photo by Todd Rosenberg/CSO
Thank You Chicago!
On Saturday, April 27th, after seven weeks of striking, the Musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
voted unanimously to ratify a new five-year contract. We are beyond thrilled to return to Orchestra Hall. None of this would have been possible without the help and advocacy from you, the people of Chicago and fans of the Orchestra across the globe.
To thank you, we’d like to invite all of you to a free performance at the historic Auditorium Theater featuring all of the musicians of the orchestra on Monday, May 6 at 7:30pm. Below, you will find a poster with additional information; click anywhere on the poster to register and reserve your seats. You can also visit: tinyurl.com/csoauditorium
voted unanimously to ratify a new five-year contract. We are beyond thrilled to return to Orchestra Hall. None of this would have been possible without the help and advocacy from you, the people of Chicago and fans of the Orchestra across the globe.
To thank you, we’d like to invite all of you to a free performance at the historic Auditorium Theater featuring all of the musicians of the orchestra on Monday, May 6 at 7:30pm. Below, you will find a poster with additional information; click anywhere on the poster to register and reserve your seats. You can also visit: tinyurl.com/csoauditorium
OTHER UPCOMING CONCERTS
All performances are free, but prior registration is required.
The Musicians will present an ensemble concert on Friday, April 26 at 12pm at the Chicago Temple, 77 West Washington Street, a special performance by the entire Orchestra on Tuesday, April 30 at 7:30pm at Steinmetz High School 3030 North Mobile Avenue, and a string quartet on Friday, May 3 at 3pm the Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 North Central Park Ave.
For free tickets to the Friday, April 26 concert at the Chicago Temple, visit: http://templecso.eventbrite.com
For the Tuesday, April 30 concert at Steinmetz, visit: http://CSOSteinmetz.eventbrite.com
And for the Friday, May 3 concert at Garfield Park Conservatory, visit: http://csogarfield.eventbrite.com
The April 26 ensemble concert at Chicago Temple will feature works by Brahms, Schubert, Stojowski, Hindemith, Mozart and others. The special full orchestra concert on April 30 will feature Concertmaster and violin soloist, Robert Chen, and guest conductor Jay Friedman. The program includes Rossini’s Overture to The Barber of Seville; Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, K. 291 and Brahms Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op.98. And the string quartet on May 3, will perform Haydn’s String Quartet in D Major, Opus 64, No. 5, “The Lark” and Dvorak’s String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, “The American.”
For free tickets to the Friday, April 26 concert at the Chicago Temple, visit: http://templecso.eventbrite.com
For the Tuesday, April 30 concert at Steinmetz, visit: http://CSOSteinmetz.eventbrite.com
And for the Friday, May 3 concert at Garfield Park Conservatory, visit: http://csogarfield.eventbrite.com
The April 26 ensemble concert at Chicago Temple will feature works by Brahms, Schubert, Stojowski, Hindemith, Mozart and others. The special full orchestra concert on April 30 will feature Concertmaster and violin soloist, Robert Chen, and guest conductor Jay Friedman. The program includes Rossini’s Overture to The Barber of Seville; Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, K. 291 and Brahms Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op.98. And the string quartet on May 3, will perform Haydn’s String Quartet in D Major, Opus 64, No. 5, “The Lark” and Dvorak’s String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, “The American.”
A big thank you to all of those who have written the Association
to let them know our fight is a worthy one.
It means the world to us.
Click here to read just a selection of your letters.
to let them know our fight is a worthy one.
It means the world to us.
Click here to read just a selection of your letters.
On Monday, April 15th, the Musicians of the CSO played an at-capacity full orchestra performance at the Apostolic Church of God.
One of our supporters, Murray Gordon, has written a detailed analysis of the Musicians' strike and their fight for a fair contract. In it he writes:
As a retired lawyer/certified public accountant, I’ve had the honor and time to spend many hours on the CSO picket line. Countless times I’ve been greeted by plumbers, electricians, carpenters, structural iron workers, pipefitters, railroad works, UAW workers, AFSCME members, teamsters and others, proudly wearing their buttons and proudly offering to walk a circle with the sign. I don’t think many of them have attended a concert, but it is irrelevant. One’s taste in music (or spending priorities) should not affect the sincerity of a belief in the principle that workers have a right to bargain, to strike, and to preserve a defined benefit retirement structure. I see that support every day, and this is week five of the strike.
