News

the musicians of the fwso invite you to: the 2nd annual "family-style" potluck picnic

6/5/2017

SUNDAY JUNE 25, 2017
5:00 – 7:00 PM
TRINITY PARK IN FORT WORTH

You are invited to a “family-style” potluck picnic hosted by the Musicians of the FWSO!
This is a great opportunity to interact with the musicians and meet other supporters.

FREE ADMISSION!

If you will be joining us, please reply to [email protected] by Wednesday June 21.

Trinity Park is located at 2401 University Dr, Fort Worth, TX 76107.
Once again, we have reserved Pavilions 2 & 3 in the center of the park, near the intersection of Trinity Park Drive and River Drive.

We will serve hamburgers, hot dogs and veggie burgers, along with all the fixin’s. Please bring your own beverages (Alcohol is permitted at our event).

In addition, we ask you to please bring a side dish or dessert to share with others. This is a chance to share one of your delicious recipes with friends! To try to keep things as evenly distributed as possible, we suggest the following:
If your last name begins with A-L, please bring a dessert
If your last name begins with M-Z, please bring a side dish

There will be door prizes, music and merriment!

After the picnic, come hear us perform at the FWSO Concerts in the Garden at 8:15pm, across University Drive from Trinity Park in the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens.
Gates for CITG open at 6:30pm. For tickets, please click here.

Come have a burger with a musician and enjoy our lovely June weather!
(Hopefully no rain this year....)

MANAGEMENT AND MUSICIANS AGREE TO A NEW CONTRACT

12/7/2016

Miguel Harth-Bedoya will conduct a New Year’s Eve Concert

On December 3, 2016, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Association and the American Federation of Musicians, Local 72-147 representing the musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra agreed upon terms of a new four-year contract. You can read the entire joint press release here. The Musicians of the FWSO ratified the agreement on December 7, 2016.

Because of overwhelming public support, the Musicians were able to find a generous donor who stepped forward with a gift of $700,000, leading to a breakthrough in negotiations. “We are incredibly moved by the generosity which has made this agreement possible,” said Dan Sigale, FWSO Violist and Chairman of the Musicians’ Negotiating Committee. “We also thank all our supporters who have stood by us during these past several months. We look forward to returning to our regular performances and sharing great music with our great city.”

Symphony Musicians of Fort Worth Present A Baroque Christmas, 7:00 on December 13 at Broadway Baptist Church

11/28/2016

A Baroque Christmas
Tuesday, December 13 at 7:00
Broadway Baptist Church
305 W. Broadway Ave, Fort Worth TX 76104

As a gift to the community, the Symphony Musicians of Fort Worth will donate all proceeds from A Baroque Christmas to The B Sharp Youth Music Program and Broadway Baptist Agape Meal. Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 features our soloists Kyle Sherman, Pam Adams, Jennifer Lucio, and Michael Shih.

a fort worth family christmas concert: November 27, 4pm

11/9/2016

Update: Thank you to all for the packed house!

Please bring an un-wrapped toy to support WFAA’s Santa’s Helpers. Toys will be collected in the lobby prior to the concert.
Save Our Symphony Fort Worth is coordinating and providing all professional and volunteer efforts.

Symphony Musicians of Fort worth Present Dvorak's New World Symphony, November 11 at 7:30

10/31/2016

Update: Thank you to all for a packed house!

W. A. Mozart ~ Overture to The Impresario
Arthur Foote ~ "A Night Piece" for Flute and Strings performed by Jake Fridkis
R. Strauss ~ Concerto No. 1 for Horn and Orchestra performed by Molly Norcross
Intermission
A. Dvorak ~ Symphony No. 9

Donations gratefully accepted and will go to the Musicians of the FWSO Fund

Fort Worth Symphony Cancels Concerts Through December; Refuses Overtures for Collaboration

10/24/2016

Note: A bargaining session took place on 10/22, and we strongly disagree with management's assessment of the meeting in which Adkins stated "We are... deeply disappointed that the Union refused to engage in collaborative solutions..." In fact, it was the musicians who repeatedly suggested a collaborative effort throughout the meeting.

