Utah Symphony Musicians And Utah Symphony | Utah Opera Ratify New Four-Year Contract Agreement

Utah Symphony | Utah Opera and its orchestra musicians today announced agreement on a four-year contract effective September 1, 2018 to August 31, 2022.

The new agreement - the second consecutive to reach early resolution - was reached three months prior to the expiration of the current 52-week contract. From September 1, 2018, the existing base musician salary of $72,968 will increase by 1.75 percent; the following year, by 2.84 percent; and by 3 percent a year in each of the third and fourth years, for a minimum salary of $81,496 in the 2021-22 season. Additional contractual changes include new scheduling flexibility for films and education programming, opportunities for additional audience development, community outreach or special revenue-generating events through the donation of rehearsal and performance time at no extra cost, and increases to insurance coverage for string instruments.

Said President and CEO Paul Meecham: "On behalf of my administrative colleagues participating in the negotiations, I would like to express my gratitude for the commitment shown by the orchestra committee to reach an agreement that will further the exhilarating artistic momentum of the last seven years, maintain USUO's vital commitment to the community, and sustain fiscal stability. I'd also like to thank federal mediators, Kevin Hawkins and Xavier Merizalde, for their guidance in ensuring that discussions were always productive, and for helping us build further on the existing high level of trust between musicians and administration."

"The musicians of the Utah Symphony are pleased to have reached an agreement for a new contract, several months before expiration of the current contact," said Principal Percussion Keith Carrick, who sits on the musician Negotiations Committee. "This early agreement was made possible by the collaborative relationship we've worked hard to develop over the years. We believe the future of the Utah Symphony is bright, and we look forward to continuing to bring the very best classical music to the people of Utah."

"On behalf of the USUO Board of Trustees, I would like to express gratitude to all the members of the Negotiating Committee," said Kem Gardner, Chair of the Board of Trustees. "It's evident that our organization holds mutual respect at the forefront of our negotiation interactions, and values the best interests of the musicians and organization as a whole to allow everyone to focus on our mission, which is to connect the community through great live music."

The negotiation committee for the orchestra Mr. Carrick (chair), Violist Julie Edwards (co-chair), Violinist Rebekah Johnson, Associate Principal Cello Matthew Johnson, and Piccolist/Flutist Caitlin Valovick Moore. Paul Meecham led the negotiation on behalf of the administration for Utah Symphony | Utah Opera on a committee which also involved Senior Vice President & COO David Green, Vice President of Symphony Operations and General Manager Jeff Counts and Director of Operations Cassandra Dozet.

About the Utah Symphony

Founded in 1940, the Utah Symphony performs more than 175 concerts each season and offers all Utahns easy access to world-class live musical performances of the world's greatest music in the state's top venues. Since being named the orchestra's seventh music director in 2009, Thierry Fischer has attracted leading musicians and top soloists, refreshed programming, drawn increased audiences, and galvanized community support. In addition to numerous regional and domestic tours, including the Mighty 5 Tour of Utah's national parks, the Utah Symphony has embarked on seven international tours and performed at Carnegie Hall in Spring 2016 coinciding with the orchestra's 75th anniversary celebrations. The Utah Symphony has released more than 100 recordings, including Mahler's Symphony No. 8 in Fall 2017, Mahler's Symphony No. 1 (2015) and Dawn to Dust (2016), which features three Utah Symphony-commissioned works by Nico Muhly, Andrew Norman, and Augusta Read Thomas. Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, the orchestra's parent organization, reaches 450,000 residents in Utah and the Intermountain region, with educational outreach programs serving around 75,000 students annually. In addition to performances in its home in Salt Lake City, Abravanel Hall, and concerts throughout the state of Utah, the Utah Symphony participates in Utah Opera's four annual productions at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre and presents the six-week Deer Valley Music Festival each summer in Park City, Utah. With its many subscription, education, and outreach concerts and tours, the Utah Symphony is one of the most engaged orchestras in the nation. For more information visit www.utahsymphony.org

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