N.Y. Philharmonic Musicians’ Agreement Sees 2% Raise for 2012
New York Philharmonic
Chris Lee/New York Philharmonic via Bloomberg
Alan Gilbert, Music Director of the New York Philharmonic. The Philharmonic's musicians agreed a two-year contract, which leaves pay unchanged this season and raises it two percent for 2012 to 2013, according to K.C. Boyle, the spokesman for Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians.
Alan Gilbert, Music Director of the New York Philharmonic. The Philharmonic's musicians agreed a two-year contract, which leaves pay unchanged this season and raises it two percent for 2012 to 2013, according to K.C. Boyle, the spokesman for Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians. Photographer: Chris Lee/New York Philharmonic via Bloomberg
The New York Philharmonic and its musicians agreed a two-year contract, which leaves pay unchanged this season and raises it two percent for 2012 to 2013, according to K.C. Boyle, the spokesman for Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians.
Management “dropped its plans for drastic cuts to health insurance and a radical reduction in pension benefits,” according to a Jan. 28 statement from the musicians’ union that didn’t include pay details. Eric Latzky, a Philharmonic spokesman, didn’t return an e-mail for comment.
The Philharmonic, which was founded in 1842 and is the oldest U.S. symphony, had $24 million of unfunded pension obligations as of Aug. 31, 2011, according to its annual report. Philharmonic net assets declined by $1.5 million last season to $176.6 million.
Minimum pay for the Philharmonic is about $141,000, according to a summary of the prior contract, which expired on Sept. 20, 2011, and was posted on the Internet by the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians. Boyle couldn’t immediately confirm the minimum pay figure.
Stars of the Philharmonic, which counts Credit Suisse Group (CSGN) AG as global sponsor, earn multiples of the minimum. Glenn Dicterow, violin soloist and concertmaster, got $519,000 in pay and benefits in 2009-10, according to the orchestra’s tax return. The principal trumpeter, French horn player, flautist and cellist made from $325,000 to $385,000. Alan Gilbert, named music director in September 2009, had salary, fees and benefits of $753,000.
The Philharmonic begins a European tour on Feb. 2, performing a Beethoven violin concerto and Prokofiev symphony in Cologne, Germany.
To contact the writer of this column: Philip Boroff in New York at pboroff@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.
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