In a Monday (9/5) Dallas Observer blog post, Robert Wilonsky writes, “The Dallas Symphony Orchestra has spent the last year trying to balance its books and fill its coffers, going so far as to launch last fall The Great Orchestra Campaign intended to raise a quick $50 million. The process continues: Per a press release dispatched by the DSO today, management has ‘cut over $1 million from its 2011-12 budget, including the elimination of staff positions and a staff wage freeze.’ It had to be done—especially because, in the midst of putting together its budget, the DSO also had to come to terms with its musicians, without whom, well, there’d be no DSO—and who haven’t gotten a raise since 2007. Four months of contract negotiations later, a deal’s been struck. According to the Labor Day announcement: ‘Musician wages will remain level during the first year and will increase by less than 1% the following year.’ ” Dallas Symphony musicians have a base salary of approximately $90,000 per year. “In the prepared release, DSO principal trombonist and SMU Adjunct Associate Professor of Trombone John Kitzman says the deal’s music to his ears.”
Posted September 6, 2011
