The Kansas City Symphony and its musicians have reached an early extension of their collective bargaining agreement, a two-year extension to the current four-year agreement through June 2023. The extension calls for a 4 percent increase to the musicians’ base salary in the 2021-22 season and a 3 percent increase in 2022-23, bringing the base salary in the final year to $67,800. With contractually guaranteed electronic media payments, musicians will make a minimum of $69,186 in the 2022-23 season. Frank Byrne concluded his nearly nineteen-year tenure as executive director on July 26; Daniel Beckley became executive director on July 29. In a press release, the orchestra said the advance agreement was part of ensuring a smooth “changing of the guard.” Said Byrne, “This extension is an example of our organization’s forward-thinking and collaborative approach to the future. Knowing we had transitions this summer in both executive and board leadership, we proactively proposed the extension to our musicians, who were very receptive. It is in our mutual interest to extend the contract, and we are very grateful to our musicians and board for their enthusiastic approval of the agreement.” William Lyons is the orchestra’s departing board chair and Patrick McCown is the new board chair.
Posted August 5, 2019
