Farewell to Local Symphony Maestros

* The truth has yet to come out about the so-called merger of the Ventura County Symphony and the Conejo Valley Symphony orchestras. I can’t understand why the concert-going public of both areas aren’t up in arms over this decision, arrived at in secrecy by the two orchestra boards alone.

Look at the history. After more than 30 years of devotion and loyalty, Maestro Frank Salazar of the Ventura County Symphony was brutally kicked out of his own orchestra by a nameless, faceless, talentless board of directors without honors. Now Conejo Symphony Maestro Elmer Ramsey has been presented with the destruction of his child by his nameless, faceless and equally untalented board, meeting in secret with the other nameless, faceless wonders.

After the abrupt exit of Maestro Salazar, someone hired an invader from the far north, Canadian Boris Brott. From the first it seemed apparent that Brott was interested in one thing: advancing Boris Brott toward Los Angeles or any other city with a major orchestra. This phony “merger” is a move in that direction. He will head his own “pick up” orchestra on the border of L.A. County.

The New West Symphony should have been called the New World Order Symphony, honoring all the underhandedness that went into its creation. It will consist mainly of free-lance L.A. types with a smattering of local musicians, but not enough to save a performance the day a concert conflicts with a big call by a Hollywood composer/conductor for a long, long session. After all, those “free-lancers” owe no more loyalty to Ventura County than does Boris Brott.

Farewell, Maestros Salazar and Ramsey. Thank you for your years of devotion and dedication. You will be sadly missed by all your loyal, local musicians and by this appreciative audience member.

ART BEDARD

Thousand Oaks