Tag Archives: orchestra news

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Sees Gains in New Contract

December 1, 2015 IM

At the end of September, musicians of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra ratified a two-year contract that will be effective through August 2017.

Under the new agreement, annual base salary, previously $87,000, increases to $90,000 this season and will increase to nearly $93,000 in 2016-2017. Musicians will receive a one-time $750 bonus at the beginning of the 2016-2017 season. Orchestra size will increase from 82 to 86 members, if management is successful in raising $50,000 by summer 2017.

The contract also outlines changes to touring and travel rules, as well as changes to working conditions, such as the scheduling of optional services and services around holidays.

Orchestra News

Memphis Symphony Orchestra Ratifies Contract

December 1, 2015 IM

In late October, members of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra ratified a new contract that is a small step toward making up the devastating 37% pay cut taken last year, when the orchestra’s budget was reduced from $4.8 million to $3.2 million.

The new agreement formally embeds community engagement into work schedules, effectively adding five contracted weeks to the season. Wages will increase from $18,880 for 24 weeks of work to $22,813 for 29 weeks of work this season, and will rise another $1,500 for 31 weeks next season.

Orchestra News

Orchestra of St. Luke’s Names Executive Director

October 25, 2015 IM

In mid-September, Orchestra of St. Luke’s (OSL) named James Roe its new president and executive director. Roe previously served as president and CEO of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.
Roe, an oboist and member of Local 802 (New York City), performed often with OSL and other New York City ensembles for 20 years. “Taking this role feels like coming home for me,” he says. “It is a great honor to be selected to lead this organization that I hold in such high regard.” Roe begins his new position with OSL on December 1.

Orchestra News

Grand Rapids Symphony Negotiates for Fair Contract

October 11, 2015 IM

Musicians of the Grand Rapids Symphony have been in negotiations with management since April for a new CBA. The previous contract, covering 50 full-time and 30 part-time musicians, expired August 31.

Under that agreement, musicians received small raises of 2% to 3% in each of the past three seasons. Those were small steps to work toward rebuilding wages that were cut drastically in 2009. Negotiations have not just focused on salaries and work rules, but also strategies to grow the orchestra.

The first official concert of the 2015-2016 season took place in mid-September, but the musicians organized and presented a free concert at Grand Rapids Public Museum just after Labor Day to raise public awareness. A standing-room-only audience of approximately 255 filled the museum.

Orchestra News

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Hires New CEO

October 4, 2015 IM

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) has hired Jennifer Barlament as its new CEO. Barlament has been general manager of The Cleveland Orchestra since 2013.

Her appointment brings her back to Atlanta, where she studied clarinet at Emory University. She earned her master’s degree from the Eastman School of Music. Prior to The Cleveland Orchestra, she held positions at the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and Omaha Symphony.

ASO’s previous CEO, Stanley Romanstein, resigned October 2014 during the two-month lockout that delayed the start of the season. Terry Neal, an ASO board member and retired Coca-Cola executive, stepped in as interim CEO and made impressive progress in getting the orchestra on a successful track.

“Terry Neal has done a great job rebuilding and solidifying our management team over this past year with regard to marketing and operations,” says Bruce Kenney, president of Local 148-462 (Atlanta, GA) and an ASO musician. “The financial rebuilding plan is working and he continues to push it even further ahead of schedule, while showing great care and appreciation for the music. Jennifer Barlament has a much better chance to succeed thanks to the progress made by Terry.”

Orchestra News

Houston Symphony Creates New Orchestra Positions

June 2, 2015 IM

Houston Symphony plans to hire four new full-time string players, whose primary role will be education and community engagement. These musicians will perform 25 concerts per year with the symphony, but mainly they will work outside the concert hall, in neighborhood schools, community centers, and healthcare facilities.

Due to their direct engagement with Houston’s diverse populations, potential candidates must be bilingual. The initiative is part of Houston Symphony’s 10-year strategic plan to expand its reach and relevance in its community

Orchestra News

Cincinnati Symphony Ratified New Contract

June 2, 2015 IM

On May 6, the musicians of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra ratified a new five-year agreement during an endowment drive that has achieved a $26 million increase in the past year. The contract provides 1.5% salary gains in each season, in addition to the restoration of 14 of 23 permanent musician vacancies. A one-time income supplement of 12% to all current tenure track musicians creates a compensation package of 3% over the life of the deal.

