Until further notice, AGMA staff will cease commuting into its national headquarters and begin working remotely. AGMA had already paused business travel and implemented other exposure-reducing measures, including cross-training staff and replacing in-person meetings with video conferences. Day-to-day workflow and operations will not be interrupted. As echoed by many organizations across the country and globe, this will greatly minimize exposure and ensure the health and well-being of our staff and members. AGMA will continue to monitor this ongoing, rapidly-developing crisis and make responsible adjustments as needed. ... Read More -->

Joyce DiDonato and Piotr Beczala livestreamed a 90-minute performance from Joyce’s living room yesterday, March 16. The duo was accompanied by Met assistant conductor, Howard Watkins, and principal harp, Emmanuel Ceysson. To help to alleviate the dire financial straits artists now face in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, viewers were encouraged to make donations to the AGMA Relief Fund and Artist Relief Tree. Read the full story on Billboard. AGMA will update this post when the link to the full performance becomes available. Any AGMA member in good standing, or on honorable withdrawal, is entitled and encouraged to apply for financial assistance through the AGMA Relief Fund. Please visit agmarelief.org to begin the... Read More -->

AGMA calls upon the federal government and city and state governments in which our members work to pass immediate, substantial economic relief for our signatory companies and all non-profit arts organizations likely to be shuttered in response to COVID-19. The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) is monitoring the ever-growing list of entertainment events and productions that have been limited, canceled, suspended, or postponed indefinitely due to this pandemic. AGMA understands that this is necessary, that public health should ALWAYS be placed in front of businesses’ bottom lines. However, AGMA’s main priority is, and will remain, protecting the health and employment of our 7,000 members. Our artists rely on... Read More -->

Joyce DiDonato in Agrippina (Marty Sohl / Met Opera) Playbill published a Q&A between recent Grammy-winning AGMA member, Joyce DiDonato, and Matt Dobkin, Creative Director at Metropolitan Opera. “Joyce DiDonato is not only an extraordinary artist, she’s also a killer interview. I’ve interviewed her many times and worked with her on photo shoots and her Live in HD hosting gigs – she is a total dream,” Dobkin told AGMA. DiDonato is currently starring in the first-ever Met production of Agrippina. The new production of Handel's satirical opera by Sir David McVicar runs through this Saturday, March 7. The short interview dives the production from the importance of its score to the ominous parallels between... Read More -->

On Friday, February 28, the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) announced to its members that formal union disciplinary charges were filed against opera singer Plácido Domingo. This came three days after the Union confirmed its investigation had concluded and had substantiated sexual harassment allegations against Mr. Domingo. “AGMA stands with the brave individuals who came forward and fought against the crisis of sexual harassment that greatly pervades our industries,” said Ray Menard, AGMA President, who filed the charges in his capacity as a member of AGMA. “Given the seriousness of the confirmed allegations, and the number of members who have been affected, I believe the right, and only thing to do at this stage is ... Read More -->

This afternoon, The New York Times published a piece titled “Disclosure of Plácido Domingo Allegations Scuttles $500,000 Deal.” AGMA seeks to clarify the misperceptions of this article and in recent reports by NPR: the anticipated fine, to our knowledge the largest to be imposed on a union member, was NOT in exchange for AGMA’s silence or to make any “secret deal.” The potential fine was part of a series of proposed measures to resolve potential internal union discipline which included: a lengthy suspension; mandatory training/coaching; and a sincere public apology.  In addition to offsetting AGMA’s legal fees incurred in the investigation, the fine was earmarked to support the Union’s ongoing efforts and new initia... Read More -->

NEW YORK CITY - On September 6, 2019, The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) announced the union had retained an independent investigator to examine allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination made by AGMA members against Plácido Domingo. The investigation concluded that Mr. Domingo had, in fact, engaged in ​inappropriate activity, ranging from flirtation to sexual advances, in and outside of the workplace. Many of the witnesses expressed fear of retaliation in the industry as their reason for not coming forward sooner. The AGMA Board of Governors has accepted the findings of the report and will take appropriate action.  “AGMA is the connective tissue of our industry. We owed it to our members to conduct... Read More -->

Via Playbill Zoe Caldwell, widely known for her work in Master Class and Medea, died on February 16 of complications due to Parkinson’s disease. She was 86 years old. Caldwell joined AGMA in 2004, when she was cast as a lead in the Los Angeles Opera presentation of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music. She remained a member until her death. With Kristen Bell in A Little Night Music (2004) According to People Magazine, she moved from her home in Australia to London in 1959 to join the Royal Shakespeare Company. She began her American acting career as an original member of the company at the Tyrone Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis. Caldwell made her Broadway debut in 1965’s The Devils. She went on to appear in Tenn... Read More -->

On Tuesday, March 3, Lyric Opera Stage Artists (of Lyric Opera of Chicago) will host a benefit concert for Australian Bushfire Relief, with all proceeds going to the Australian Red Cross. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of the Second Presbyterian Church, the benefit concert will feature AGMA members of the Lyric Opera Chorus; pianist Noah Lindquist; and Lyric Opera Chorus Master, Michael Black. Michael Black was born and raised in Sydney, Australia and was at Sydney Opera House for 13 years. Black returned to his home to see friends and family over Christmas. It was during that visit that he experienced the enormity of the bushfires. The 2019–20 Australian bushfire season started with several serious fires in June 2019.... Read More -->