Cleveland gets a deal
OrchestrasMusicians of the Cleveland Orchestra have quietly and uncontentiously inked a pay deal for the next three years.
The deal provides annual minimum pay rises of 4 percent, 3 percent, and 3 percent, plus a $5k signing bonus.
Press release below.
That leave the Philadelphia Orchestra out on a limb, having voted down a ‘final, final’ offer.
CLEVELAND —Management and Musicians of The Cleveland Orchestra have successfully concluded negotiations for a new, three-year trade agreement for the 2023-2024, 2024-2025, and 2025-2026 seasons. The agreement was ratified by the members of the Orchestra through a vote last week.
As part of the agreement, Cleveland Orchestra musicians will receive annual increases in minimum weekly compensation of 4 percent, 3 percent, and 3 percent, respectively, over three years, in addition to a one-time, $5,000 agreement ratification bonus each. On healthcare, the musicians’ dollar contributions toward premiums will increase each year of the agreement. Modest changes were made to plan design to support the medical plan’s marketability, lower its cost, and enhance its sustainability. Collaboration will continue in the future to explore healthcare cost savings as part of the joint Medical Insurance Advisory Committee. The contract also introduces changes to working conditions that benefit both the institution and the musicians.
“In the midst of challenging macroeconomic conditions and lingering post-pandemic uncertainty, both parties approached these negotiations with a constructive mindset, a willingness to problem-solve creatively, and a genuine desire to tackle important institutional challenges realistically,” said André Gremillet, Cleveland Orchestra President and CEO. “At the end of the day, our musicians are at the heart of everything we do, and we are confident that this new contract is both fair and beneficial for our Orchestra and its people. I look forward to continuing our partnership and journey together as we build an ever-stronger future for our treasured organization.”
“Ensuring that Northeast Ohio and the city of Cleveland continues to have America’s finest orchestra is always the top priority of the musicians of The Cleveland Orchestra,” said Kathleen Collins, Chair of the Orchestra Committee, which negotiates on behalf of the musicians. “To that end, we were pleased to be able to obtain solid wage gains, address inflation, and retain our excellent healthcare plan so that our compensation package remains competitive. We were able to work collaboratively with management to find solutions which helped both sides.”
4%: Cleveland beats Chicago. In so many ways.
I agree. They have a better contract, a better music director (by far), better programming, a better hall, a better orchestra. The only area where they fall short is nepo babies.
Better programming for sure. Cleveland’s programming improved dramatically after Cristina Rocca left. She went on to Chicago as Muti minion to inflict Aus Italien on the local population, and similar beauties.
They fall short in the “stupid titles” department too: no M.D.E.F.L
I would love to have Strauss’s Aus Italien programmed by my local orchestra (the Utah Symphony) rather than the other far more commonly performed tone poems. Whatever else the artistic administration of the Chicago Symphony may have wrought, in my mind programming this Strauss composition would not be one of them.
And the Cleveland Orchestra has its own record label for commercial releases (some on CD and as digital downloads, some just as downloads), just as the Chicago Symphony has its own record label, CSO Resound, which has released a dozen or so recordings with Riccardo Muti as conductor, with Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 13 as the new key addition to his discography. I would expect there to be another one or two releases with Riccardo Muti. So far, I would say that the Cleveland Orchestra’s releases on its own label have been the more interesting and enterprising of the two labels.
I’m not sure what the point of these spiteful comments is. Why the animosity? Why can’t we enjoy the fact that we have such magnificent orchestras that we can go listen to on weekly basis?
Instead it’s always like little boys arguing about who has a bigger car (or something else).
It wouldn’t even matter if it was all true but you sound like a troll because pretty much everything you said, except the hall, is either questionable or false.
Contract first, I don’t have the exact figures for Cleveland over the last two seasons, in 2021 they made 144k, in 2023 Chicago made 178k. That’s a difference of 34k so even if we generously adjust Cleveland’s salary over the last two seasons, ignoring Covid related financial situation that hit every orchestra, we’re still looking at a difference around 25-30k. The one percent difference in the first year of the contract is hardly noticeable. The only orchestra that has a comparable contract to Chicago is Boston, these two have literally left the rest in the dust.
Chicago doesn’t have a music director. Period!
About programming, perhaps Cleveland’s seasons looks more attractive than Chicago, I feel indifferent about it, but when I look back I can honestly say without hesitation that Chicago won the last one. It goes season by season.
Better hall, sure but than again that’s not really the Orchestra’s fault, Detroit has a better hall than Cleveland and it doesn’t make them a better orchestra.
And the constant “who’s better”, it’s not a competition!! Not a single orchestra in the world is the best at everything. There are types of repertoire that suit Chicago more and those that suite Cleveland more. It also depends on the conductor. Should the two play Mahler or Strauss in the same week, I’m going to Chicago, should it be Mozart and Mendelssohn, I’m heading to Cleveland.
Oh and you obviously missed that, the supposed “nepo” baby has been fired for breach of contract, meanwhile with the Preucil clan history in Cleveland, it’s laughable you should say they fall short.
Maybe save the rivalry for sports and try to enjoy what the already small world of classical music still has to offer.
Well said! I never cease to be astounded by the amount of spite re the general merits of orchestras, and even more so, their conductors that seems to have replaced sensitive music criticism these days. C.f. the almost paranoid attacks on Sir Simon Rattle, or indeed anyone else who’s under seventy or born outside the approved conducting terroirs of Central Europe.
One of the world’s greatest orchestras! They are worthy of their new contract! Bravo tutti!
I heard it recently on radio. Maybe the finest US orchestra today.