Published on Behalf of the Members of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus Dear Friends and Supporters, We, the members of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, write to you with a deep sense of pride in our collective accomplishments and a sincere concern for the future of our cherished institution. The 32 paid singers of the Chorus are members of the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), whose collective bargaining agreement expires at the end of July. The rest of our ensemble is composed of well over 120 unpaid singers who give their time and significant talents to the Symphony Chorus. Given the recent public discussions about the financial challenges faced by the Symphony, we feel compelled to share information, offer our perspe... Read More -->

The Opera & Concert Choristers Caucus (OCCC) hosted a seminar on body equity on Tuesday, July 2. Guest speaker Patrick Hansen led a discussion on the various challenges—both real and perceived—that singers face during auditions and the casting process. The seminar was recorded and is now available to view on the members-only section of the AGMA website. AGMA members can access the webinar by logging in to MyAGMA, selecting "AGMA Webinars" from the MyAGMA dropdown menu, and then "AGMA Caucus Webinars."... Read More -->

The new collective bargaining agreement between AGMA and Florentine Opera was approved by AGMA leadership on June 17, 2024, after being ratified by the shop. Thank you to the negotiating committee and congratulations on this 4-year agreement! CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS: COMPENSATION AND OTHER BENEFITS: Increase in payments for all Artists: 2% (2023-24) 2% (2024-25) 3% (2025-26) 3% (2026-27) Chorister payments: Chorus Bit: 3 hours rehearsal at 3 production rate for each performance​ Non-Spoken Role: 2 hours rehearsal at 3 production rate for each performance​ Spoken Role: Schedule C Role rate OR 3 hours rehearsal at 3 production rate for each performance​ Choristers will receive overtime after 6 hours in a day Per Performance P... Read More -->

On Tuesday, July 2, at 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT), the Opera & Concert Choristers Caucus (OCCC) will host a seminar featuring guest speaker Patrick Hansen. Hansen will lead a discussion on body equity and the challenges—both real and perceived—that singers encounter during auditions and the casting process. Patrick Hansen is a distinguished operatic conductor, vocal coach, and stage director with an extensive career across North America. Acclaimed for his interpretation of Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle, his work has been praised by leading critics for its nuanced pacing and vivid orchestral color. His stage direction, noted for its vitality and strong character depiction, has garnered positive reviews in Canada and the U.... Read More -->

In today’s AGMAzine Spotlight, AGMA Soloist Allegra De Vita explores the parallels between singing and martial arts. Recalling her early training where balance and tranquility were emphasized, she describes how these ideals often clashed with the high-stakes, adrenaline-fueled nature of performing. Despite initially embracing practices like yoga, she later discovered that her true strength lay in embracing the chaos and intensity of performing. Through her experiences with martial arts, specifically Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai, Allegra learned to channel her adrenaline and anxiety into a driving force for her singing, akin to the focus required in combat sports. This allowed her to see singing as an athletic endeavor where harnessing,... Read More -->

As we commemorate Juneteenth, we honor a watershed moment in American history—the final liberation of enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. This day not only signifies freedom but also underscores the enduring resilience and contributions of Black individuals throughout our nation's history. That enduring resilience and those contributions are deeply apparent in the performing arts industry, mirroring our society at large. We are proud to say that, in recent years, AGMA artists have achieved significant gains in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (I.D.E.A.) across many of our contracts, and our artist leaders in the Board of Governors and Caucuses, like the AGMA Black Caucus, have shaped ba... Read More -->

The Spring 2024 AGMAzine theme was “balance.”  Today, AGMA shares this essay from Dancer and AGMA Governor Sarah Cecilia Bukowski as part of the Union’s AGMAzine Spotlight Series. Sarah describes balance as a dynamic and fleeting state she continually seeks as a dancer. She extends this pursuit of balance to her life, managing multiple roles as a freelance dancer, writer, union leader, and student. Despite the challenges, she passionately engages in each role, using intentional time management to maintain her balance. Sarah doesn’t aim for perfection but understands that finding balance and doing her best means adapting to her current situation with patience and self-awareness. Balancing Through LifeBy Sarah Cecilia Bukows... Read More -->

  AGMA will host two public sessions of “An Intro to AGMA,” the Union’s live new-member orientation and informational webinar. Those interested are welcome to join the webinar at 10:00 a.m. ET or 9:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 27. Register for the 10:00 a.m. ET session or Register for the 9:00 p.m. ET session   Both webinars will cover the same content, allowing participants to choose the best time for their schedule. The anticipated duration of the webinar is around 30 minutes. These webinars are open to the PUBLIC. We encourage AGMA members to share this link with individuals in their networks who may find it interesting. Additionally, we extend a warm invitation to all AGMA ... Read More -->

We’re excited to share an opportunity for AGMA Members to showcase their union pride! Union Plus is hosting the #UnionMoment contest, where AGMA Artists can share a short video highlighting a special moment or achievement as a union member. The grand prize is $10,000! All the information can be found on the Union Plus website. This is a chance to share what being an AGMA Artist is all about (Ex: Do you serve on a negotiating committee? Did you recently organize your workplace? Are you an AGMA leader, delegate, area committee or caucus member?). Key Dates: June 15: Deadline to submit your videoJuly 31: Finalists revealedJuly 31-August 21: Voting period ... Read More -->

  The new collective bargaining agreement between AGMA and San Diego was approved by AGMA leadership on May 20, 2024, after being ratified by the shop. Thank you to the negotiating committee and congratulations on this 3-year agreement! CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS: COMPENSATION AND OTHER BENEFITS: Rate increases of 4%, 3%, and 3%, retroactive to September 2023​ Increase to overtime rate for Production Staff Increase to Per Diems, rising to GSA rate by year 3 New House Auditions to encourage hiring of local Principal talent​ 25% up-front payments to Soloists​ Earlier reengagement deadline for Stage Managers ​ 55-hour work week for Stage Managers, 10-hour day, and 11-hour turnaround​ 3-session days limited to... Read More -->