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 perspective, and seek your support.
San Francisco Symphony management has proposed slashing the San Francisco Symphony Chorus budget by 80%. You read that correctly. 80%. The chorus accounts for a little over 1% of the overall budget and is vital in attracting audiences and donors. Simply put, ticket sales are higher when we are singing. The financial rationale for such severe cuts simply doesn’t add up. The Symphony has informed us that it projects a $12.5 million budget deficit for the next fiscal year. Putting aside the assumption that this deficit must be solved only through cuts rather than improved fundraising or patron development, cutting $800,000 of the Chorus’s roughly $1 million cost won’t cover this. Cutting 80% of their approximately $75 million in expenses across the board would save nearly $60 million, indicating these cuts unreasonably target the Chorus.
This is an unprecedented move on management’s part. AGMA’s financial consultant’s comprehensive analyses reveal that the decision is unnecessary and overlooks the Chorus’s undeniable contributions to the Symphony’s artistic excellence and financial health. In fact, AGMA’s consultant found that the Symphony has been covering its deficits with responsible draws from its $333 million endowment and other funding sources.
There are smarter, less damaging ways to address financial issues without undermining our chorus or further exploiting unpaid talent. A more transparent approach to the Symphony’s finances and strategic use of the endowment is essential. Our goal is not just to save our union jobs but also to ensure the Symphony continues to thrive artistically. The Symphony Chorus is one of few union choral jobs in the Bay Area, and yet many of us must juggle multiple jobs to survive in this city as working musicians. The Symphony’s proposal to reduce our guaranteed work will be financially devastating to the dwindling number of union choristers in the city and make it more difficult to keep artistic talent in the Bay.
Moving toward a mostly unpaid chorus is a choice that reflects poorly on the management’s commitment to fair labor practices. Our unpaid colleagues contribute enormously, but it’s time to recognize that the national trend of relying on unpaid singers is an outdated and unfair practice that devalues our skills and talent. Every artist deserves a dependable job that reflects their contributions and addresses the rising cost of living, especially in the Bay Area.
Adding to this turmoil, esteemed Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen is leaving next year. This departure has raised questions about deeper issues within the Symphony’s management and artistic direction.
As we approach the expiration date of the contract, we will continue to bargain in good faith and are ready and willing to work with management on solutions that invest in the future of the Chorus and leverage the award-winning asset that this ensemble has been for fifty years.
Here is how our friends and supporters can help right now:
- Stay Tuned: Join our Save the Symphony Chorus mailing list, and we will continue to update you on next steps to support our campaign!
- Share this Link: Tell your friends, fellow donors, and patrons to support our movement to #SavetheSymphonyChorus!
- Raise Your Voice: Let management know you care about preserving union jobs and the Symphony Chorus’s artistic future by writing to patronsupport@sfsymphony.org or reaching them on Instagram @sfsymphony.
- Join the Conversation: Follow the Chorus on Instagram @sfsymphonychorus.
- Come to Our Choral Performances: Show your support by being part of our audience!
Your support means the world to us and helps ensure the Symphony continues to thrive. Thank you for standing with us and keeping the Arts alive in San Francisco!
In Solidarity,
Members of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus
Storm Staley, Julia Vetter, Nicholas Weininger, Kate Juliana, Giacomo DiGrigoli, Michael Prichard, Samuel Faustine, Helene Zindarsian, Gretchen Klein, Terry Alvord, Malcolm Gaines, Kimberly J. Orbik, Lauren Diez, Scott Dickerman, Shroothi Ramesh, Julian Nesbitt, Robert Calvert, Goangshiuan Shawn Ying, Michele Kennedy, Ryan S. Peterson, Helen Burns, Lauren Wilbanks, Kyounghee Lee, Patrick Fu, Elizabeth Susskind, Clayton Moser, Stacey Helley, Adeliz Araiza, Hilary Jenson, Laura Stanfield Prichard, Makiko Ueda, Kelsey Ishimatsu Jacobson, Tetsuya Taura, Cathleen Josaitis, Sarita Cannon, Alec Jeong, Michael Jankosky, David Varnum, Bethany Procopio, Elliott Encarnación, Mayo Tsuzuki, Lindsay Rader, Seth Brenzel, Brieanne Alisa Martin, Matthew Peterson, Meghan Spyker, Joyce Lin-Conrad, Rick Galbreath, John P. Young, Roderick Lowe, Kyle Tingzon, Troy Turriate, Jeanne Schoch, Jennifer Mitchell, Elizabeth Kimble, Drew Kravin, Philip Buonadonna, Shauna Fallihee, Richard Glendening, Connor Tench, Morgan Balfour , Benjamin Liupaogo, Becky Lau, Cindy Wyvill, Lane McKenna, Jack O'Reilly, Carolyn Alexander, Diana M. Pray, Cara Gabrielson, Heidi Waterman, Jack Wilkins, Chung-Wai Soong, Natalia Salemmo, Amy Foote, Leandra Ramm, Brielle Morgan Neilson, Adam Cole, Merilyn Telle Vaughn
