“The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra won’t deck Bass Hall with Christmas music this year,” writes Andrea Ahles in Monday’s (10/24) Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, TX). “Symphony management announced Monday it has canceled concerts through Dec. 31 as a result of the ongoing musicians’ strike. Management and the musicians union met on Saturday for the first time in almost two months to try to reach a new contract agreement for the musicians…. The concerts canceled include the symphony’s popular ‘Home for the Holidays’ concerts on Nov. 25-27, its Dec. 2 presentation of Handel’s Messiah and the ‘New Year’s Eve: Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald’ concert. A holiday concert in Southlake and performances in Mansfield and Stephenville have also been canceled…. The symphony said it may reinstate some of the canceled performances if the strike ends before Dec. 31. It is notifying ticketholders for the canceled performances about their refund options. The musicians and symphony management have been trying to negotiate a new contract for over 16 months. In September, the musicians rejected a contract proposal from management that included a pay cut in the first year of the contract followed by smaller raises in subsequent years. The musicians went on strike on Sept. 8.”
Posted October 25, 2016
