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February 1, 2014
IM -Musicians and management of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) agreed to a new three-year contract in January, eight months in advance of the current contract’s expiration date. The last time DSO went through contract negotiations, it led to a six-month musician strike. This time around, the faces around the bargaining table were almost entirely new, and talks were held in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust.
The resulting contract raises musician salaries by 2% each year, bringing base salaries to $88,000 in the contract’s third year. Musicians can make an additional $5,200 or more annually for participation in outreach work. The orchestra size remains at 87 members and the season length remains 36 weeks, with four weeks of paid vacation. Musicians agreed to donate four services for high-profile fundraising concerts.
“The musicians and management feel very positive about the future of the orchestra,” says Local 5 (Detroit, MI) President George Troia. “All felt that reaching an early agreement was a major step for us in helping the Detroit Symphony Orchestra contribute to the resurgence of metropolitan Detroit.”
DSO ended fiscal year 2013 with a small surplus—balancing its budget for the first time since 2007. The orchestra raised $18.9 million in donations, which was a 43% increase over the previous season. Donors numbered more than 10,000 for the first time in a decade.
Ticket sales were also strong throughout the season—including a Beethoven festival in February 2013 that set a record for classical concert ticket sales in Max M. Fisher Music Center. DSO’s Live from Orchestra Hall webcasts attracted more than 300,000 viewers.