Courtesy of CC

 The worst financial crisis of our time is a phrase that has been used a lot in the past few months. This crisis has hit countless consumers, something that has been chronicled in numerous outlets. One place that has lacked coverage are the musicians playing live music. Mainly classical music. In Baltimore the freelancing artist is not one of the largest sects in the city, however they are a very important barometer of the live music economy

 In the past few months local classical musicians have seen their gigs become less and less. For many their dates are the majority of their income. While some are able to supplement that income with teaching or lesser gigs, those opportunities are not steadily available. For every one or two teaching jobs, there are more than a handful of musicians who are left with nothing.

Laura Ruas, a double bass player in Baltimore is one of those freelancing musicians who is losing gigs.  This is the time of the year when numerous musicians around Baltimore and the nation are performing various gigs.  Unfortunately, with the current recession, the gigs have become less.  

Ms. Ruas, as she told Tim Smith of the Baltimore Sun, "It's always a patchwork, sewing these things together to make a living," Ruas says. "Now I'm wondering what's going to be gone forever in Baltimore, and what's going to come back?"

Her mention of what's going to be gone forever highlights the chapter 7 bankruptcy filing of the Baltimore Opera Company.  The operation originally filed for chapter 11 in December.  In December as well the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra suspended its 2008-09 season, along with a recording session.  Ms. Ruas was a tenured player for the opera companies orchestra, was locked into every performance the group did.  Another important group was the Concert Artist of Baltimore.  The Concert Artist along with the chamber orchestra have suspended their operations.  

Multiple things made each group have to suspend operations.  The main reason for each however breaks down to lack of ticket sales and lack of funds.  The lack of sales means that countless musicians now have to miss out on multiple concerts and rehearsals.  The musicians are compensated for each rehearsal and concert they are a part of.

It is unclear what musicians will have to do in the coming months to stay afloat.  Some musicians will make about a $1,000 or more a month with each group they perform with.  With the three organizations now not in operation for this season, that money is no longer on the table.  As most organizations of that size do not pay any type of unemployment compensation.

The Great Recession has of course not just hit classical music, but this genre of music is very important to the culture of many, with three one organization gone, and two others on life support, the future of chamber music is very uncertain in Baltimore.

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