In Sunday’s (8/21) Wichita Eagle (Kansas), Denise Neil reports, “The 84 musicians who make up the Wichita Symphony Orchestra voted recently to accept a 20 percent wage cut for the coming season, a move necessary to keep the orchestra viable in tough economic times, those involved with the decision say. The musicians, who all work part time, accepted the condition as part of a new contract approved last weekend. … Single-ticket sales were good last season, [secretary of the symphony’s board Kurt] Harper said, crediting the popularity of new conductor Daniel Hege. But other revenue streams, including the season ticket sales, endowment fund, corporate underwriting and annual fund drive, each suffered. … Nancy Woodruff, a violinist in the symphony who’s the chairwoman of the orchestra committee that serves as a liaison between musicians and symphony management, said that the musicians seemed to understand why the cut was necessary. … The cut is tougher in light [of the fact] that many of the performers are teachers at Wichita State University or in public schools and have faced salary cuts in their primary jobs as well, Woodruff said. Symphony members voluntarily agreed to a 10 percent pay reduction two years ago, then a 4 percent reduction last year.”
Posted August 22, 2011
