Minnesota Orchestra offers dates for negotiations and concerts

Minnesota Orchestra musicians can negotiate during a lockout—like SPCO musicians did

Additional classical subscription concerts are cancelled; Summer classical concerts are announced

Read more: Minnesota Orchestra offers dates for negotiations and concerts

Minnesota Orchestra engages AKA Strategy to conduct independent financial review

Following a recent breakdown in discussions with the Musicians’ Union over the terms of a joint independent financial review, the Minnesota Orchestral Association has engaged AKA Strategy, a New York-based consulting firm, to conduct an independent financial review of the Orchestra that will begin immediately.  The Orchestra also announced two additional weeks of concert cancellations through May 12.

Read more: Minnesota Orchestra engages AKA Strategy to conduct independent financial review

Minnesota Orchestra Board invites Musicians to speak at Board meeting

The Minnesota Orchestra Board of Directors has invited the Musicians’ Union Negotiating Committee to address the Board at a specially-scheduled meeting at the end of April.  The invitation, which comes in response to a standing request from the players to speak before the Board, was offered by the Board last week and is currently being considered by the Union.

Read more: Minnesota Orchestra Board invites Musicians to speak at Board meeting

Minnesota Orchestra, Union agree on firms to conduct independent financial review

The Minnesota Orchestral Association and the Musicians’ Union have agreed on two financial consultants, both based in New York, to conduct an independent financial review of the organization.  Discussions are continuing to settle on specific terms of the review, which will be jointly funded by the Orchestral Association and the musicians.  In a separate study, the Orchestral Association will conduct a fundraising feasibility study to accurately gauge any new funding levels available in the community to support the musicians’ contract.

Read more: Minnesota Orchestra, Union agree on firms to conduct independent financial review

Minnesota Orchestra cancels concerts through April 27

The Minnesota Orchestral Association announced today that it has cancelled further concert performances through Saturday, April 27, 2013, noting that nearly a year into contract negotiations its musicians have yet to put forward a counterproposal and no contract settlement has been reached.  All ticketholders of affected concerts are being contacted and offered a variety of options including the opportunity to exchange tickets for a future concert or receive a full refund. 

Read more: Minnesota Orchestra cancels concerts through April 27

BIS releases second album in Minnesota Orchestra's cycle of Sibelius symphonies

The Swedish label BIS Records has released the second recording of the Minnesota Orchestra’s acclaimed Sibelius symphonies series, a disc that includes the First Symphony, the work that confirmed Sibelius’ status as a Finnish national hero, and the enigmatic, starkly emotional Fourth Symphony.

Read more: BIS releases second album in Minnesota Orchestra's cycle of Sibelius symphonies

Minnesota Orchestra cancels concerts through April 7

Four programs are cancelled and four are rescheduled as negotiations continue

Read more: Minnesota Orchestra cancels concerts through April 7