Back Row: Katherine Cosgrove, Jack Henning, Zack Thomas, Charles Schlater, Garth Simmons, Richard Karcher
Front Row: Zak Vassar, Casey Gsell, Laura Longman, Cheryl Trace, Vanessa Gardner, Natalie Conklin, Marna Ramnath
TOLEDO, OH – The Toledo Symphony Orchestra (TSO) and Local 15-286 of the American Federation of Musicians are pleased to announce the successful ratification of a groundbreaking five-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that marks a new era for the organization and its musicians. The agreement is in effect through the 2028/2029 season, reflects a shared commitment to enhancing the artistic and professional environment for TSO musicians while strengthening the Orchestra’s role within the community.
As part of this agreement, Toledo Symphony Musicians will receive historic annual increases in minimum compensation totaling 39% over the course of the five-year period, plus an increase in matching contributions to the musicians’ 403b retirement plan. These unprecedented raises reflect the Symphony’s recognition of the musicians’ invaluable contributions and their critical role in sustaining TSO’s artistic excellence.
“There were three key goals for this negotiation,” says Vanessa Gardner, recently appointed Vice President and General Manager and lead negotiator for management. “Both the Orchestra Committee and Management came to the table with the goal of significantly increasing musician compensation. Second, was to standardize per-service rates across salary tiers for a more equitable and industry-standard structure. And lastly, it was our mutual goal to modernize the agreement overall, including clarifying language, creating working conditions that are a benefit to both the musicians and the organization at large, and structuring the document itself in a clearer and easier to understand manner.
Additional highlights of the Agreement:
• Additions to the Core Orchestra: Two new core string positions were added, and several previously part-time positions were converted to full-time positions. This agreement also now includes the role of Principal Librarian as part of the bargaining unit with a commitment to collaborate on the hiring process for this role in the future.
• Fair and Equitable Compensation Structure: The agreement introduces new universal per service rates, including for substitute musicians, streamlining management processes and creating more transparency.
• Improved Tenure Procedures: This agreement updates and expands tenure guidelines, standardizing the length of the evaluation period and providing greater transparency through the review process.
• Support for Education and Community Engagement: TSO musicians will continue to provide support for educational initiatives and community engagement activities, furthering the Symphony’s mission to enrich the cultural fabric of Toledo through music.
• Improved Leave Policies: The agreement outlines greater clarity on personal and sick leave guidelines. This includes the addition of principal relief services, increased paid parental leave, and greater flexibility overall for musicians while providing better data for management to plan and budget.
“This new agreement represents a monumental step forward for the Toledo Symphony and our talented musicians,” says Zak Vassar, TAPA’s President & CEO. “We are thrilled to have negotiated a contract that not only acknowledges the incredible work of our musicians but also sets the stage for continued growth and artistic achievement. This agreement reflects our commitment to excellence and community engagement, and we look forward to a bright future together.”
The Toledo Symphony Orchestra remains dedicated to bringing world-class music to the Toledo community, and this agreement positions the Symphony to build on its 81-year legacy of artistic excellence and community service.
“At the heart of any great team is the desire to define what success looks like, push forward toward a goal, and keep an eye out for your peers,” says TAPA Board Chair Marna Ramnath. “What impressed me so much with this negotiation was the spirit of teamwork that persisted through it. With this new contract, our organization continues its commitment to artistic quality and beauty. In the end, it’s our community that benefits.”
“We are proud of the collaborative spirit that defined these negotiations,” says Casey Gsell, TSO Principal Bassoon and Chair of the Orchestra Committee. “This agreement not only provides significant financial improvements for our members but also enhances our role in the community, supports education, and ensures equitable treatment of our musicians. It is a true testament to what we can achieve when we work together.”
In addition to Casey Gsell, the Orchestra Committee included Laura Longman (First Violin), Zachary Thomas (Principal Trumpet), Jack Henning (Principal Bass), and Katherine Cosgrove (Second Trumpet).
“We dare to be greater than just a regional ensemble, and this agreement demonstrates that beautifully,” says Richard Karcher, Vice Chair of the TAPA Board of Trustees and the trustee representative in the CBA negotiations. “Our professional musicians can only be retained if their compensation package is competitive and attractive. With this new contract, we execute on our best intentions and make a sincere investment in the spirit of our ensemble.”
