On Tuesday (20 May) musicians from the Columbus Symphony proposed their remedy for the ensemble’s fiscal woes. Their offer to give up about 6.5% of their salaries may have been the stalemate breaker. Columbus Symphony board president Robert Trafford says he’ll contact Central Ohio Federation of Musicians president Douglas Fisher to schedule new discussions.

Orchestra management had proposed axing the full-time roster by over 40%, from 53 to 31, effectively converting the Columbus Symphony to a chamber orchestra. The package also included a cut in the length of the season.

The musicians nixed that idea. The scheme they put forth on Tuesday called for the same salary reduction proposal the orchestra’s management had earlier rejected, and also challenged management to reduce administrative and other expenses not directly related to musicians’ salaries by over US$2 million.

More from the Columbus Dispatch.

Earlier this month, the Columbus Symphony announced that they planned to shut down operations on the first of June, putting paid to the idea of summer picnic pops performances, and leaving next season’s concerts in limbo.

Could the orchestra yet save itself? Today the Columbus Dispatch reported that members of the Columbus Symphony were to announce their plan to work within the orchestra’s management’s proposed US$9.5 million budget while maintaining their current stable of 53 full-time players. No details were provided, and at this writing none has yet been posted on the musicians’ website.

Last week, the orchestra’s shutdown threat prompted the grants committee of the Greater Columbus Arts Council to recommend no funding for the orchestra. President Bryan Knicely said the Council "shouldn’t be giving operational support to an organization that’s not going to be here after June 1." Last year the Columbus Symphony received $261,417 from the Council.

In April, the orchestra’s musicians voted to reject management’s final offer for next season’s contract. It included a 40% salary cut for all 53 full-time musicians. In 2005, the players had agreed to $1.3 million worth of reductions in the length of the season and in benefits.

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Junichi Hirokami & Columbus Symphony

(Photo: Columbus Dispatch)

The Columbus Symphony has announced that they plan to shut down on the first of June, and will not perform their annual outdoor summer pops concerts.

In April, the orchestra’s musicians voted to reject management’s final offer for next season’s contract. It included a 40% salary cut for all 53 full-time musicians. In 2005, the players had agreed to $1.3 million worth of reductions in the length of the season and in benefits.

More from The Columbus Dispatch.

Additional background here.