Musicians from New Mexico Symphony Orchestra agree to management’s term, concerts to resume

NM symphony reaches agreement with musicians

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The New Mexico Symphony Orchestra’s management and musicians have reached an agreement that will allow the concert season to resume.

Management and the musicians have been negotiating a new contract since the previous contract ended in August. Musicians had said they wouldn’t accept any pay cuts, but the agreement reached Sunday calls for a 23 percent cut.

The symphony is bracing for a projected budget deficit of about $900,000. It has eliminated or left staff jobs unfilled and cut salaries and benefits for remaining staff.

The symphony has started a fundraising campaign to sustain it.

Trustee Coleman Travelstead says never again does the symphony want to be in the position where an economic downturn creates such havoc for the state’s premier orchestra.