“The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Symphony Musicians have been in contract negotiations for nearly a year,” reports Pat Warren on Saturday’s (9/14) WJZ CBS Baltimore television station. “The musicians put aside their labor troubles Saturday to celebrate Baltimore with a free concert at New Shiloh Baptist Church. A free season preview concert scheduled for Saturday at the Meyerhoff was postponed by BSO management after negotiations broke down last week. Brian Prechtl, of the Baltimore Symphony Musicians Players’ Committee, said he’s hopeful the two sides can come to an agreement…. The New Shiloh Baptist Church concert was organized by the musicians themselves and took place as planned. The BSO was not involved in that event.” The musicians’ concert was led by BSO Music Director Marin Alsop. The orchestra’s cancelled Saturday, Sept. 14 concert has been rescheduled for Saturday, Sept. 21, and is slated to be led, as originally announced, by BSO Associate Conductor Nicholas Hersh. “The musicians have been picketing outside the Meyerhoff for weeks. The BSO characterized the dispute as a strike, but the musicians said it is a continuation of a summer-long lockout. They are now entering their 14th week. As of Saturday, no further talks had been scheduled.”
Posted September 16, 2019