This is a major step forward for an orchestra that saw a drop in endowment value from $92.7 million during 2000 to $56 million during the financial upheaval of 2008. Musician concessions in 2009 and a contract extension in 2011, along with new and prudent board financial practices, provided a path to this agreement. The original goal of $20 million for the endowment was exceeded by $6 million, establishing full funding of the salary increases and restored vacancies, plus a future reduction in annual endowment draw from 5% to 4.5%.

As the institution faces the challenges of a $125 million renovation of Music Hall during 2016-17, the new labor agreement provides financial stability and eliminates the last of a structural deficit by the 125th anniversary season of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in 2020.

Orchestra News

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Provides Music in Wake of Riots

June 2, 2015 IM

On April 29, as Baltimore was reeling from riots gripping the city, musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) gathered to do what they do best: play music.

The idea for a gathering of musicians came to BSO oboist Michael Lisicky of Local 40-543 (Baltimore, MD) while he was sitting in a coffee shop the day after the riots broke out. Everything fell into place in less than 24 hours. “Originally I envisioned some unannounced chamber music outside the hall to whoever was around,” he says. “I didn’t want to call it a ‘performance’ because it wasn’t about us. The city was very damaged, emotionally and physically.”

Lisicky pitched the idea to his fellow musicians and many quickly came on board, agreeing to donate their time. BSO management joined in the effort, arranging logistical details, preparing sheet music, and working on publicity for the impromptu musical offering.

The next day at noon, the BSO musicians played the National Anthem, and Baltimore’s city anthem, Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks, Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3, and the finale from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 conducted by Music Director and Local 802 (New York City) member Marin Alsop, outside of Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. A crowd of 1,000 people joined to listen, including media outlets from around the world.

The music uplifted spirits and demonstrated the power and purpose that a symphony orchestra can provide during times of struggle. “It blossomed into a great thing,” says Lisicky. “Playing Bach and Beethoven was what we could do, and it worked. It showed that we are part of the community, and it showed that we are professionals.”

BSO’s scheduled education concert took place the day after the gathering. While the hall was mostly empty due to safety concerns, the music was streamed live into classrooms under the terms of the Integrated Media Agreement.

Orchestra News

Community Connection Is Key to Rebirth of DSO

June 2, 2015 IM

In the fall of 2010, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) experienced a devastating six-month strike. Following its settlement the orchestra quickly put the bad times behind it and set to work on a remarkable comeback. Its latest three-year contract was settled in January 2014—eight months ahead of the expiration date.

“The strike, of course, was very painful for the musicians. It resulted in considerable sacrifice,” says Local 5 (Detroit, MI) President George Troia, Jr. “But we prefer to look forward; that is the spirit with which we concluded our negotiations last year, and that is the spirit with which we work with the DSO every day.”

“The musicians of the orchestra are grateful for the steadfast support of Local 5 throughout the negotiations,” says Ken Thompkins, DSO principal trombone and orchestra committee member. “We were ever mindful of our primary goal, which was to craft an agreement that retains and attracts the finest musicians. Our solidarity and shared values of honesty and mutual respect guided us toward a successful conclusion.”

Much of the orchestra’s recovery can be credited to taking a long hard look at its community, and connecting with it. DSO now plays a leading role in the overall regeneration of the City of Detroit.

The orchestra’s performances reach more than 400,000 people a year—more than any other American orchestra, and its subscriptions have grown 24.7% since 2011. Key to its community/global connection is its live, weekly webcast series. Other initiatives include: more extra services per year; a concert series with “patron-minded prices” that has brought the orchestra to seven neighborhoods; wellness music therapy performances; and a dedicated education program that serves more than 20,000 children.

On the fundraising side, the number of people who donated to the orchestra has grown. Those individual donors gave a total of $5.4 million. Market appreciation and new gifts raised the endowment by $10 million, to $38.6 million.

Orchestra News

2015 ROPA Conference Details

June 2, 2015 IM

The 31st annual Regional Orchestra Players’ Association (ROPA) Conference will be held at the Toledo, Ohio, Grand Plaza Hotel and Convention Center, July 28-July 30. An AFM negotiations seminar will take place July 27, starting in the morning. The conference room rate at the Grand Plaza Hotel is $99 per night, with a reservation cut-off date of June 25. (Use promo code 01G_123).

The ROPA Executive Board offers its sincere appreciation to Local 15-286 (Toledo, OH) President Alan B. Taplin and Secretary Emilie Sargent, ROPA Delegate Katherine Cosgrove, and Alternate Delegate Nora Shankin for their gracious hospitality in hosting the conference.