In Thursday’s (6/4) Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ), Peggy McGlone reports, “The Colonial Symphony is pleased to be the recipient of 45 gifts—from its 44 musicians and conductor—who will perform a benefit concert Sunday afternoon to raise much-needed money for the organization. ‘We were thrilled. It’s an acknowledgment on their part that they know what is happening,’ said Colonial Symphony executive director Suzanne Sampson, who said the gift is worth about $18,000. … The idea of the benefit concert came from the orchestra committee and received the approval of Local 16 of the American Federation of Musicians, the union that negotiates the collective bargaining agreement between the players and the nonprofit institution. The musicians, led by conductor [music director] Paul Hostetter, perform at 4 p.m. in the Morristown High School Auditorium. … The Colonial Symphony musicians are not the only ones using their talents to help their employers. This spring, the musicians of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra agreed to waive the wage and benefit increases called for in next year’s contract and donate the $1 million savings to the organization in the form of a challenge grant.”
Posted June 4, 2009