On Saturday, April 20th, at 7PM, Flatts and Sharpe Music Company welcomes a small quartet of CSO Musicians led by Maxi Raimi (viola), Rong-Yan Tang (violin), Karen Basrak (cello), and Emma Gerstein (flute). The Musicians will perform Mozart's Variations on Ah Vous Dirai-je Maman, K. 265, Beethoven's Serenade for Flute, Violin, and Viola in D, Op. 25, Raimi's Duo for Violin and Viola (1983), and Mozart's Quartet for Flute and Strings, K. 285. To register for free tickets, click anywhere on the poster above or visit: CSOFlatts.eventbrite.com
On Monday night, April 8th, the Musicians of the CSO -- dismayed that the Association Board’s proposal leaves the Chicago Symphony Orchestra further behind the orchestras of Los Angeles and San Francisco -- voted to reject the Board's contract offer.
Termed the “last, best and final offer” by the CSO Board negotiators on Sunday – which compelled the Musicians to vote – the Board proposal would:
Freeze the pension plan at its current level today,
"We are extremely disappointed that management refuses to hear the Musicians’ concerns about a secure retirement for the Musicians and a secure future for the CSO”, said Steve Lester, Chairman of the Musicians’ negotiating committee. “In contrast, the proposal put forth by the Union – but rejected by the Board -- fully addressed management’s alleged concerns about unpredictable pension funding while guaranteeing the Musicians and the Orchestra the security deserved.”
Along with attaining salary increases that would end the CSO’s decline relative to the nation’s other leading orchestras, the Musicians have proposed maintaining the current defined benefit pension plan but capping pension payments and funding retirement based on an agreed-to formula. The committed funds would be used first to fully fund the pension plan for the next 20 years, then remaining funds would be put into individual 401(k) accounts.
“The Musicians’ proposal assured every Musician, today and in the future, a secure pension with a guaranteed benefit, plus additional funding through a 401(k) -- the only sound basis on which to protect the orchestra Musicians’ future,” says Cynthia Yeh, Committee member and percussionist. “We are gratified, however, that even though the Board doesn’t see the wisdom of it, the people of Chicago do – with support for the Musicians growing every day.”
The Union expects the CSO Board to return to the bargaining table and consider further proposals from the Musicians.
Termed the “last, best and final offer” by the CSO Board negotiators on Sunday – which compelled the Musicians to vote – the Board proposal would:
Freeze the pension plan at its current level today,
- thereby prohibiting new hires from joining and denying nearly 2/3 of the orchestra currently in the pension plan any guarantee to increase their retirement benefit, even if they don’t retire for another 20 years.
- New employees would get no guaranteed retirement benefit.
- hardly keeping up with inflation;
- not making up for the losses over the past five years since the last contract; and
- putting the CSO farther behind the salary offerings of San Francisco and Los Angeles.
"We are extremely disappointed that management refuses to hear the Musicians’ concerns about a secure retirement for the Musicians and a secure future for the CSO”, said Steve Lester, Chairman of the Musicians’ negotiating committee. “In contrast, the proposal put forth by the Union – but rejected by the Board -- fully addressed management’s alleged concerns about unpredictable pension funding while guaranteeing the Musicians and the Orchestra the security deserved.”
Along with attaining salary increases that would end the CSO’s decline relative to the nation’s other leading orchestras, the Musicians have proposed maintaining the current defined benefit pension plan but capping pension payments and funding retirement based on an agreed-to formula. The committed funds would be used first to fully fund the pension plan for the next 20 years, then remaining funds would be put into individual 401(k) accounts.
“The Musicians’ proposal assured every Musician, today and in the future, a secure pension with a guaranteed benefit, plus additional funding through a 401(k) -- the only sound basis on which to protect the orchestra Musicians’ future,” says Cynthia Yeh, Committee member and percussionist. “We are gratified, however, that even though the Board doesn’t see the wisdom of it, the people of Chicago do – with support for the Musicians growing every day.”
The Union expects the CSO Board to return to the bargaining table and consider further proposals from the Musicians.
If you'd like to offer your support to the Musicians,
visit our donation page.
visit our donation page.
The Musicians of the CSO deserve a fair and competitive contract
with the compensation and retirement benefits that are commensurate
with being one of the nation's best orchestras
and one that will ensure its excellence and sustainability well into the future.
Please sign our petition below.
with the compensation and retirement benefits that are commensurate
with being one of the nation's best orchestras
and one that will ensure its excellence and sustainability well into the future.
Please sign our petition below.
