“The musicians with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra have voted to accept a wage concession agreement that management said was necessary to save the orchestra,” writes David Owens in Tuesday’s (1/19) Hartford Courant (CT). “Steve Wade, an oboist with the symphony, said Monday night that the vote to accept the agreement followed hours of discussion by musicians on Sunday. The musicians union notified Jeffrey Verney, chairman of the symphony’s board of directors, and Carolyn Kuan, the music director and conductor, on Monday…. Steve Collins, director of artistic operations and administration for the orchestra, said … to expect an announcement Tuesday morning” after a board meeting vote. “Hartford’s new mayor said he is thankful for the agreement. ‘The Hartford Symphony Orchestra is a vital cultural asset, not only for the City of Hartford but for our entire region,’ Mayor Luke Bronin said…. The union faced a deadline of midnight Monday to agree to concessions. Without a vote accepting $450,000 in wage concessions, management said it would shut down the symphony. Earlier on Monday, orchestra musicians, through a statement issued by their union, thanked [Music Director Carolyn] Kuan…. On Thursday, Kuan said she was willing to reduce her salary commensurate to the cut the musicians were asked to accept.”
Posted January 19, 2016
Pictured: Carolyn Kuan leads the Hartford Symphony Orchestra
