From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia American Guild of Musical Artists
American Guild of Musical Artists
AGMA clude dancers (including athletes who dance on ice) and
production personnel.
The AGMA logo is an original drawing by William
Chandler Christy, given as a gift by him to AGMA.
Structure
AGMA is associated with the Associated Actors and
Artistes of America (AAAA), which is the primary asso-
ciation of performer’s unions in the United States. The
AAAA is affiliated with the AFL-CIO. AGMA maintains its
principal office at 1430 Broadway in New York City, and
has offices in Philadelphia, Washington DC, Miami, Chica-
Full name American Guild of Musical Artists go, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.
Founded 1936 As with most labor unions, AGMA’s structure includes
both a professional staff of employees who administer
Members 6,748 (2006) the union and a system of internal government that sets
Country United States the policy for the union. AGMA’s governing entity is
called the Board of Governors, and is composed of elected
Affiliation 4As, AFL-CIO
officers who are members of the union and elected by the
Key people James Odom of the Chicago Lyric Opera, members of the union. AGMA’s President is James Odom.
President AGMA’s senior staff consists primarily of negotiators, in-
Office 1430 Broadway, New York City 10018
cluding National Executive Director Alan S. Gordon.
location 212-265-3687 AGMA is unique among the AAAA entertainment
unions for several reasons: First, unlike all other per-
Website www.musicalartists.org
formers’ unions, AGMA does not prohibit its members
from performing non-union work. AGMA provides an ex-
Artists,
The American Guild of Musical Artists AFL–CIO (AGMA)
tensive nationwide net of attorneys and negotiation spe-
is the American labor union that represents 8,000 current
cialists to defend the professional, civil and human rights
and retired opera singers, ballet and other dancers, opera
of its members.
directors, backstage production personnel at opera and
dance companies, and figure skaters.
50th Anniversary Gala
Jurisdiction The 50th Anniversary Gala Of The American Guild Of Mu-
sical Artists starring Beverly Sills was a major event at
According to its website (www.musicalartists.org) it is
the New York State Theatre at Lincoln Center, November
the “labor organization that represents the men and
3, 1986. All proceeds were donated to benefit the AGMA
women who create America’s operatic, choral and dance
Relief Fund. The gala featured over 300 luminary artists
heritage." AGMA claims exclusive jurisdiction over all as-
from dance, opera and concert stage, including perfor-
pects of the work of its members and shares some Broad-
mances from the New York City Ballet, American Ballet
way jurisdiction with its sister union, Actors’ Equity As-
Theatre, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre and the major stars
sociation. Any artist who performs at principal American
from the Metropolitan Opera & New York City Opera. The
opera or dance companies work under AGMA contracts.
performance was conducted by Robert Irving and Julius
Rudel. Directed by Donald Saddler and was produced by
History Lawrence Leritz and Alex Dube. Distinguished artists also
appearing were Alexandra Danilova, Frederic Franklin,
The Guild was founded in 1936 in an effort to eliminate
William Warfield, Vera Zorina, Kitty Carlisle Hart and
exploitation of opera singers who were being forced into
Natalia Makarova. A special highlight was the opening of
oppressive contracts without benefits or protections.
the second act, with opera star Beverly Sills dancing with
Over the years, the Guild expanded its jurisdiction to in-
Peter Martins in Balanchine’s "Vienna Waltzes".
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia American Guild of Musical Artists
Major Employers Opera Orchestra of New York, Opera Pacific, Opera
Theater of St. Louis, Orchestral Association, Philadelphia
AGMA represents the dancers of New York City Ballet, Singers, Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey, Pitts-
American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey, Atlanta Ballet, Bal- burgh Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Grant Park Sympho-
let Hispanico, BalletMet, Ballet San Jose, Ballet Tech, Bal- ny, Henry Street Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Los An-
let West, Boston Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Colorado Ballet, geles Opera, Lyric Opera Center, Lyric Opera of Chicago,
Dance Theater of Harlem, Houston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Melodius Accord, The Metro-
Kansas City Ballet, Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, politan Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, Portland Opera,
Milwaukee Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Pennsylvania San Diego Opera, San Francisco Opera, San Francisco
Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, the Washington Symphony, Santa Fe Opera, Seattle Opera, Tri-Cities
Ballet, and the Corps de Ballet at the Metropolitan Opera, Opera, Washington Concert Opera, Washington National
New York City Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Los Angeles Opera, and Wolf Trap Opera.
Opera, San Francisco Opera, The Washington Opera, and
the dancers of Movin’ Out.
AGMA also represents the principal singers, choris-
Presidents
ters, directors and production personnel at Arizona • Nedda Casei
Opera, Baltimore Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Carmel Bach • Lawrence Tibbett
Festival, Central City Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Chicago
Opera Theater, Cincinnati Opera, Dallas Opera, Florentine
Opera, Music Before 1800, Musica Sacra, New Orleans
External links
Opera, New York City Opera, New York Concert Singers, • American Guild of Musical Artists
New York Grand Opera, New York Philharmonic, New • AGMA archives at NYU
York Virtuoso Singers, Opera Company of Philadelphia,
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Categories:
• Entertainment industry unions
• Trade unions in the United States
• AFL–CIO
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