First Contract for Cleveland Institute of Music Faculty
AFM Local 4 is proud to report that the tentative agreement for a first contract representing the Cleveland Institute of Music Faculty has been approved by the new bargaining unit and ratified by the Union and CIM. CONGRATULATIONS to the negotiating committee (Michael Miller, Terry Moran, Frank Rosenwein, Jonathan Sherwin and Stephen Sims) and to the 120 musicians in the bargaining unit.
ICSOM and TMA Come to Town
(Left to Right) ICSOM General Counsel Kevin Case, Local 4 drummer Evan Mitchell, ICSOM Chair Keith Carrick and ICSOM Secretary Laura Ross lead delegates to Perk Plaza to rally with Musicians Against Dictators. (Dave Nash)
Crowne Plaza - Playhouse Square, Cleveland
August 18-23, 2025
Local 4 hosted two AFM Player Conferences this summer, the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM) and the Theatre Musicians Association (TMA).
ICSOM represents over 4,000 musicians from 51 symphony orchestras through the United States and Puerto Rico. The Cleveland Orchestra is a charter member of the conference. TMA has 15 chapters. Cleveland formed its chapter last year.
The TMA conference was August 18-19. Local 4 was represented by chapter president Dave Banks. The conference featured sessions on the threat of artificial intelligence on the live music and recording industry, specifically KeyComp: a software program designed to replace theatre musicians. A roundtable presentation on the history of the conference featured several founding musicians.
ICSOM was August 20 - 23. Bassist Charles Paul represented The Musicians of The Cleveland Orchestra, and Local 4 President DiCosimo presented a session on the AFL-CIO with Local 4 member Harriet Applegate, North Shore Federation of Labor Executive Secretary (2007-2020).
The Athena String Quartet performed for the delegate dinner, ICSOM General Counsel Kevin Case, longtime attorney for Cleveland Orchestra negotiations, led a session on the effects of the Trump administration on the symphonic industry. Sherrod Brown addressed the delegates on Saturday and the delegates joined Musicians Against Dictators in a rally for democracy in Perk Plaza.
We are showing our solidarity across the continent.
Midwestern Conference of AFM Locals
Local 4 President Leonard DiCosimo addresses the delegates of the 2025 Midwestern Conference of AFM Locals at the Crowne Plaza - Playhouse Square in Cleveland, July 26-27.
Crowne Plaza - Playhouse Square, Cleveland
July 26-27, 2025
The Midwestern Conference of AFM Locals was held in Cleveland on July 26 and 27. Officers, delegates and staff from 50 AFM Locals representing jurisdiction in 14 states (Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia) were invited to attend.
AFM Directors of Electronic Media, Freelance Services, Government Affairs, Organizing and Symphonic Services offered reports, and AFM Secretary-Treasurer Ken Shirk and AFM Vice President from Canada Allistar Elliott gave remarks. We were also visited by Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne and US Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11).
The CIM negotiating committee and Local 4 attorney Jim Porcaro held a roundtable discussion. Aidan Plank and Jeff Varga reported on the freelance community in Northeast Ohio. Vice President Todd Smith led a session on the importance of a strong relationship with AFL-CIO state and area federations, and central labor councils.
A resolution promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility was approved by the conference delegates, and a resolution funding local delegates to annual conferences was discussed.
The AFM Education Department held an officer training session July 24 - 25, It was a productive week for the conference delegates and all the attending members, officers and staff demonstrated exemplary service to the AFM.