In addition to Richard Karcher and Vanessa Gardner, the negotiating team for management included Zak Vassar (President & CEO), Cheryl Trace (Orchestra Personnel Manager), Randi Dier (Vice President of Finance), and Natalie Conklin (Artistic Operations Manager).
“Music Directors don’t usually participate in labor contracts, so I was flattered that the musicians of our orchestra invited me to sit in on one of the negotiation sessions,” says TSO Music Director Alain Trudel. “What I observed in that room was a testament to what our organization does best. The group came together: musicians, management, and trustees. Everyone listened carefully to one another and focused upon a shared goal. I’ve said it before: something very special is happening here in Toledo with this orchestra. And now we see that, for the next several years, our great work will continue, and our musicians will thrive. This is real harmony.”
The Toledo Symphony performs twelve masterworks, six pops, and five chamber concerts annually in addition to special events and three full-length ballets performed by Toledo Ballet. The Symphony launches its 2024-2025 Season this September 27 & 28 with performances of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 “Ode to Joy” at the Peristyle. Additional highlights of the 24/25 season include the return of Renée Fleming to the Peristyle to perform Kevin Puts’ The Brightness of Light, a celebration of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, the US premiere of Stewart Goodyear’s Life, Life, Life, and Marvel’s Black Panther performed live to film. Tickets are available at artstoledo.com or by calling the TAPA box office at 419.246.8000.
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ABOUT TAPA
The Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) is a collective consisting of the Toledo Symphony, Toledo Ballet, Toledo Symphony School of Music, Toledo Symphony Youth Orchestras, and most recently, The Toledo Jazz Orchestra. TAPA strives to establish meaningful partnerships with individuals and organizations that fundamentally impact the cultural life of our region. As a vibrant and growing arts organization, TAPA empowers all in our region to experience the performing arts through concerts, recitals, education programs, community engagement and activation, private lessons, fully staged productions, and more. In early 2025, TAPA will move its headquarters to the former Masonic Temple adjacent to the Stranahan Theater on Heatherdowns Blvd. This new facility will serve as the artistic hub for all of TAPA's administrative offices, education programs, private lessons and group classes, some performances, and community programming.
TOLEDO, OH – The Toledo Symphony Orchestra (TSO) and Local 15-286 of the American Federation of Musicians are pleased to announce the successful ratification of a groundbreaking five-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that marks a new era for the organization and its musicians. The agreement is in effect through the 2028/2029 season, reflects a shared commitment to enhancing the artistic and professional environment for TSO musicians while strengthening the Orchestra’s role within the community.
As part of this agreement, Toledo Symphony Musicians will receive historic annual increases in minimum compensation totaling 39% over the course of the five-year period, plus an increase in matching contributions to the musicians’ 403b retirement plan. These unprecedented raises reflect the Symphony’s recognition of the musicians’ invaluable contributions and their critical role in sustaining TSO’s artistic excellence.
“There were three key goals for this negotiation,” says Vanessa Gardner, recently appointed Vice President and General Manager and lead negotiator for management. “Both the Orchestra Committee and Management came to the table with the goal of significantly increasing musician compensation. Second, was to standardize per-service rates across salary tiers for a more equitable and industry-standard structure. And lastly, it was our mutual goal to modernize the agreement overall, including clarifying language, creating working conditions that are a benefit to both the musicians and the organization at large, and structuring the document itself in a clearer and easier to understand manner.
Additional highlights of the Agreement:
• Additions to the Core Orchestra: Two new core string positions were added, and several previously part-time positions were converted to full-time positions. This agreement also now includes the role of Principal Librarian as part of the bargaining unit with a commitment to collaborate on the hiring process for this role in the future.
• Fair and Equitable Compensation Structure: The agreement introduces new universal per service rates, including for substitute musicians, streamlining management processes and creating more transparency.
• Improved Tenure Procedures: This agreement updates and expands tenure guidelines, standardizing the length of the evaluation period and providing greater transparency through the review process.
• Support for Education and Community Engagement: TSO musicians will continue to provide support for educational initiatives and community engagement activities, furthering the Symphony’s mission to enrich the cultural fabric of Toledo through music.
