Aspen Festival woes continue: No confidence vote for Fletcher

To think of all the turmoil among the majestic peaks of Aspen, Co.! But indeed, the strife at the Aspen Music Festival continues. First they fire Alan Fletcher (former head of the Carnegie Mellon University School of Music), then they hire him back, then music director David Zinman, apparently at loggerheads with Fletcher, leaves so abruptly that he is still on the promotional materials for next season. Then this, from a release this week by the Festival:

Aspen, Colo. - The Aspen Music Festival and School Corporation today convened a special meeting to consider a vote of no confidence in president and CEO Alan Fletcher. The no-confidence motion passed by a majority.

The Corporation is composed of 147 AMFS affiliates: 37 members of the Board of Trustees, 90 artist-faculty members, and 20 at-large members. This composition is dictated by the institution's bylaws. Per those bylaws, its duties and responsibilities are to define the mission of the corporation, approve all amendments to the articles of incorporation and the bylaws; and to approve the lay (non-musician) members of the board of trustees and the at-large and non-voting members of the corporation.

Although this is a non-binding vote -- meaning it doesn't automatically result in anything happening, such as Fletcher getting fired -- it's obviously symbolic of the struggles there between him and faculty. No telling where this will end up...well, I guess, Fletcher will either weather it or leave. But again, I personally hope the clouds begin to clear soon for this great festival -- its stellar reputation can't withstand a continued assault such as this, I wouldn't think...