10/24/16
Fort Worth Symphony Cancels Concerts Through December; Refuses Overtures for Collaboration

Despite a return to the negotiation table on Saturday, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (FWSO) Management has announced today that it is unilaterally canceling concerts through December 31, 2016. This comes after rebuffing Musicians’ repeated offers to collaborate with Management to develop financial solutions to resolve the nearly seven week long dispute.

Musicians, represented by Local 72-147 of the American Federation of Musicians, in off-the-record discussions have proposed that Management halt its damaging cancellations and both parties combine their time, talent and resources to develop new projects and sources of revenue within the Fort Worth community. "We have been telling Management that we will work with them to actively find financial solutions, but Management is not listening," said Ed Jones, FWSO Principal Tuba and member of the Negotiating Committee.

Collaboration was the hallmark of the Musicians’ history with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Before a pattern of continuous cuts began in 2010, this spirit of working together resulted in creating new revenue, which helped to lay the groundwork for community events like the highly profitable Concerts in the Garden series. This once positive relationship was central to the development of the orchestra’s now threatened world class status. However, today Management refuses to consider collaborative solutions.

Management’s only answer is to cancel two more months of concerts, refusing to negotiate anything but continued cuts – cuts which damage the Association’s very strength and ability to meet its future challenges. The cancellations include a set of Symphonic Subscription concerts featuring Pianist Vadym Kholodenko, as well as the completion of a critically acclaimed recording project with this favorite Fort Worth artist. The following events have also been cancelled:

Pops performances celebrating America’s music and history
the hugely popular Holiday Pops the weekend after Thanksgiving
other multiple holiday performances across the city
a special performance with Trumpet Soloist Chris Botti
and several concerts bringing music to children in schools across Fort Worth.

“Management is so intent on getting cuts in any way possible, they are now taking it out on the people of Fort Worth directly,” said Musicians Union President Stewart Williams. “In our last meeting we called upon Symphony President Amy Adkins to stop these cancellations and discuss ways for Musicians and Management to work together, not only to develop new revenue but also to better serve the community. She refused to consider any such options. Instead, she is forcing cuts through cancellations, slashing concert after concert, in reckless disregard for the people the FWSO serves.”

By canceling so many performances months before they are scheduled, Management has ensured that there will be no more music from the FWSO in 2016. This virtual lockout of the musicians is senselessly denying the people of Fort Worth of their hometown orchestra, turning the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra into a Management – without Music.

Musicians Met With Management 10/22 with a Call for Collaboration

10/23/2016

A bargaining session took place on 10/22, and we strongly disagree with management's assessment of the meeting in which Adkins stated "We are... deeply disappointed that the Union refused to engage in collaborative solutions..." In fact, it was the musicians who repeatedly suggested a collaborative effort throughout the meeting.
Press Release:
For immediate release
October 22, 2016

Musicians Met With FWSO Management Today with a Call for Collaboration

After more than six weeks of the ongoing strike of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Musicians, Management met today with the Musicians, represented by Local 72-147 of the American Federation of Musicians.

Musicians returned to the table with the intention of engaging in a discussion of collaborative solutions, with a plan to move the FWSO forward.

“It was our hope that Management would return to the table with the purpose of cutting through damaging rhetoric and coming to real solutions to keep the orchestra strong and growing,” said Negotiating Committee Chair Dan Sigale. “We believe the solutions are there if Management is ready to work with us.”

Putting forth this call for new discussion, the musicians insisted that Management continue these discussions and proposed meeting again within the week.

“We told the Management that we were ready to get back to the table as soon as possible,” said Union President Stewart Williams. “They owe it to our audiences and the Fort Worth community to make this effort toward collaboration.”

Press Contact:
Stewart Williams, President
American Federation of Musicians Local 72-147
[email protected]
940-594-5174

Brass Ensemble Performs Saturday 10/22 at 5 at the Water Gardens: Rally for Growth Not Cuts

10/18/2016

Join us October 22 and hear the combined brass of Symphony Musicians of Fort Worth plus Musicians of the Dallas Symphony. Free and family-friendly!

Saturday, October 22 at 5:00
Fort Worth Water Gardens
1502 Commerce St, Fort Worth, TX 76102

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