“Musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra sounded a note of resolve Monday to continue performing concerts if they remained locked out in their long and bitter confrontation with the Minnesota Orchestral Association,” writes Graydon Royce in Monday’s (12/9) Star Tribune (Minneapolis). “At a community meeting in Minneapolis attended by more than 300 people, the musicians revealed that they have raised $650,000, much of it coming from individual donors but also from players at 87 orchestras…. Clarinetist Tim Zavadil, leader of the musicians’ negotiating team, told the meeting that the priority is reaching a contract settlement with the Orchestral Association. However, he and others spoke of plans for eight to 10 concerts through next spring…. Zavadil said 75 percent of the group’s concert budget goes to pay musicians…. Several community commentators and activists have suggested that the musicians make a formal break with the Orchestral Association. Zavadil said Monday that the players have no such plans at this point, even though there is an application pending with the IRS to form a 501(c)3 nonprofit called Minnesota Orchestra Musicians. ‘The Minnesota Orchestral Association has been a successful model for more than 110 years, so our priority is to get back on stage with that organization,’ he said.”
Posted December 10, 2013
