New Contract to Raise NY Phil Musicians’ Base Salary to $205,000 by 2026-27

September 24, 2024, 1:21 PM · Musicians of the New York Philharmonic have ratified a three-year contract that will raise musicians’ pay by more than 30 percent over the next three years, bringing the musician base salary to $205,000. The new contract was negotiated with the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc., Associated Musicians of Greater New York, American Federation of Musicians Local 802, and Musicians of the New York Philharmonic.

The New York Philharmonic.

The contract, which went into effect Sept. 21, increases musicians’ salaries 15 percent in the 2024-35 concert season, with salary increases of 7.5 percent to follow in the next two seasons. A four-year contract – which had included pandemic-related pay cuts through August 2023 – was due to expire this week.

The new contract will make New York Phil musicians among the highest paid in the country, though it is important to take into consideration New York City’s high cost of living, as well as the fact that pay for NY Phil musicians had been falling behind the pay for musicians in peer orchestras such as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic.

“This restorative settlement brings our musicians’ compensation more in line with those of their peer orchestras,” said Deborah Borda, New York Philharmonic Executive Advisor. “This was the single most collaborative process I have experienced in my many years of labor negotiations. Bravo to our Board of Directors for their strong vote of confidence in these musicians and in this organization as we move into the future.”

The contract also included new provisions for the tenure and audition processes. In the future, all audition rounds, including finals, will take place behind a screen. In the past, the screen was optional in final rounds. All voting concerning auditions and tenure review will be done by secret ballot. Also, “The tenure process will be reviewed by the Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic in consultation with representatives from Black Orchestral Network, Sphinx Organization, and the National Alliance for Audition Support.” And, “tenure candidates will receive additional formal feedback according to a specified timeline and be paired with Musician-mentors to help guide them through the process and to provide transparency. Tenure candidates will be afforded avenues to provide feedback concerning their experience of the process.”

“This is an historic deal that has substantial wage increases for our members and will enable the Philharmonic to attract and retain the best musicians,” said American Federation of Musicians Local 802 President Sara Cutler. “Our members deserved this raise, and we are grateful to have had partners at the Philharmonic who recognized their world-class talent. Local 802 is proud of our work fighting for musicians and believes this agreement will safeguard both their futures and that of the institution as a whole.”

The contract is the first since the pandemic, and it comes at a time of transition, with the NY Phil lacking a full-time President and CEO after Gary Ginstling stepped down in July, and also lacking a full-time music director as Music Director Jaap van Zweden ended his six-year tenure last summer summer, and Gustavo Dudamel does not begin his until 2026.

But it is a hopeful sign.

“The New York Philharmonic is synonymous with excellence and musicality, and this is true of every virtuosic member of this orchestra,” said NY Phil Board Co-Chairmen Peter W. May and Oscar L. Tang in a joint statement. “The Board of Directors is committed to paying these astounding players what they deserve, and we commend them on helping us set a new standard in audition and tenure procedures. This contract lays the groundwork for the arrival of Gustavo Dudamel as the next Music and Artistic Director and, with it, the beginning of a new Golden Age at the New York Philharmonic.”

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