New Contract with Salary Increases for New York Philharmonic Musicians

In Thursday’s (9/19) New York Times, Javier C. Hernández writes, “The New York Philharmonic, the oldest orchestra in America, has long been one of the most revered. But in recent years, its musicians have been paid significantly less than their peers … Under a new labor contract announced on Thursday, the Philharmonic’s musicians will get a raise of 30 percent over the next three years, bringing the base salary to $205,000. They will be among the highest paid orchestra musicians in the country. ‘It’s transformative,’ said Colin Williams, the associate principal trombone, who helped lead the negotiations…. The Philharmonic’s leaders praised the agreement, which the ensemble’s roughly 100 musicians are expected to ratify on Friday, when their existing contract expires. ‘This is a restorative settlement that brings our musicians to the level of their peer orchestras,’ Deborah Borda, the Philharmonic’s interim leader, said in an interview … The deal comes as the Philharmonic faces challenges at the start of its 2024-25 season…. Under the deal, the musicians will receive a 15 percent raise this season; a 7.5 percent raise in the 2025-26 season; and a 7.5 percent in the 2026-27 season…. The contract will also bring changes to the Philharmonic’s … hiring process. American orchestras, including the Philharmonic, have been criticized in recent years for a striking dearth of Black and Latino players.”