Julie Ayer

nextchapterbooksellers.com

Book signing and reading, 38 Snelling Ave S. St. Paul, MN 55105

Defying the Silence, A Chronicle of Resilience that Saved the World Renowned Minnesota Orchestra

UPCOMING EVENTS

Julie Ayer Presents “Defying the Silence”Thursday May 9th, 2024 @ 7:00PM – 8:30PM

Join us in store as Julie Ayer presents Defying the Silence: A Chronicle of Resilience that Saved the World-Renowned Minnesota Orchestra. Julie will be in conversation with President of the Twin Cities Musicians Union, Brad Eggen.

PLEASE JOIN BRAD EGGEN, MUSICIANS LOCAL 30/73 PRESIDENT AND ME FOR CONVERSATION, DISCUSSION AND BOOK SIGNING AT SUBTEXT BOOKS, 6 W 5th St., St Paul 55102

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2024 @ 7 PM

Zoom event to discuss Defying the Silence, November 30, 2023 @ 7:00 pm CST

History Revealed: Julie Ayer – Defying the Silence

“Defying the Silence is essential reading for students of American Orchestral labor history. It vividly depicts the internal dynamics within an orchestra that resemble those of an extended family. Such a family dynamic, even with pockets of dysfunctionality, warrants further study as a paradigm of an effective ecosystem–especially in a world where various social norms have been fractured.” – Mark Volpe, president and CEO of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (1997 – 2021)

“Although the arts play a major role in defining our quality of life, we are reducing our commitment to it in both public education and civic support. Julie Ayer puts the spotlight on the Minnesota Orchestra, the lockout, the negotiations, the power plays–but, most importantly, the struggles imposed on our most musically talented. Is this book a ‘must read?’ Yes, if you care about enriching your community.” – Arne H. Carlson, governor of Minnesota (1991 – 1999)

“The prolonged lockout of the Minnesota Orchestra was a profoundly disturbing event in Minnesota and US cultural history. Julie Ayer has, for the first time, assembled and carefully documented the complete story of this event. To be sure, it is a maddening story of how a small group of people nearly drove one of America’s top orchestras directly off a cliff. But it is also a story of incredible musician solidarity as well as community resistance and collaboration. These combined efforts both rescued the orchestra from the dust bin and reassembled it as a stronger, more resilient organization. As Ayer notes, the Minnesota Orchestra was able to meet the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic in a unique and award-winning way. It is now well-poised for a strong future serving its community with the outstanding music it both needs and deserves.” – Jonathan Eisenberg, Minnesota Orchestral Association board member, former vice chair of Save Our Symphony Minnesota, and retired attorney

“Defying the Silence is the seminal template of labor action in the symphonic industry. Julie Ayer has crafted a detailed in-the-trenches history of the dedication of the Minnesota Orchestra musicians to save their orchestra from an ill-conceived plan that valued business structure over artistic excellence. Facing certain financial hardship as they were locked out of their performance home, the musicians unanimously rejected steps destined to damage the orchestra’s international reputation, and they designed a model of survival that garnered nationwide support and awakened the priorities of the community.” –Brad Eggen, president of the Local 30-73 Twin Cities Musicians Union

When the Minnesota Orchestra took the
stage at Havana’s Teatro Nacional during
the ensemble’s historic Cuba tour in May
2015, its ranks included several musicians
who weren’t members at the time—among
them violinist Julie Ayer, who was formerly
assistant principal second violin and joined
the tour to help bring the section to full
strength. Ayer had retired in 2012 after 36
years in the Orchestra, but there were still
more chapters to be written in her story
with the ensemble. In the same way, the
Orchestra’s own story is always being written,
and Ayer has become one of its chroniclers
through the release of a new book, Defying
the Silence, which explores the Orchestra’s
lockout of 2012–14 as well as the years that
have followed, in which the organization
introduced new collaborative models and has
persevered during the pandemic.
Ayer’s interest in orchestra labor relations
extends to the start of her performing
career, which began with the Houston
Symphony. Her research into the history
of collective bargaining in orchestras
led to the 2005 release of her first book,
More Than Meets the Ear: How Symphony
Musicians Made Labor History. “There
was no cohesive documentation of the
real drama that transformed the lives of
professional orchestra musicians,” she says.
“I was determined to change that because I
believe in documenting history and the wise
words of Virginia Woolf: ‘Nothing has really
happened until it has been recorded.’”
What Ayer calls the “same obsession” drove
her to write Defying the Silence, subtitled
A Chronicle of Resilience That Saved the
World-Renowned Minnesota Orchestra, and
document what she calls “a profound period
of time for the Minnesota Orchestra and for
the community” as well as the transformation
of relationships that took place during that
time. “Both books were a labor of love, and
a tribute to the artistry of musicians and
their crucial importance in our society and
culture,” she adds. “The hard-fought gains
and accomplishments of our predecessors are
fragile and must be protected.” The book,
released in late May, is available as both a
paperback and e-book via Amazon.
Alongside researching and writing, Ayer has
found other rewarding activities during her
retirement, as her husband Carl Nashan,
who is also a former Minnesota Orchestra
violinist, split time between St. Paul and
southern California. “Carl retired from the
Minnesota Orchestra many years before me,
and very much wanted to escape Minnesota
winters,” Ayer explains. “So eventually he
found the ideal ‘garden cottage’ a few blocks
from the Pacific Ocean. We both enjoy
daily walks, road trips, growing water-wise
flowers and plants—succulents, especially—
and citrus trees that thrive in that climate. It
is year-round outdoor living and we never
take it for granted.” Back in Minnesota, she
keeps up musical ties by playing with her
chamber music group Classica Chamber
Players, formerly Hill House Chamber
Players, primarily at Sundin Hall at Hamline
University. “Occasionally I play viola for
these concerts, and love the resonance of the
inner voices,” she comments.
Ayer’s passion for orchestral music and her
interest in the collective efforts that make it
possible —both on and off the stage—have
produced a memorable career as well as two
important books stemming from her unique
insider’s view. “Although I miss playing great
music with my colleagues, I am enriched by
listening in a different way and gaining a
different perspective,” she says. “I will always
miss my colleagues and lifelong friends, their
artistry, and the easy camaraderie we share.
Music is my lifeblood and will always inspire
and move me.”
Visit minnesotaorchestra.org/stories for an
extended version of this story, and find more
information about Defying the Silence at
julieayer.com.
retired musician spotlight: Julie Ayer

Norman Lebrecht, slippedisc.com, July 14, 2023:

Julie Ayer, former violinist in the Minnesota Orchestra, has written a blow-by-blow account of how the locked-out musicians achieved their victory over 15 months against an obdurate board and management.

The mendacity of some board members is scarcely to be believed. If they hate musicians so much, why donate to an orchestra?

I am honored and gratified that Mr. Lebrecht chose to comment on Defying the Silence. It is an important chronicle of musician solidarity, community support and nationwide awareness, and must never be ignored or obfuscated.

June 12, 2023, 3 -5 pm:

BOOM ISLAND BREWING COMPANY AND TAPROOM, 5959 BAKER RD., #320, MINNETONKA, MN 55345

http://www.boomislandbrewing.com

June 15, 2023, 5 -8 pm:

SOCIALBLE CIDER WERKS, 1500 FILLMORE ST. NE, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55413 –

http://www.sociablecider.com

June 20, 2023, 6:30 pm – Unk.:

MetroNOME BREWERY, 385 Broadway St. St. Paul MN 55101 –

http://www.metronomebrewery.com