In Virginia, the Richmond Symphony Orchestra and the musicians have ratified a new four-year collective bargaining agreement, through August 23, 2022. The new contract, covering the 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22 seasons, guarantees annual wage increases of 1.5 percent, 1.5 percent, 2.0 percent, and 2.5 percent respectively, with the salaries of section musicians increasing to $36,847.20, associate principals to $42,010.80, and principal musicians to $47,901.36 by the final year of the agreement. The orchestra is in the midst of a capital campaign that includes three elements: a fund that underwrites musicians’ salary increases and helps individual Richmond Symphony musicians in times of emergency and personal distress; establishing a new core expansion endowment fund; and matching a $250K challenge grant by George and Luzi Wheeler, who have named the Second Horn Chair through a new endowed fund.
Posted December 17, 2018
