The musicians of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra will accept 12.5 percent pay cuts and take up to a month of unpaid time off as part of a contract agreement announced Tuesday by the Colorado Symphony Association.
The “extraordinary sacrifices,” as Board of Trustees chair Kevin Duncan called them, include suspension of the association’s contributions to the musicians’ retirement fund. The agreement is expected to save the CSO $1 million and keeps the musicians playing through the 2010 summer season with no cuts to the schedule already announced.
Negotiations started early in the summer and have been finalized just as CSO’s 2009-10 season is beginning.
“It was a challenge, given the times orchestras are facing nationally,” Duncan said.
The upcoming season includes shows from classical superstars Yo-Yo Ma, Lang Lang and Olga Kern, as well as the CSO’s pops programs, including an appearance by Oscar-winning conductor and composer Marvin Hamlisch. John Wenzel, The Denver Post
