Musicians and management at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) announced a new five-year labor agreement on Thursday. Starting Sept. 9, the new agreement provides salary increases of 23% over the life of the contract, more flexible scheduling and “industry-leading audition and tenure practices,” according to a news release from the CSO.
CSO president and CEO Jonathan Martin said in the release that the agreement with the American Federation of Musicians Local 1 reinforces CSO’s dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion.
“New contractual and policy provisions in the agreement adopt industry-leading audition and tenure practices that focus on transparency, equity, and support mechanisms, as recommended by the National Alliance for Audition Support and the Black Orchestral Network,” Martin said.
The CSO listed highlights of those recommendations, including:
- The advancement of Sphinx Orchestral Partner Audition (SOPA) winners to the semi-final round of auditions
- The creation and execution of a formal evaluation process based on job-related criteria as well as the increase of support systems for musicians during the tenure process
- The implementation of protections against conflicts of interest in audition and tenure processes
“The stability that this agreement provides will enable the organization to be 100% focused on the implementation of our strategic plan and help ensure the success of Cristian Măcelaru’s launch as our new Music Director in 2025,” Martin said.
Scheduling is addressed in the contract, promising “elasticity that allows for artistic and economic opportunities.” This will include workweek layouts that can “flex to meet varying performance needs as projects and circumstances require,” according to the release.