BCNUTV: Spokane Symphony Musicians

MARTIN WOLDSON THEATER

Home of The Spokane Symphony

The Professional Workplace of 70 Spokane Symphony Musicians

The elegantly and lovingly restored Fox Theater saved from the wrecking ball

A CAUTIONARY TALE OF SPOKANE SYMPHONY MUSICIANS

TREBLE IN MUSIC LAND

Some members of the audience attending a Spokane Symphony Concert leave Martin Woldson Theater thinking how musically and financially rewarding it must be to perform in a Symphony. High standards are met by the musicians and audience expectations are satisfied. The joyous years of learning an instrument, often at an early age, followed by exciting additional years of study at a music school culminate in a successful audition. Only then does the happy young professional musician find a sour note.

THE CONTRACT NEGOTIATION

The Spokane Orchestra that has come to be known as The Spokane Symphony was founded in 1945. The current budget is $4.3 million. It may come as a surprise that a basic contract offered by management to play in the Symphony pays around $12,000. An even more surprising fact is that the smaller Core Group of musicians who are the most experienced and valued players last year got paid $17,460 each.

THAT WAS SO YESTERDAY

At the start of the negotiation management offered a contract of $13,774 to the Core Group. As of yesterday the news is that the offer was changed to the tune of $15,132.