The Calgary Philharmonic Society has threatened to lock out its musicians October 7, 2001 if a new agreement with them and their representative, the Calgary Musicians Association, is not reached by that date. The Society is seeking a 16% reduction in its expenditures on those musicians to cover over 80% of last season’s $647,000 operating deficit resulting from poor ticket sales and fundraising.

The musicians have indicated their willingness to consider some immediate financial relief to give the Society breathing room and time to address the marketing and fundraising issues.  In return, they expect to see some evidence of a recovery plan and commitment to future growth from the Society.  To date that has not been forthcoming.  CPO Bass Trombonist and Association President Mark Johnson says that if the Society is genuinely interested in a negotiated settlement, I trust they will view the October 7th date as their own deadline to produce such a plan and contractual commitment.

The Society has realized a $500,000 decrease in ticket sales and a similar decrease in donations over the past two seasons.  Clearly this is indicative of substantial performance problems in those areas, far beyond any external challenges faced by all orchestras, notes Johnson.  The Society’s approach in no way addresses those problems.  The cuts endanger the quality of the orchestra, the one true success of the organization, by compromising its ability to retain and attract excellent musicians and conductors. This ultimately robs Calgary of a source of civic pride and international recognition. I know of no symphony orchestra anywhere that has achieved or maintained excellence by fundraising from the already shallow pockets of its musicians says Johnson.