“The musicians of the San Antonio Symphony have announced that they will perform together as a group for the first time since going on strike in September,” writes Nicholas Frank in Wednesday’s (2/16) San Antonio Report (TX). “The unofficial orchestra will perform concerts March 3-4 as part of the First Baptist Church of San Antonio’s First Fine Arts series. They will be conducted by David Cho of the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra. The musicians have not played together since performing in a free public concert Sept. 18…. They went on strike Sept. 27 in response to symphony management’s imposition of a new contract that would reduce the number of full-time musicians and cut wages. As a result of the strike, the musicians have not received wages, and their associated health insurance was cut in October. Negotiations had stalled until a new session including a federal mediator was scheduled for Feb. 14. The results of that session are unclear…. The musicians emphasized that the concerts are ‘not produced or sponsored by the Symphony Society of San Antonio,’ the board that manages the orchestra…. Proceeds from the concerts will go directly to the musicians and associated production costs for the performances.”
Change font size
