In Thursday’s (3/7) Herald-Leader (Lexington, Kentucky), Rich Copley writes, “Add the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra to the list of American orchestras that have run into difficult contract negotiations between management and musicians. In negotiations that have been going on since April, Philharmonic Orchestra Committee Chair Dave Shelton said musicians are concerned overall with a reduction in the number of performances they are getting to play. They also have specific concerns with a proposed non-compete clause for musicians contracted by the orchestra and the removal of a peer-review process for musicians’ dismissal and demotion. Philharmonic Board Chair Gregory K. Jenkins, who is leading negotiations for orchestra management, said most of the sticking points are related to fiscal and artistic changes that the orchestra must consider in renegotiating its agreement with musicians. … Since the arrival of Music Director Scott Terrell in 2009, the orchestra has reduced the number of main-stage classical concerts it presents at the Singletary Center for the Arts. … Since Terrell’s arrival, the orchestra has received generally good notices from observers, including Herald-Leader music critics. Jenkins said that was a turnaround from declining audiences for full-orchestra concerts a few years before.”
Posted March 8, 2013
