Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Reaches Tentative Collective Bargaining Agreement with its Musicians

    KALAMAZOO, MI, August 09, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors and Management is pleased to announce that it reached a formal tentative Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with its musicians. The Kalamazoo Federation of Musicians - Local 228 will submit the new tentative contract for ratification by its musicians and, thereafter, the KSO management will submit the contract to the Board of Directors for ratification as well. Instrumental in reaching this tentative agreement was the rehearsal schedule for the KSO's Symphonic Series concerts; one evening rehearsal per day instead of the two rehearsals.

The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra opens its 2016-17 season on Friday, September 16 at Miller Auditorium on Western Michigan University's campus. The orchestra will perform the Mathis der Maler Symphony by Hindemith and excerpts from "Spirits" (1993) by Schelle. KSO musicians will be joined by International star pianist Yefim Bronfman, in the second half of the program, for Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No.2 in G Major. This will also be the official inauguration of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra's new Steinway & Sons Concert Grand Piano, generously donated by an anonymous donor. The conclusion of bargaining and the eventual ratification of the CBA will now allow the musicians and management to focus their energy on the full complement of concerts being offered to the community throughout the coming season and beyond.

"We are thrilled that we have reached this tentative agreement and so appreciate the hard work of the musician and management teams. We are moving forward with a united team and an outstanding 2016-17 season," said Dr. Janice M. Brown, Board Chair of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra.

Peter H. Gistelinck, President & CEO of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra stated, "It is more than time to concentrate on the music-making. The new tentative agreement serves the needs of KSO management as well as the musicians. We will be happy to start the 2016-2017 concert season on a clean slate and pave our way to our 100th anniversary in 2020-2021."

Visit www.kalamazoosymphony.com for up-to-date information, details and schedules. Prices, artists, dates, time and program are subject to change without notice.

The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra receives major support from the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra also receives generous support from other local, state and national foundations, as well as private and corporate support. For more information, visit www.kalamazoosymphony.com.

About the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1921, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra is Southwest Michigan's premier musical organization, providing musical enrichment to over 80,000 adults and youth per year. The third-largest professional orchestra in the state, the KSO has won numerous awards and grants, including the Met Life Award for Arts Access in Underserved Communities, the National Endowment for the Arts for its extensive education programs, and a major Ford Foundation grant to found its innovative Artist-in-Residence program.

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