Author - Bruce Hembd

I recently started receiving email messages from ICSOM and ROPA about a new website for the musicians of the Arizona Opera Orchestra, who are in the midst of difficult negotiations with new management. Upon checking out www.AZOOMA.org, I discovered not only an extremely well-done website, with lots of photos, articles, and blog entries, but also some intriguing short videos. A message from Nathan Kahn, AFM negotiator, stated that this was “in my opinion some of the finest orchestra PR work I have seen in my 20 years with the AFM, and worth sharing.” I must agree!

I asked Bruce Hembd to describe the process by which he put together the AZOOMA website, working with the orchestra committee and negotiations committee to craft a public persona for the musicians who play opera in both Tuscon and Phoenix. His article should be most helpful for other player organizations who are contemplating putting up a website of their own.