anti-mask, anti-vax, anti BLM, pro "trump won" flutist is fired by the Baltimore orchestra

[Demovictory9]

Flutist Who Shared Conspiracy Theories Is Out of a JobShrink

(NEWSER) – A flutist who courted controversy with online posts about everything from COVID to the 2020 election results is out of a job in Baltimore. The city's orchestra this week fired principal flutist Emily Skala, reports the Baltimore Sun. The move comes about six months after the orchestra publicly rebuked Skala for posts questioning the effectiveness of vaccines and masks, per the New York Times. She also shared a conspiracy theory that the virus originated in a lab in North Carolina and questioned the presidential election results, among other things. "Ms. Skala has had discipline imposed upon her over these past few months," says a statement from the orchestra. "Unfortunately, she has repeated the conduct for which she had been previously disciplined, and dismissal was the necessary and appropriate reaction to this behavior."



Skala, who'd been with the symphony for 33 years, told the Sun that "I've only ever wanted to state my truth," adding that "the BSO can expect to hear from me." The orchestra said the issues went beyond social media posts, and Skala says that likely is a reference to a visit she made last month to the orchestra's offices to hand in a tax form. She didn't have a mask or COVID tests results as required to enter, and she says she tried to open the door, but only to hand the form to a guard. Skala suggests that her politics is part of the problem, with colleagues unhappy with her support of former President Trump's allegations of election fraud and her criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement. "They just punish me for being me," she tells the Times.

https://www.newser.com/story/309515/flutist-who-shared-conspiracy-theories-is-out-of-a-job.html

[Skittles]

1. these people really are in dire need of mental health evaluations

they seem willing to trash their careers, trash their LIVES over a fucking CON MAN

[eppur_se_muova]

2. She had a nice gig, but she blew it. nt

[Demovictory9]

4. nce she has had time to process the shock of her dismissal, Skala said she intends to begin audition

The 59-year-old flutist, who joined the BSO in 1988, said the odds of her landing a position playing flute for another major orchestra are daunting. But once she has had time to process the shock of her dismissal, Skala said she intends to begin auditioning.

“These aren’t easy jobs to get,” she said. “But it’s never worth not trying.”

https://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/arts/bs-fe-bso-fires-flutist-20210803-lech6hmo2ja7vopa2miez5usku-story.html

[catrose]

23. A professional flautist told me once that you're lucky to get your first orchestra job by age 30

Last edited Sun Aug 8, 2021, 12:09 AM - Edit history (1)

And she threw it away for Trump.

Who wants a wind player blowing Covid spit on everyone?

[malaise]

30. THIS

Ah well

[Hekate]

35. This

[brush]

3. That's different. People in the arts are usually on the liberal side.

She sounds like a stark raving trumpist.

[CurtEastPoint]

5. Behold Ms. Skala. I'd like to take that flute and...

[Tanuki]

21. This one time at band camp.....

[msfiddlestix]

27. bwahahaha... good one. :)

[niyad]

6. People are punished for who they are all the time--crooks, thieves, murderers, traitors.

And then we have the punishment meted out to those who are "other" by intolerant bigots.

So quit whining, take your flute, and go home.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. Isn't It "Flautist"?

I know flutist is common, but I'd think in classical circles she'd be a flautist.

[Demovictory9]

9. i noticed the term also

[spooky3]

11. Not in the US, per this source:

https://grammarist.com/usage/flautist-flutist/

[ProfessorGAC]

13. I Buy That, But...

...I think classical musicians are far more traditional.
That's the only reason I brought it up.
If she was a pop musician, I'd have ignored it.

[spooky3]

26. I have several professional musicians in the family

Including a flutist. I think the source is correct about “traditional” US usage, which as another poster and the source I linked noted, dates back several hundred years (to the French term) before “flautist.”

[Patterson]

14. I think they (the people in charge) have said "flutist" is OK.

I have no verification. I've heard "flutist" several times on NPR, so what more do you need?

[ProfessorGAC]

18. Dismissed!

Your tone is unnecessary.
I was merely asking a question.

[Patterson]

19. I'm sorry. I as afraid that would happen. I don't like using smilies.

I was actually sort of gently digging at NPR. Again, I apologize.

[Sibelius Fan]

17. No. The word flutist was in use hundreds of years before flautist came along.

Only the uninformed and the posturing use the word flautist to describe a flutist.

[SergeStorms]

8. Where's Hannibal Lecter when you need him?

He consumed a flutist from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in "Red Dragon", I believe it was.

"Free range rude" I believe he called them.

[zuul]

28. Ha ha!

[smirkymonkey]

10. Oh gee, another MAGA victim!

Whining about how mean and unfair everyone is to her, when she should probably be grateful that nobody has kicked her whinging little ass all the way to Moscow by now.

Good luck finding a new job, moron!

[Ocelot II]

12. "I've only ever wanted to state my truth," she said.

Hate to break it to you, Emily, but there's only one truth and it's not yours. As has been so often said, people are entitled to their own opinions but not their own facts.

[keithbvadu2]

15. "...to state my truth," - not 'the' truth.

"...to state my truth," - not 'the' truth.

[Cha]

16. Excellent!

[FreepFryer]

20. State your truth. They'll hire someone 2 play the flute who is not an insane and trolling Nazi fuck

And no one has to listen to your crap who doesn’t want to.

Everybody wins.

[CurtEastPoint]

24. oh, you made me laugh so hard at that! Thank you!

[treestar]

25. Playing a flute has zip to do with politics

This is a bad decision IMO. We wouldn't agree if a right wing city orchestra fired a liberal.

It does not affect doing the job at all.

It's not a crime or harassment; it's just being a wingnut.

[zuul]

29. The "issues went beyond social media posts"

It sounds like there were Covid protocol violations.

[treestar]

40. ok, if it was not just for her opinions

the orchestral piece wouldn't sound different. But they sit close enough to each other that Covid protocols are needed. Though many of them can't wear masks, the brass and wind sections just couldn't.

[cinematicdiversions]

37. I understand it if she refused to wear a mask when it was required for example.

But I agree with you firing someone for having crazy views that are not related to their job. Even if they express those views publically. Is a very slippery slope that no democracy should cheer.

[Laurelin]

38. The article did say

That she broke covid protocol. She went to the building, no vaccination or mask. Firing her was reasonable.

[treestar]

41. I see. Yes it sound like she was

falling for the CT and if she would not follow Covid rules, that's the actual reason for the firing.

And she would not have to wear one while playing, as flutes and other instruments could not be played in a mask. So she would have been a real maskhole to refuse to do it for the rest of the time.

[Initech]

31. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes!

[GoodRaisin]

32. To put it in terms that Trumpers understand

"fuck your feelings".

[joetheman]

33. And here I thought musicians were smarter and nicer than that!

[johnp3907]

34. Most of us are.

[catrose]

36. Indeed we are. Mostly.

[ZonkerHarris]

39. Maybe she can get a gig at maralago. Classical flutist is something they should have there