Hartford Symphony Orchestra Musicians and Board of Directors Approve a New Four-Year Contract Agreement
Hartford, CT (October 25, 2023) – The Hartford Symphony Orchestra, (HSO), and representatives of the American Federation of Musicians Local 400, (AFM), the union representing the musicians of the HSO, announce the approval of a new four-year collective bargaining agreement. The new agreement will be applied retroactively from September 1, 2023 through August 31, 2027, providing stability and sustainability to the Orchestra.
Highlights of this new agreement include an increase of 20% in musician wages, enhanced seniority payments, and other compensation increases to maintain the HSO’s leadership position in the region; the creation of a BIPOC musician fellowship program to provide performance and community engagement opportunities to young professional orchestra musicians of color; investment in the artistic development of the orchestra; and greater flexibility in producing education and community engagement programs.
“We are pleased that an agreement has been reached with the American Federation of Musicians,” said HSO President & CEO, Steve Collins. “Both teams worked tirelessly to find solutions to challenges and reach compromises where needed, all in the spirit of mutual respect and collaboration. We look forward to continuing the celebration of the HSO’s 80th season!”
“We are very pleased to have ratified an agreement that promises reasonable increases in pay and security in a number of important working conditions” said AFM Local 400 President Joe Messina and Orchestra Committee Co-Chair Steve Wade. “We agree with our Board of Directors and with new Board Chair Bob Bausmith that Hartford is an important and thriving city in our region, and we are looking forward to performing great music for our community for years to come. In addition, we are excited to participate in a fellowship program that will put young BIPOC string players side by side with us as colleagues. Opportunities like this one are important for young players and for the future of classical music in our country.”
We invite you to join the HSO’s 80th anniversary celebration as the season continues November 10 through 12 with Ravel & Debussy at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts.
About the Hartford Symphony Orchestra
The mission of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra is to enrich lives and community through great music. The HSO is Connecticut’s premier musical organization and widely recognized as one of America’s leading regional orchestras. The Hartford Symphony Orchestra named Carolyn Kuan as its tenth music director in January 2011; she is the first woman and youngest person to hold this title. The HSO captivates and inspires audiences of all ages by presenting more than 100 concerts annually, including the Masterworks Series, POPS! Series, Sunday Serenades, Discovery Concerts, Symphony in Schools, the Talcott Mountain Music Festival, and more. The HSO aims to deliver uniquely powerful and emotional experiences that lift and transform the spirit, and to give back and help create vibrant communities in the Greater Hartford area.