Musicians from the Springfield Symphony Orchestra (Massachusetts) played a free concert last Saturday at the city’s Symphony Hall to protest management’s handling of contract negotiations. Claiming that their orchestra is in danger, the musicians are calling on the Springfield Symphony Orchestra Board to take initiative and work towards a vision for the future of the orchestra.
Musicians said their leadership hasn’t planned any concerts for the 2021-2022 season, nor secured a contract to keep their music director Kevin Rhodes.
The managements says: « While conversations about future programming and conducting are in process with Maestro Kevin Rhodes, the SSO currently does not have an agreement with him, as his contract expired on May 31. The SSO cannot know the appropriate terms of a contract for the Music Director until it has firmed up its planning for this coming season, and that depends on the outcome of negotiations with the musicians’ union. »
