In Monday’s (1/3) Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky), Elizabeth Kramer reports, “The Louisville Orchestra paid its musicians a partial salary last Friday, after a federal bankruptcy court ruled that the orchestra must abide by its contract with the musicians union. Orchestra CEO Robert Birman wouldn’t specify what percentage of the musicians’ salary was paid. Kim Tichenor, the chairwoman of the players’ negotiating committee, could not be reached for comment. Birman also said that it is not yet clear whether the orchestra will be able to perform concerts scheduled for this week and next week, given that it also must be able to cover the costs of hall rental, music rental and guest artists. A decision is expected early this week. The upcoming concerts include a Beatles tribute on Friday and a Martin Luther King Jr. concert on January 14. Birman said the administration and the board of directors are working to find out whether they can access funds from two existing endowments. … The orchestra had sought to break its contract as one way to reorganize through Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The orchestra now must pay its musicians through the end of the current contract on May 31, 2011, or undergo Chapter 7 liquidation.”
Posted January 4, 2011
