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• Players' Conferences
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Players' Conferences

The International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM) has 52 member orchestras throughout the United States. The budget size of these orchestras is approximately $5 million and higher. ICSOM was formally established in 1962. For more information, email the Chairperson of ICSOM, Bruce Ridge.

• Visit the ICSOM Orchestra Websites

The Organization of Canadian Symphony Musicians (OCSM) represents 20 Canadian orchestras of various budget sizes. For more information, email the President of OCSM, Francine Schutzman.

• Visit the OCSM Orchestra Websites

The Regional Orchestra Players' Association (ROPA) has 74 full member orchestras and 8 associate member orchestras in the United States. The budget size for each orchestra ranges from about $400,000 to $6.5 million. ROPA was founded in 1984, modeled after ICSOM to deal with the difficulties in smaller sized orchestras. For more information, email the President of ROPA, Carla Lehmeier-Tatum.

• Visit the ROPA Orchestra Websites

A conference is held by each players' conference every August. The AFM, through the SSD, coordinates with the Players Conferences. Due to the development of the Players' Conferences and SSD in the AFM, the following improvements have taken place:

• Pre-1960's symphony musicians had little job security and were subject to immediate and arbitrary dismissal. Considerable improvements have been made in probation and tenure provisions over the years.
• In 1962, most musicians in major symphony orchestras were employed little more than six months annually at a yearly salary that was barely a living wage, about $4,000. By contrast, 19 of the 46 ICSOM symphony orchestras listed in the 1993-94 AFM wage chart have a year round season, and the average season length of all 46 orchestras was 45 weeks.
• In 1966, only ten major orchestras had hospitalization and major medical insurance. Salaries, pensions and insurance benefits have increased considerably over the last 30 years.
• During the 1970's, many orchestras instituted the use of screens at auditions.
• All three players' conferences are able to participate in either the AFM Symphony-Opera Strike Fund or the AFM-ROPA Emergency Relief Fund. These funds provide benefits to musicians during a work stoppage.