Madam, - With reference to reports by Michael Dervan and the ensuing correspondence on the crisis at the National Chamber Choir, it is quite extraordinary that we have not had a word of explanation from the NCC board.
According to Michael Dervan's original report ( The Irish Times, January 31st) Celso Antunes, artistic director of the NCC, claimed the board was dominated by members who were "artistically insensitive and uninformed" and that these dominating figures had decided that the future of the group lay in a "commercially-driven strategy". He also accused the board of "deplorable treatment" of chief executive Karina Lundström.
These are very serious charges which, as far as we are aware, have not been answered by the board. The fact that Antunes and Lundstrom have resigned is no justification for the board members keeping their counsel. Indeed it is all the more reason why they must explain themselves as they have a responsibility to the public at large.
If they are not prepared to speak out, the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, or whoever has ultimate responsibility in these matters, should disband the present board and establish a new board which will be more appreciative of the excellent work of the NCC. At the very least it should ensure that choir members are paid a decent salary because, as Michael Dervan's article "Championing the NCC" revealed (February 23rd), their current salaries are disgracefully low by international standards. - Yours, etc,
AIDAN MEAGHER, Secretary, on behalf of the Council, Music Association of Ireland, South Great Georges Street, Dublin 2.