Musicians of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra.
In Monday’s (4/28) Wichita Business Journal (Kansas), Shaheer Naveed writes, “The long-standing Wichita Symphony Orchestra has agreed on a new contract with Wichita musicians. The orchestra, established in 1944, announced Monday it has completed negotiations with the Wichita Musicians’ Association, local union No. 297 of the American Federation of Musicians, and reached an agreement on a contract that will run … through June 2028. ‘We are incredibly pleased with this outcome, which will further enhance our orchestra’s artistic quality and provide important stability for the years ahead,’ Tim Storhoff, executive director of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, said … Forty-five union members unanimously approved the contract, which will cover around 80 orchestra musicians…. The new contract includes structured wage increases over three years, improved rehearsal pay policies and refined language around artistic evaluations and musician protections … Storhoff said a major feature of the contract was the change from hourly pay to a flat service rate for all musicians participating in rehearsals… Brent Mead, principal trombone player and chair of the union’s orchestra committee, said … ‘This new agreement supports our artistic and professional goals while strengthening our partnership with Symphony management.’ ”
