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Date: 9/29/2021
SPRINGFIELD – The 2021-22 season of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO) may be canceled if the musician’s union and the SSO management do not come to terms by Oct. 1.
The SSO management released a statement on Sept. 24, the same day the Musicians of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra (MOSSO) announced it would present a free concert on Oct. 15 with former SSO Maestro Kevin Rhodes conducting.
The labor dispute has been going on for months.The last time the SSO performed was in March 2020.
The statement from the SSO reads as follows: “Failure of the musician’s union to reach a labor agreement with the SSO by October 1, 2021 will likely result in the cancellation of a partial 2021-22 season. The SSO Board and management established October 1, 2021 as the reasonable date after which it would be unrealistic to organize concerts, secure dates, engage all of the elements of a program and undertake the significant marketing necessary to hold a symphonic concert season.
“Union representatives received the SSO’s most recent offer for a labor agreement on Sept. 9 and the SSO requested a response to the offer by last Wednesday, September 15 to no avail. Only early this morning, literally in the middle of the night, and as the union announces the formation of a competing organization that will host a free concert, has the union responded to SSO’s final offer of two weeks ago. We regret that the union’s counter offer is substantially the same offer as many weeks ago, without meaningful movement. Our most recent offer included acceptance of the union’s demand for a contract that would extend through the 2022-23 season, as well as substantial pay rate increase for both seasons, while still allowing for the SSO to further develop a viable plan for the coming seasons and beyond.
“The plan announced by the Musicians of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra (MOSSO) to host a free concert at Symphony Hall with some of the musicians from the SSO will further muddy the waters and appears designed to create confusion among the concert-going public. To be clear, MOSSO is not the SSO and these efforts clearly indicate that the union would rather avoid a negotiated settlement that leads to a 2021-22 season.
“It appears MOSSO is intent on forming its own orchestral organization and competing with the SSO, which will result in splintering the already limited symphonic orchestra audience and donor base. The SSO remains committed to working with the union and the musicians, and the community at large with one voice in sustaining a resident orchestra in Springfield. With the formation of MOSSO representing a competing organization and hosting their own concert, this only diminishes the chances of resolving the contract by October 1 and would likely result in the cancelling of the upcoming SSO season.
“We continue to hope for a resolution prior to Oct. 1, which would allow us to prepare for this current season, and also to begin planning for the 2022-23 season.”
Beth Welty, a violinist with the SSO and spokesperson for MOSSO, said, “MOSSO’s efforts to perform live music since the last official SSO concerts have included organizing performances at the Black Lives Matter rally in front of Springfield City Hall in September of 2020, the 2021 Springfield Jazz and Roots Festival with the Kevin Sharpe Band, the Mattoon Street Arts Festival, and a free concert on the steps of Springfield Symphony Hall in June of 2021. Area businesses have also sponsored MOSSO ‘pop-up’ concerts in various locations throughout the city.”
The free concert is titled “COMING HOME: A Symphonic Reunion” that will include popular symphonic works by Beethoven, Dvorak and Tchaikovsky. Tickets for the October 15 performance are free, but must be reserved in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door, and ticket holders must be masked and have proof of full vaccination against COVID-19.
All performers will also be fully vaccinated and masked.
Seating will be general admission, but Symphony Hall capacity will be reduced to allow for social distancing.
For more details and reservations go to www.SpringfieldSymphonyMusicians.com.
Donations can be made online through the MOSSO website: SpringfieldSymphonyMusicians.com or checks can be made out to MOSSO and sent to MOSSO, PO Box 3513, Amherst, MA 01004. All donations made to MOSSO will be used to produce live musical events for the Springfield community.