“Orchestra Nova is announcing today that it has decided to cease operations and has filed a Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy case. This announcement is the result of the impasse in our negotiations with the Local 325 American Federation of Musicians (AFM) union and the subsequent cancellation of our 2012-2013 season.”

This is the opening paragraph of a statement on the Orchestra Nova website from CEO Beverly Lambert. Chapter seven is liquidation bankruptcy. There will be no reorganization. Orchestra Nova is gone for good.

http://www.orchestranova.org/index.html

I traded a few emails with orchestra member Pat Pfiffner. Pat has been on the negotiating committee for several years and was at the very first rehearsal 28 years ago when the group started as San Diego Chamber Orchestra.

“They couldn’t do business while we had negotiations? They had legal bills because of negotiations? In all the years I have negotiated contracts with them they have never had a lawyer and they have never stopped doing business during negotiations. They did this to themselves, the musicians are merely a scapegoat for total incompetency by management.”

Before the first concert of this season, the musicians I spoke to were concerned that management was going to lock them out and bring in replacement players. When I spoke to Jung Ho Pak, after the concerts were canceled, he said management was concerned that the players would strike a few hours before the concert.

Management didn't think they could risk having an audience and no orchestra so they canceled and Jung Ho resigned. Then the season was canceled. Now the entire organization is canceled.