Resonate

These can be scary times for orchestral musicians. Most of the country’s symphonies are struggling to find adequate funding, and several orchestras have folded in the last several years. (Remember the chamber orchestra Concertante di Chicago, California’s San Jose Symphony Orchestra or Seattle’s Northwest Chamber Orchestra?) To cut costs, many orchestras are cutting back on services, making the musicians look elsewhere for income.

However, musicians have had two reasons to sigh with relief in the past few weeks.

Today, the Jacksonville Symphony in Florida returned to rehearsals after a 65-day lockout.

According to the Jacksonville NBC station, the Jacksonville Symphony Association announced on Wednesday an agreement with the Players Association. The associations signed a 5-year contract that keeps the performance schedule in tact.

In mid-December, The Honolulu Advertiser reported that the Honolulu Symphony could not afford to pay its 65 full-time musicians for the month. Despite the lack of paychecks, the symphony performed its holiday obligations. 

On January 9, the newspaper reported that more than $450,000 had been raised by more than 825 donations — enough to give the musicians and staff half of their December paychecks,  as well as continue operations and outreach programs.

It’s not exactly a happy ending, but at least it’s not the end of the symphony.