In response to the economic hardship facing the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera organization, Utah Symphony members have agreed to forgo four weeks’ salary, 50 percent of their matched pension payment, and the entirety of their contracted 5 percent annual raise. All together, members will see their income decrease by 19 percent—a donation totaling $1.3 million.

While this will inevitably cause some belts to tighten, members fear what might have happened without the agreement. The measure follows similar actions last year, which brought the budget down to $17 million from $19 million—apparently not enough to avoid trouble. CEO of Utah Symphony | Utah Opera Melia Tourangeau took a 10 percent pay cut, and several administrative positions were eliminated along with matched pension contributions.

The agreement dictates that Utah Symphony must raise an additional $1 million to supplement the $1.3 mil already donated. Should they fail, the organization will be required to pay the original contracted salaries to the musicians. Tourangeau said the prospect is “achievable if the community wants it to be achievable.”

One can only hope that donors are inspired to follow the example of the Utah Symphony musicians. Should you be interested, click for the Utah Symphony website. Source: Salt Lake Tribune

Posted on October 8th, 2009 at 12:44 pm | Filed under General |