The junior department of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama closed for the end of term on Saturday. It looks like it will not re-open. 340 children will be affected across the Young Music and Young Drama programs, as well as five salaried staff and a further 112 hourly staff on zero-hours contracts […]

The post Tales from Wales appeared first on VAN Magazine.

A Freedom of Information request from VAN Magazine has revealed that Sir Nicholas Serota, the chair of Arts Council England, threatened to review a £3.2 million grant given to Welsh National Opera after the company’s music director wrote an open letter about the impact of Arts Council cuts on the organization. The letter, written by […]

The post Silent, Or Silenced? appeared first on VAN Magazine.

When the French conductor François-Xavier Roth woke up the week before last in his apartment in Paris, his career was in excellent shape. He had just given two concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic. He had a tour to look forward to with Les Siècles, the period instrument ensemble he founded. He was the Music Director […]

The post In Free Fall appeared first on VAN Magazine.

A story published today by legendary French investigative magazine Le Canard enchaîné raises allegations of sexual harassment against conductor François-Xavier Roth.  Roth, 52, is a renowned musician and performer, and received France’s highest honor, the Chevalier degree of the Order of the Légion d’honneur, in 2017. In 2003, he founded the period instrument orchestra Les […]

The post Report Raises Allegations of Sexual Misconduct Against François-Xavier Roth appeared first on VAN Magazine.

On February 28, the faculty senate of the Cleveland Institute of Music voted overwhelmingly in favor of a motion of no-confidence in its president, Paul Hogle, and provost, Scott Harrison, citing reputational damage to the school, underqualified leadership, the institution’s growing deficit, and concerns about loss of accreditation, among other grievances. According to a letter […]

The post Faculty Vote No Confidence in Senior CIM Leadership appeared first on VAN Magazine.

When violinist Lara Michaels auditioned for a place at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM), most of the faculty members remained quiet, taking notes on her playing from behind a table. Axel Strauss, a professor of violin and chamber music, was the exception.  “He stood up, he came around the table towards me,” Michaels […]

The post New Lawsuit Raises Allegations of Sexual Abuse at San Francisco Conservatory of Music appeared first on VAN Magazine.

“And they’re off! It’s very exciting—the beginning of a symphony is always very exciting. I can’t tell if it’s slow or fast yet because they keep . . . stopping.” It’s 1997, I’m six years old, and my family has just pulled into the driveway of our home. The local public radio station is playing […]

The post The Rest Is Silliness appeared first on VAN Magazine.

On Saturday, January 6, a group of activists taking part in the global Shut It Down for Palestine movement marched through a wintery mix of sleet and rain from midtown Manhattan’s Bryant Park to Lincoln Center, blocking the main entrance to David Geffen Hall just as concertgoers began to arrive for that evening’s performance by […]

The post Messing with the Fantasy appeared first on VAN Magazine.