Edited by Randi Bjornstad
The Eugene Symphony Association’s board of directors has ratified a three-year contract with its 82 musicians, solidifying the symphony’s programming and performances through 2027.
The Eugene Symphony’s musicians, members of the American Federation of Musicians Local 689, voted by a wide margin at the end of June to accept the contract.
In announcing the agreement, Dave Moss, executive director of the symphony association, acknowledged the musicians as “the heart of this wonderful organization” and praised the multi-year contract as a way to ensure stability both for the Eugene Symphony and its musicians through 2027.
At the same time, Moss acknowledged coming challenges.
“Like many performing arts organizations both locally and throughout the country, Eugene Symphony has experienced two years of significant deficit spending,” he said. “Despite these challenging circumstances, the core values of collaboration and innovation, fiscal sustainability, and a deep commitment to our community, remained steadfast as we negotiated this agreement.”
Under the agreement, annual raises for musicians will total 10.5 percent through the life of the contract, and 18 now-vacant musician positions will be filled. Work rules and scheduling also will be more flexible, including authorizing use of smaller groups of musicians in order to add more performance opportunities outside its home at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Eugene.
Lydia Van Dreel, who headed the musicians’ bargaining team, praised the negotiation process between the musicians and the symphony association as “thorough and respectful,” creating an atmosphere in which both sides will be “poised to grow and thrive, delivering quality concerts and experiences for Eugene, Springfield, and the region.”
Likewise, Deborah Carver, head of the Eugene Symphony Association’s board of directors, praised the agreement for preserving and enhancing “the harmony between musicians, board, administration and community.”
Conclusion of the negotiating process will be marked by the opening of the 2024-25 season with two free community concerts, one on July 21 at Eugene’s Cuthbert Amphitheater that has a wait list for attendance, and another on July 22 in Cottage Grove, a free concert in Bohemia Park at which attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets, food and beverages, and where food trucks also will be available for purchases.
The expanding of the symphony’s programming plans also includes a performance titled The Music of Queen on August 8 and The Music of Studio Ghibli on Sept. 21.
The nonprofit Eugene Symphony’s new season will mark its 59th year. The coming season will feature visits by the five finalists for the position of music director and conductor, recently vacated by Francesco Lecce-Chong after seven years at the podium.
For more information on the Eugene symphony and its coming season, go online to eugenesymphony.org.
