| Symphony, Musicians Reach Resolution |
The San Antonio Symphony and the orchestra musicians - the San Antonio Symphony Player's Association - concluded a new collective bargaining agreement today. San Antonio Symphony chairman Ken Oleson and Brian Petkovich, chairman of the San Antonio Symphony Player's Association, jointly announced the new agreement. The new agreement runs for four years, beginning September 1, 2007, and will increase musician compensation by an average of 4.6 percent each year over that period. The symphony's performance season will be extended to 27 weeks for 2007-08 and will increase one week per season, to a total of 30 weeks, by the end of the agreement. In addition, under the terms of a new electronic media agreement, which is part of the overall contract, any Symphony concert can be broadcast on local radio up to four times, and any four Symphony concerts can be telecast on local television up to four times each. "In partnership with the musicians," Oleson said, "the Symphony can be assured of moving forward with a financially sound and viable future. That has been the spirit of the negotiations, and that overriding viewpoint has enabled us to get the agreement done." "The Orchestra Committee, which led the negotiations for the Symphony Player's Association, will unanimously recommend ratification of the agreement to our members," Petkovich said. "I would like to thank Ken Oleson for his steadfast commitment to the symphony over his nine years on the board, and especially throughout his tenure as chairman." "We're looking forward to getting on stage and starting the new season on schedule," he said. "What was going to be a good year is now going to be a great year." Oleson noted, "The symphony will finish the current fiscal year, which ends today, in the black financially - the third year in a row. All ticket sales and donations for the 2007-08 season were set aside in an escrow account so that we will begin the new season with money in the bank, something that very few symphony orchestras across the country can say." "The new electronic media agreement," Petkovich said, "will make the orchestra more accessible to the community. The ability for multiple radio and television broadcasts of concerts can introduce the Symphony to a much wider audience and help us build a new group of future ticket-buyers and patrons." The first Pops concert of the new season - "Bernstein on Broadway" - will be held Sept. 14-15 at 8:00 p.m. in the Majestic Theatre. It will also be repeated at 2:00 p.m. on Sept. 15 in the Majestic Theatre. Renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman will join the Symphony for a special performance Sept. 16, at 7:00 p.m. in the Majestic Theatre. The first classical concerts for 2007-08 will be held Sept. 28-29, featuring violinist Midori. |
THE SAN ANTONIO SYMPHONY:
San Antonio's OTHER Major League Team
What makes the Spurs a major-league team of which San Antonio can be proud? The same qualities that make the San Antonio Symphony a major-league orchestra of which the community can be equally proud:
- Uncompromising commitment to excellence – The 77 star players of the SASO have dedicated their entire lives to scaling the heights of perfection on their individual instruments
- Teamwork – Each star player is also a member of the SASO team, performing together to create one powerful musical message
- Leadership – The SASO is the flagship performing arts organization of the city and world-class in quality
- Community service – We perform educational concerts for over 30,000 area school children each year, as well as free community concerts all over the region.
“Incredibly perfect performance including passion and great colors”
– international cello soloist, Alban Gerhardt
Excellence is Our Standard
The arts are essential to the development of metropolitan areas and our area is no exception. Our community's population is set to double in the next five years, and the arts will need to keep pace with that growth to continue to enhance the quality of life and attract more large corporations to San Antonio . As the cultural cornerstone of the region, the San Antonio Symphony must maintain and nurture its artistic vitality.
The San Antonio Symphony is the city's resident professional orchestra. Our impact reaches far beyond our home at the Majestic Theater. We educate, inform, entertain and infuse our community with music of the highest quality.
- Talent - Our musicians come from all over the world and have studied at the world's finest conservatories and universities. We also perform across the United States and around the globe - from Korea to South America to Europe and Israel.
- Service - Our performance season includes great classical repertoire, pops concerts, free community concerts and educational concerts.
- Regional Impact - We travel throughout South Texas to perform for the citizens of surrounding communities.
- Mentorship - Our musicians offer private instruction to hundreds of students throughout the region. We are faculty members at every major area university and work privately with younger students, as well as volunteering support for area public school music programs.
Learn more about the musicians of the San Antonio by navigating our web site. You can subscribe to our regular e-newsletter by clicking on the box below. Thank you for your interest in the musicians of the San Antonio Symphony!
August 31, 2007 6:29 PM