On Friday, April 5 at 12pm at the Chicago Temple (77 West Washington St., Chicago, IL) Emma Gerstein (flute), Aiko Noda (violin), Diane Mues (violin), and Loren Brown (cello) played Pachelbel’s Canon, Mozart’s Flute Quartet No. 4 in A Major, K. 298, Beethoven’s Serenade for Flute, Violin, and Viola, Op. 25, and Dvorak’s Waltz Op. 54, No. 4.
The Musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra have also announced three additional free concerts on Wednesday, April 10th at St. James Cathedral, Friday, April 12th at The Hideout, and Monday, April 15th at the Apostolic Church of God – part of the Musicians’ “From the Heart of the Orchestra” free citywide concert series.
At a small chamber concert Wednesday, April 10th, 7:30pm, at St. James Cathedral, 65 E. Huron Street Daniel Gingrich (horn), Dennis Michel (bassoon), Mio Nakamura (piano), William Welter (oboe), and John Bruce Yeh (clarinet) played Handel’s Sonata in B Flat Major, HWV 357; Brahms’ Sonata in F Minor, Op. 120, No. 1; and Mozart’s Quintet in E Flat Major, K. 452.
On Friday, April 12th, 6pm, at The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave, the historic 100-year-old neighborhood tavern hosted a new music performance featuring Alex Hanna (bass), Stephanie Jeong (violin), Rob Kassinger (bass), Katinka Kleijn (cello), Weijing Wang (viola) and Cynthia Yeh (percussion) – who played a unique and innovative program of classical and electronic compositions: ly ful hood by Bryan Jacobs for solo cello and electronics, For two or three instruments by Pauline Oliveros, Red Violin Carpices by John Corigliano, and uscirmi di braccia (leave my arms) for viola and percussion by Suzanne Farrin.
On Monday, April 15th, 7:30pm the entire CSO performed at the Apostolic Church of God, 6320 S. Dorchester. This free full orchestra concert featured Mozart’s Violin Concerto No.5 in A Major, K, 219; Brahms’ Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op.98; and Rossini’s “Overture to the Barber of Seville.”
On Monday night, March 25th,
the Musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
held their first full-orchestra concert
as part of the "From the Heart of the Orchestra" free concert series.
the Musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
held their first full-orchestra concert
as part of the "From the Heart of the Orchestra" free concert series.
Photography, Video, and Audio: Arts Laureate
On Friday, March 22, Sunday, March 24, and Monday, March 25, the Musicians of the CSO performed the first of three free concerts in a series called "From the Heart of the Orchestra." All are welcome to attend. Tickets to these and future performances will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Friday, March 22 performance was a small chamber concert from 8-9:30pm at the PianoForte Studios, 1335 S. Michigan Ave, 2nd Floor. The performers included Emma Gerstein (flute), Rong-Yan Tang (violin), Max Raimi (viola), Karen Basrak (cello), and Daniel Paul Horn (piano) – known collectively as the Wabash Avenue Music Collective. The musicians played Mozart’s Variations on “Ah vous dirai-je, Maman” and Quartet in D for Flute and Strings, K. 285, Raimi’s Havenu Sholem Aleichem: Variations and Themes, Vivaldi’s Concerto in C Major, RV 443, featuring Jennifer Gunn on piccolo, as well as Mendelssohn’s Piano Quartet No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 3. To obtain the free tickets or for additional information, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-gift-of-music-to-chicago-tickets-59006300433.
On Sunday, March 24, the musicians played Schubert's Quarttsatz in C Minor, D. 703, Mozart's Quintet in E Flat Major for Piano and Winds, K. 45, Largo - Allegro Moderato, Larghetto, Allegretto, as well as Beethoven's String Quartet #11 (Serioso), Op. 95 in F Minor, Allegro con brio, Allegretto ma non troppo, Allegro assai vivace ma serioso, Larguetto espressivo, Allegretto agitato, Allegro. Performers included William Welter (oboe), John Yeh (clarinet), Dennis Michael (bassoon), David Griffin (horn), Mio Nakamura (piano), as well as the Lincoln Quartet, featuring Lei Hou (violin), Qing Hou (violin), Lawrence Newman (viola), and Kenneth Olsen (cello). To obtain the free tickets, please visit https://tinyurl.com/CSOganzhall.
