A report in Monday’s (9/24) Indianapolis Star states, “The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra announced Sunday night that it has canceled classical music performances scheduled this week amid an ongoing labor dispute between the orchestra and its musicians. The announcement means that the ISO has now lost its first full month of the 2012-13 concert season, with no end to the dispute in sight. A news release from ISO spokeswoman Jessica Di Santo said the orchestra decided to cancel performances for Thursday, Friday and Saturday ‘in order to have adequate time to notify its subscribers and single ticket purchasers.’ Violinist Zach De Pue was to have been the featured soloist during those concerts. The old contract expired Sept. 2. Stalled negotiations on a new contract have led to concert cancellations and a lockout of musicians. The ISO is seeking cuts in compensation, length of the concert season and orchestra size to close a budget gap. … The ISO locked out the musicians and terminated their health benefits on Sept. 8. Since that time, the musicians have been performing from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday outside of the Hilbert Circle Theatre in Downtown Indianapolis and will continue to do so during the lockout period, [musicians’ negotiating chair Rick] Graef said in his statement.”
Posted September 26, 2012