• Improved Leave Policies: The agreement outlines greater clarity on personal and sick leave guidelines. This includes the addition of principal relief services, increased paid parental leave, and greater flexibility overall for musicians while providing better data for management to plan and budget.
“This new agreement represents a monumental step forward for the Toledo Symphony and our talented musicians,” says Zak Vassar, TAPA’s President & CEO. “We are thrilled to have negotiated a contract that not only acknowledges the incredible work of our musicians but also sets the stage for continued growth and artistic achievement. This agreement reflects our commitment to excellence and community engagement, and we look forward to a bright future together.”
The Toledo Symphony Orchestra remains dedicated to bringing world-class music to the Toledo community, and this agreement positions the Symphony to build on its 81-year legacy of artistic excellence and community service.
“At the heart of any great team is the desire to define what success looks like, push forward toward a goal, and keep an eye out for your peers,” says TAPA Board Chair Marna Ramnath. “What impressed me so much with this negotiation was the spirit of teamwork that persisted through it. With this new contract, our organization continues its commitment to artistic quality and beauty. In the end, it’s our community that benefits.”
“We are proud of the collaborative spirit that defined these negotiations,” says Casey Gsell, TSO Principal Bassoon and Chair of the Orchestra Committee. “This agreement not only provides significant financial improvements for our members but also enhances our role in the community, supports education, and ensures equitable treatment of our musicians. It is a true testament to what we can achieve when we work together.”
In addition to Casey Gsell, the Orchestra Committee included Laura Longman (First Violin), Zachary Thomas (Principal Trumpet), Jack Henning (Principal Bass), and Katherine Cosgrove (Second Trumpet).
“We dare to be greater than just a regional ensemble, and this agreement demonstrates that beautifully,” says Richard Karcher, Vice Chair of the TAPA Board of Trustees and the trustee representative in the CBA negotiations. “Our professional musicians can only be retained if their compensation package is competitive and attractive. With this new contract, we execute on our best intentions and make a sincere investment in the spirit of our ensemble.”
In addition to Richard Karcher and Vanessa Gardner, the negotiating team for management included Zak Vassar (President & CEO), Cheryl Trace (Orchestra Personnel Manager), Randi Dier (Vice President of Finance), and Natalie Conklin (Artistic Operations Manager).
“Music Directors don’t usually participate in labor contracts, so I was flattered that the musicians of our orchestra invited me to sit in on one of the negotiation sessions,” says TSO Music Director Alain Trudel. “What I observed in that room was a testament to what our organization does best. The group came together: musicians, management, and trustees. Everyone listened carefully to one another and focused upon a shared goal. I’ve said it before: something very special is happening here in Toledo with this orchestra. And now we see that, for the next several years, our great work will continue, and our musicians will thrive. This is real harmony.”
The Toledo Symphony performs twelve masterworks, six pops, and five chamber concerts annually in addition to special events and three full-length ballets performed by Toledo Ballet. The Symphony launches its 2024-2025 Season this September 27 & 28 with performances of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 “Ode to Joy” at the Peristyle. Additional highlights of the 24/25 season include the return of Renée Fleming to the Peristyle to perform Kevin Puts’ The Brightness of Light, a celebration of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, the US premiere of Stewart Goodyear’s Life, Life, Life, and Marvel’s Black Panther performed live to film. Tickets are available at artstoledo.com or by calling the TAPA box office at 419.246.8000.
###
ABOUT TAPA
The Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) is a collective consisting of the Toledo Symphony, Toledo Ballet, Toledo Symphony School of Music, Toledo Symphony Youth Orchestras, and most recently, The Toledo Jazz Orchestra. TAPA strives to establish meaningful partnerships with individuals and organizations that fundamentally impact the cultural life of our region. As a vibrant and growing arts organization, TAPA empowers all in our region to experience the performing arts through concerts, recitals, education programs, community engagement and activation, private lessons, fully staged productions, and more. In early 2025, TAPA will move its headquarters to the former Masonic Temple adjacent to the Stranahan Theater on Heatherdowns Blvd. This new facility will serve as the artistic hub for all of TAPA's administrative offices, education programs, private lessons and group classes, some performances, and community programming.
