Via PHILADELPHIA (WPVI)

There's good news for classical musical lovers in this area.

The Philadelphia Orchestra's season will continue without interruption because the musicians have accepted the outlines of a one-year contract.

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Via Philly.com

Musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra on Monday approved a labor deal - an unusual 12-month contract that leaves in its wake some unfinished business and the promise of more labor talks soon.

The pact and a related agreement are in part a manifestation of frustrations and disappointments on the part of musicians. The contract, which must still be approved by the orchestra board, increases the size of the ensemble, but only by one, to 96 members plus two librarians in 2016-17 rather than the 97 negotiators had sought, to help make up for deep cuts made during the 2011 bankruptcy. At that time the orchestra had 106 members; it now has 10 vacancies.

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via Mask of the Flower Prince

​​I’ve seen a lot in my time as a classical music writer/blogger. I’ve covered a number of labor disputes involving orchestras and opera companies, and have seen a number of bone-headed, tone-deaf actions as a result. As this point, I assume I’ve pretty much seen it all.

And yet, I continue to be surprised.  It seems that there are still plenty of labor disputes plaguing the world of classical music, and they continue to generate breathtakingly bad ideas.

Let me share the most recent—one that unfortunately has transpired in Philadelphia, the home of one of the United States’ most celebrated, venerated orchestras. This one is a whopper.

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​PRESS STATEMENT
 
For October 5, 2015:
 
Join the Philadelphia Orchestra Musicians in our Day of Free Music on Monday, October 5, when orchestra musicians will infuse the Philadelphia region with free performances for our community. From The Porch @ 30th St Station to schools, from local libraries to the Philadelphia International Airport, musicians of the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra will animate this culturally-rich city as a gift to our community.
 
The musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra are musical messengers for you, our community, and we believe in the power of music to transform lives. This Day of Free Music is our way of showing gratitude to our community for understanding that music lies in all of us, and our greatest wish is to share that with you, our neighbors, our communities, our city, and our world. Thank you for sharing the day with us, and we look forward to greeting you in person at one of our events.
 
 
 
PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA MUSICIANS:
 
 
 
DAY OF FREE MUSIC: OCTOBER 5, 2015
All locations are open to the public except as noted.
 
 
9:30am: Philadelphia City Hall
Entrance Foyer
String Quartet
 
10am: Philadelphia International Airport
Stage between Terminals B and C
Mixed Ensemble
 
 
 
10am and 10:30am: Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School (private)
2600 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia
Woodwind trio
 
 
11am: University of the Arts
Dorrance Hamilton Hall, lobby
320 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia (Broad and Pine Streets)
Chamber Orchestra
 
11:30am: St. John’s Hospice (private)
1221 Race Street, Philadelphia
String Quartet
 
12pm: The Porch @ 30th Street Station
Market Street at 30th Street Station, Philadelphia
Brass and Percussion Ensembles
 
12pm: Reading Terminal Market
12th and Filbert Streets, Philadelphia
String Quartet
 
12:45pm: St. Mark’s Church
1625 Locust Street, Philadelphia
Piano Trio
 
1pm: Neumann Senior Housing (private)
1601 E. Palmer Street, Philadelphia
Solo Harp
 
1pm: Free Library, Rittenhouse Square Branch
1905 Locust Street, Philadelphia
String Trio
 
2pm: Free Library, Rittenhouse Square Branch
1905 Locust Street, Philadelphia
String Quartet
 
2pm: St. Dorothy School (private)
1225 Burmont Road, Drexel Hill, PA
Percussion Ensemble
 
 
2:30pm Inglis House (private)
2600 Belmont Avenue, Philadelphia
Bass Quintet
 
3pm: Free Library, Rittenhouse Square Branch
1905 Locust Street, Philadelphia
String Duo
 
3pm: Perkins Center  for the Arts
30 Irvins Avenue, Collingswood, NJ
String Quartet
 
3:30pm: Temple University
Boyer/Tyler Atrium at 13th and Norris Streets, Philadelphia
Flute Quartet
 
5pm: University of Pennsylvania
3417 Spruce Street, Houston Hall
String Duo
 
5pm: Haddon Township Library
15 MacArthur Boulevard, Westmont, NJ
Wind Quintet
 
5pm: Elkins Central
7876 Spring Avenue, Elkins Park, PA
Mixed Ensemble
 
6pm: Triangle Plaza
23rd and South Streets, Philadelphia
String Quartet
 
 
6:30pm: Arcadia University
Arcadia University, The Castle
450 S. Easton Road, Glenside, PA
String Quartet
 
 
 
 
 
Media Contact:
John Koen
PhillyOMusicians@gmail.com
707-653-5636
 
 
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