Nashville Symphony, AFM Local 257 Provide Musician Raises In New Orchestra Contract

The Nashville Symphony and the Nashville Musicians Association, AFM Local 257 have ratified a new four-year contract for the orchestra musicians that will go into effect on Aug. 1.

The new agreement provides for a 3.5 percent increase to the musicians’ base salaries for the 2018-19 season, as well as increases of 3.75 percent for the 2019-20 season and 4.25 percent for each of the following two seasons. The contract also restores two previously unfilled positions, a first violin position in the first year of the agreement, and a cello position in the second year of the agreement, restoring the orchestra’s total membership back to 83.

“Our musicians are at the core of everything we do at the Nashville Symphony, and they are invaluable assets to the entire Middle Tennessee community,” said board chair Mark Peacock. “I am proud that we’ve reached this important agreement, which affirms the value of our orchestra’s hard work and dedication.”

“AFM Local 257 is pleased to have reached a successful conclusion to these negotiations,” said Dave Pomeroy, president, Nashville Musicians Association. “We thank Nashville Symphony leadership and our negotiating committee for their commitment and dedication to the process, and, especially, the musicians of the Nashville Symphony. This contract helps bring these excellent musicians’ compensation closer to their high level of artistic achievement, and we are proud to represent them as we move forward together.”

“The spirit of mutual respect and cooperation that has yielded tremendous accomplishments and accolades for the Nashville Symphony over the years also characterized the negotiations that resulted in this agreement,” said Alan D. Valentine, president and CEO. “We share with our musicians a clear sense of mission, vision and commitment to the community, and this agreement sets the stage for the realization of our long-term goals and a very bright and exciting future for the Nashville Symphony.”

The Nashville Symphony has released 29 recordings on Naxos, which have received 24 Grammy nominations and 13 Grammy awards, making it one of the most active recording orchestras in the country. The orchestra has also released recordings on Decca, Deutsche Grammophon and New West Records, among other labels. With more than 140 performances annually, the orchestra offers a broad range of classical, pops and jazz, and children’s concerts, while its extensive education and community engagement programs reached 60,000 children and adults each year.

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Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.

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