Justin has a problem.
Justin has guest conducted major orchestras throughout the world including: The New York Philharmonic, orchestras of Philadelphia, Toronto, Chicago, Montreal, St. Louis, and London.
Justin is co-founder and producer of CineConcerts a California corporation that is “one of the leading producers of live music experiences performed with film.”
As you may recall, his production of Star Trek: The Ultimate Voyage Concert Tour, contrary to publicity, was purported to be an “impressive symphony orchestra.” It was in fact only 30 musicians, playing along with recorded tracks, leaving audiences to pay full price for half an orchestra.
To add insult to injury, rather than using world class musicians from North America, Justin decided to fly musicians from eastern Europe over to this continent for the 100-city tour of the US and Canada.
Why?
It all comes down to money. According to an expose in the New York Times, in what has become an all too common occurrence, tour producers have discovered that they can keep more profits if they hire cheap, foreign “sweatshop orchestras” instead of homegrown professional musicians.
Justin’s production, while displacing our abundance of superb, freelance musicians, is also creating unfair competition for the non-profit orchestras from which he hopes to profit in the future. This is unsustainable for all of us, including Justin.