Leadership dispute threatens decade-long playa orchestra
The Black Rock Philharmonic — a symphonic orchestra that’s become a moving, unexpected fixture on the playa — is in visible turmoil after the group’s longtime conductor and artistic director was pushed out. Members inside the project say the departure followed ultimatums and personal attacks, and that the change was announced as a “personal decision” despite what many musicians describe as a lack of open discussion or opportunity to respond.
Sources within the group say there is no formal board or clear governance, and that the 501(c)(3) sponsor account backing the project has been controlled by a single individual. Those conditions, combined with reports that posts and threads about the dispute have been removed from forums and social channels, have driven musicians to question whether the ensemble can continue without the conductor who arranged repertoire, secured logistics and held the project together for years.
- What musicians worry about: loss of leadership and connections that keep the orchestra functioning on playa.
- Governance risks: no clear decision-making structure or independent oversight for funds and operations.
- Information control: reports of deleted discussions and limited transparency inside the project.
- Community impact: the potential disappearance of one of Burning Man’s most collaborative music projects.
A group of members has launched a petition asking for an impartial review, open communication from those controlling the project, and a formal structure that reflects the collective nature of the orchestra. The petition is being framed as a last-ditch effort to secure transparency and a path forward before the project collapses.
Read or sign the petition here: https://c.org/jzX9DP4CQt
Why it matters: festival communities run on trust, volunteers and relationships. When leadership, money and communication concentrate in a single place, projects that felt inevitable suddenly hang in the balance. Watch for any official response from the orchestra’s sponsors or organizers and whether the petition leads to an independent review or new governance steps.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/BurningMan/comments/1ooqvxy/black_rock_philharmonic_in_trouble_we_deserve/