Philadelphia Orchestra Leadership Approves New Contract

The board of directors of the Philadelphia Orchestra Association voted Tuesday to approve the contract.

Musicians had staged a walkout Friday night, canceling an opening night performance that about 1,000 had come to hear. They said they hoped to reverse what they called “the shameful decline of our treasured institution.”

The musicians ratified the contract Sunday.

Under the new collective bargaining agreement, salaries will increase by 2 percent in the first year, and 2.5 percent in the following two years. That will bring the musicians’ minimum base pay to $137,800 in the third year of the contract.

In a news release Tuesday night, orchestra leadership apologized for the cancellation of opening weekend performances.