The Musicians’ third performance was by the full CSO on Monday, March 25 at 7:30 pm at the CTU Hall, 1901 West Carroll Avenue. The CSO Musicians played Beethoven’s Overture to Egmont, Op. 84 and Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92, as well as Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K. 622, featuring Stephen Williamson on clarinet with Jay Friedman as Guest Conductor. To obtain free tickets and for additional information about this performance please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/from-the-heart-of-the-orchestra-free-concerts-for-chicago-tickets-59052306037
Chicago Sun-Times - "Striking CSO Musicians Offering Free Concerts"
The Friday, March 22 performance was a small chamber concert from 8-9:30pm at the PianoForte Studios, 1335 S. Michigan Ave, 2nd Floor. The performers included Emma Gerstein (flute), Rong-Yan Tang (violin), Max Raimi (viola), Karen Basrak (cello), and Daniel Paul Horn (piano) – known collectively as the Wabash Avenue Music Collective. The musicians played Mozart’s Variations on “Ah vous dirai-je, Maman” and Quartet in D for Flute and Strings, K. 285, Raimi’s Havenu Sholem Aleichem: Variations and Themes, Vivaldi’s Concerto in C Major, RV 443, featuring Jennifer Gunn on piccolo, as well as Mendelssohn’s Piano Quartet No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 3. To obtain the free tickets or for additional information, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-gift-of-music-to-chicago-tickets-59006300433.
On Sunday, March 24, the musicians played Schubert's Quarttsatz in C Minor, D. 703, Mozart's Quintet in E Flat Major for Piano and Winds, K. 45, Largo - Allegro Moderato, Larghetto, Allegretto, as well as Beethoven's String Quartet #11 (Serioso), Op. 95 in F Minor, Allegro con brio, Allegretto ma non troppo, Allegro assai vivace ma serioso, Larguetto espressivo, Allegretto agitato, Allegro. Performers included William Welter (oboe), John Yeh (clarinet), Dennis Michael (bassoon), David Griffin (horn), Mio Nakamura (piano), as well as the Lincoln Quartet, featuring Lei Hou (violin), Qing Hou (violin), Lawrence Newman (viola), and Kenneth Olsen (cello). To obtain the free tickets, please visit https://tinyurl.com/CSOganzhall.
The Musicians’ third performance was by the full CSO on Monday, March 25 at 7:30 pm at the CTU Hall, 1901 West Carroll Avenue. The CSO Musicians played Beethoven’s Overture to Egmont, Op. 84 and Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92, as well as Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K. 622, featuring Stephen Williamson on clarinet with Jay Friedman as Guest Conductor. To obtain free tickets and for additional information about this performance please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/from-the-heart-of-the-orchestra-free-concerts-for-chicago-tickets-59052306037
Chicago Sun-Times - "Striking CSO Musicians Offering Free Concerts"
On Tuesday, March 19th, the musicians held a morning press conference
outside Symphony Center and an afternoon event
with members of Illinois’ congressional delegation,
where we read a letter received from
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in support of the musicians.
outside Symphony Center and an afternoon event
with members of Illinois’ congressional delegation,
where we read a letter received from
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in support of the musicians.
ABC 7 - "Striking CSO Musicians to Play Free Concerts"
WGN 9 - "Officials Back Striking Chicago Symphony Orchestra Musicians, Free Concerts Planned"
WGN 9 - "Officials Back Striking Chicago Symphony Orchestra Musicians, Free Concerts Planned"
In a written statement to the musicians, Maestro Daniel Barenboim,
former Music Director of the CSO and current conductor of the Berlin State Opera,
also voiced his support:
former Music Director of the CSO and current conductor of the Berlin State Opera,
also voiced his support:
Chicago Symphony Orchestra is a cultural jewel of the world.
I would like to encourage the Board, the musicians, the public,
and the city of Chicago to resist any attempt that will reduce such status.
I offer my full support to the musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
"Why I Support the CSO Strike"
by Eugenia Chang
by Eugenia Chang
After a weekend of negotiations, CSO Management admits
that keeping the guaranteed benefit plan as the Union suggests
is far more cost effective than Management’s proposal
to end it and replace it with a defined contribution plan.
that keeping the guaranteed benefit plan as the Union suggests
is far more cost effective than Management’s proposal
to end it and replace it with a defined contribution plan.
On March 8, 2019, members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
received a letter from CSO Association President Jeff Alexander
that contained a number of misstatements and distortions.
The musicians responded in a letter to members.
received a letter from CSO Association President Jeff Alexander
that contained a number of misstatements and distortions.
The musicians responded in a letter to members.
Read All Press and News Coverage of the CSO Musicians Strike
To show your support for the musicians, please contact
AlexanderJ@cso.org - 312.294.3210
RahnK@cso.org - 312.294.3210
AlexanderJ@cso.org - 312.294.3210
RahnK@cso.org - 312.294.3210
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We're not sure how much will be posted on the website,
so don't forget to check Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.