Arizona Opera Orchestra Musicians Association

The Arizona Opera Orchestra Musicians Association (AZOOMA) is a nonprofit organization doing business in the Greater Phoenix area. I posed ten questions to a representative of AZOOMA in an effort to familiarize Phoenix area residents with the organization. Here are the responses I received.

What is the name of the organization?

The Arizona Opera Orchestra Musicians Association (AZOOMA)

How long has the organization been operating in the Phoenix area?

Formed in the year 2000 to support its members and the Arizona Opera, AZOOMA is a diverse organization of highly-trained music professionals from the Arizona Opera Orchestra. Our members reside mainly in one of three major cities in Arizona: Flagstaff, Phoenix or Tucson. We are members of the American Federation on Musicians.

Does the organization serve a particular geographic area?

AZOOMA serves the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas with classical, operatic music performed with the Arizona Opera.

Who is most likely to benefit from services provided by the organization?

AZOOMA musician members are the direct beneficiaries, but since we are a performing arts organization that presents concerts the public-at-large benefits from our music.

Are there requirements or prerequisites for people to access your services?

Yes, but you must attend Arizona Opera performances to hear us play - at either Phoenix Symphony Hall or at the Tucson Convention Center Music Hall. The public can view our website anytime for other information related to opera.

Three things about The Arizona Opera Orchestra Musicians Association that people might not know.

1. The Phoenix Symphony does not play Arizona Opera productions. As with other major metropolitan areas, in both Phoenix and Tucson there are separate and dedicated orchestras for each musical genre: symphonic music and opera.
2. Performing in the Arizona Opera Orchestra is the result of much hard work and practice. To the audience our music may seem something quite like magic, but it requires diligent, daily work and practice. Each member of the orchestra must maintain their performance abilities through regular daily practice on their instrument. Each musician receives music 2 weeks prior to the start of rehearsals for a production and is expected to have his or her part prepared for the first rehearsal. In addition to practice, preparation includes hours of maintenance (cleaning, making reeds, etc) necessary for instruments to function properly.
3. The Arizona Opera Orchestra’s musicians have been playing their instruments for an average of 35 years, a total of more than 1500 years collectively! They have been performing as members of the Arizona Opera Orchestra for an average of more than 10 years per musician, collectively for more than 400 years! That’s dedication.

What is the local address?

Arizona Opera Orchestra Musicians Association
c/o AFM, Local 586
1202 E. Oak Street
Phoenix, AZ 85006

What is the local phone number?

602-254-8838

What is the URL of the local web site?

http://www.azooma.org

Any other comments?

AZOOMA aims to deepen its commitment to our local communities in Tucson and Phoenix. As one of the few large classical performance ensembles active in Arizona, we strive to strengthen these bonds on multiple levels - artistic, cultural and personal. Our web site was created to spread the word about opera, the talented opera musicians and how we continue to be a vital and integral part of Arizona's cultural life.

Our three-pronged mission is to offer entertaining, live music performed at the highest artistic level for our community, to promote and support our musician colleagues - their activities and livelihood and to raise awareness and reach out to the community in support of the Arizona Opera and its programs. While not the primary "product," AZOOMA has a strong and vested interest in the Arizona Opera and its future. Singers and conductors, managers and directors may come and go, while some members of the orchestra have been around since the inception of the company in the early '70's.

Our web site is on the cutting edge of Web 2.0 and includes video, a blog, a Google Picasa Photo Album, and MySpace and Facebook accounts. It is updated several times each week with new content. Please drop by and visit!

- - - - - - - - - - -