Although the 2008 Orchestra Compensation Reports were a big hit this year, they meant a week without reflecting on some significant developments in the field. In particular, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra (CSO) crossed the self-imposed line in the sand for cancelling operations last Sunday, June 1st. Since then, the organization has dismissed all but the executive staff and according to the Columbus Dispatch, CSO Board President Robert “Buzz” Trafford terminated the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the organization’s musicians although the contract does not expire until August 31, 2008. This isn’t the first time this executive board implemented a short sighted decision but the real head-scratcher is Trafford’s comment to the Dispatch where he was quoted as saying that cancelling the CBA “has no impact on the negotiations” with musicians. Although I tend to avoid arguing with an idiot out of fear that they’ll drag me down to their level then beat me with experience, this foolish statement deserves some attention…
Year: 2008
2008 Compensation Report: Concertmasters
The final installment of the 2008 Orchestra Compensation Reports will examine compensation levels for concertmasters… WHO IS THIS CONCERTMASTER PERSON? For those not already familiar with the concertmaster position, this is the title reserved for the principal seat within the 1st violin section. More often than not, this is the musician you see walking out on stage at the beginning of the concert to initiate the orchestra’s tuning process before the …
2008 Compensation Report: ROPA Music Directors
The 2005/06 season was a very lucrative season for most Regional Orchestra Players Association (ROPA) music directors, on average they experienced one of the highest percentage increase in compensation over the past seven seasons… WHERE THE NUMBERS COME FROM In order to provide information that is as accurate as possible, data from the 2005/06 season is gathered from the following sources: Music Director Compensation figures were obtained from their respective orchestra’s …
2008 Compensation Report: ROPA Executive Directors
Although the average Regional Orchestra Players Association (ROPA) executive director earned more than ever before during the 2005/06 season, the percent increase in average compensation slowed to its lowest point in the past seven years… WHERE THE NUMBERS COME FROM In order to provide information that is as accurate as possible, data from the 2005/06 season is gathered from the following sources: Executive Director Compensation figures were obtained from their respective …
2008 Compensation Report: ICSOM Music Directors
Although the average percent increase for music director compensation in the 2005/06 season was approximately half of figure from the previous season, the Top 10 earners experienced a slightly larger drop than their peers. Regardless, ICSOM music directors remain firmly fixed atop of the orchestral compensation pyramid… WHERE THE NUMBERS COME FROM In order to provide information that is as accurate as possible, data from the 2005/06 season is gathered from …