Detroit (read here):
Salary cuts upwards of 28 percent, drastic cuts in their health insurance, elimination of contributions to their retirement benefits, and a sharp reduction in the size of the orchestra – those are key provisions of management’s demands from the musicians of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra as contract negotiations continue.
The musicians believe that this may be the beginning of a trend that will see managers of other symphony orchestras make similar demands from their musicians.
According to DSO cellist Haden McKay, one of the musicians’ negotiators, the demands by management, in addition to imposing drastic cuts in salary and benefits, would drop the DSO out of the top ten, the majors, in the ranking of American symphony orchestras, with no opportunity to reclaim its position.
“The fall from the top ten would make it that much more difficult to attract internationally famous guest conductors and artists, as well as the best musicians,” he said. “This orchestra has been a source of pride to us and to music lovers throughout Michigan. To many in our audiences, it has been an introduction to great symphonic music.
Pittsburgh (read here):
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is projecting a budget deficit of $876,000 in 2011 because of funding cuts.
… and then there’s this:
On the verge of its 50th anniversary, the Southwest Florida Symphony finds itself in a less-than-festive mood.
The orchestra owes $300,000 — including $100,000 from this past season’s shortfall in tickets and donations — and it’s about to lose another conductor.
Popular conductor Erich Kunzel died in September — and with him, ticket sales for his scheduled pops concerts, which dropped about 30 percent. Now chorus and “Holiday Pops” conductor Joe Caulkins plans to leave the orchestra in December.
Both losses could affect ticket sales in the upcoming anniversary season — and perhaps add to the symphony’s debt.
It’s not an enviable position to be in, said executive director Fran Goldman.
“We haven’t closed our doors or anything like that,” she said. “It’s just something we need to get a handle on.”
The symphony isn’t alone. Across the country, the recession has taken a bite out of orchestra ticket sales and donations.
The Naples Philharmonic Orchestra borrowed $652,000 to balance its 2009-10 budget. Like the Southwest Florida Symphony, Naples also froze salaries. Orchestras in Atlanta, Cleveland, Seattle, Baltimore and elsewhere have cut concerts, laid off employees or slashed salaries. The Philadelphia Symphony is considering bankruptcy, and the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra is already there.
Tough times, to be sure.
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