Double Times

Florida Philharmonic Bankruptcy

The musicians� claims have finally been agreed to, and we await resolution of a claim by former music director James Judd before claims can be paid, which unfortunately will not be before December. Thanks go to FPO committee members Jay Bertolet and Geoff Hale for helping to get the largest claims possible for FPO members.

Renaissance Chamber Delinquency

As of the time of writing, The Renaissance Chamber Orchestra, which recently signed a collective bargaining agreement, is delinquent in paying musicians� wages for their August and September services. The RCO has agreed to allow musicians to decline work without giving 14-day�s notice, and we are working to secure payment to musicians for work already performed.

Palm Beach Opera Auditions and Appointments

We recently met with the Palm Beach Opera Orchestra Committee to discuss upcoming negotiations and ongoing issues. One of those issues is advance notice of auditions. The collective bargaining agreement requires two month�s notice, and PBO recently rescheduled auditions to accommodate this requirement. There is also question as to when auditions are required and how appointments are made, which is currently being addressed. At every negotiation we have an opportunity to clarify and reword old language that might have been ambiguous and this upcoming negotiation will be no exception!

We�ve also met with Coral Ridge and Key West Pops and have scheduled a meeting with the Boca Symphonia. You�ll be hearing more later.

We feel encouraged by the great ideas and cooperation we've been receiving from our symphonic community. It's great to feel like we are on the road to building a stronger, more united front, for one another, by one another! Please email us at ssd[at]655[dot]org with your thoughts!