In early June, the New York City Ballet Orchestra ratified a three-year contract that is retroactive to September 1, 2017 and runs through August 2020.

The contract provides pay increases of 2.5% each year and maintains season length at 24 weeks, with four additional paid weeks off. Orchestra size remains at 63 contract musicians, as well as three part-time rotating musicians. The ballet’s musicians are represented by Local 802 (New York City).

Numerous changes were made to audition language, including defining the composition of the committee for section violin auditions; terms under which a musician may withdraw from an audition committee; terms allowing a musician to be appointed without audition; establishing secret ballots for all rounds while allowing for discussion; and defining when and how audition trials may occur.