AFM Stands with Boston Symphony Orchestra Musicians

April 30, 2026

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When the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) Board of Trustees announced its decision not to renew Music Director Andris Nelsons’ contract earlier this year, the dismissal came as a surprise to audiences and musicians alike. The musicians of the orchestra, whose artistry and commitment have made the BSO one of the most celebrated ensembles in the world, were not consulted in the decision-making process.

AFM International President Tino Gagliardi responded with an open letter of support, signed by AFM leadership, calling on BSO management to include musicians in the artistic decisions that will shape the orchestra’s future.

“It’s critical that the musicians of the Boston Symphony Orchestra remain supported and respected during this leadership transition,” Gagliardi says. “As leadership sets a new path forward, musicians should be included in the artistic decisions, especially decisions involving how the future will take shape.”

The letter points to the outsized role that BSO musicians play not only on stage, but in the broader community. The orchestra generates more than $260 million in economic activity in the region—a figure that reflects the institution’s reach well beyond Symphony Hall.

The AFM’s position is clear: when musicians are consulted and supported by management, the result is better performances and a stronger institution. Excluding them from decisions of this magnitude sends the wrong message about who the orchestra really is.

“Because musicians are at the heart and soul of our symphony orchestras, it is only appropriate for them to have a voice in artistic decisions that affect the future of their institutions,” adds AFM Symphonic Services Division Director and Special Counsel Rochelle Skolnick. “That the BSO musicians were blindsided by this announcement speaks to a breakdown in communication and relationships within the organization.”

BSO musicians are represented by Local 9-535 (Boston, MA).

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