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MINNEAPOLIS (April 28, 2026) — The Minnesota Orchestra’s governing body and its musicians have approved a new two-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA), effective from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2028. The agreement, which was reached five months in advance of the current contract’s expiration, was separately ratified by both the Board of Directors and the musicians, who are members of the Twin Cities Musicians’ Union (Local 30-73).
“These were productive negotiations in which we were aligned around shared values and an expansive vision of the Minnesota Orchestra,” said Board Chair William Miller. “We are grateful to the musicians for their partnership, which brought us to an outcome that centers our artistic values and allows the organization time to expand revenue streams and innovate our business model over the long term to realize our future aspirations. The fact that we’ve reached agreement five months in advance of the contract’s expiration speaks to the power of a collaborative, open and transparent process.”
The terms of the agreement call for:
- A 2.5% increase to musician weekly salary scale in each year of the contract;
- Temporary changes to hiring practices in order to reduce costs by up to $2 million over the life of the contract.
“We are thankful we were jointly able to reach a result that prioritizes the Minnesota Orchestra’s artistry in our community and industry, while also helping to right the organization’s finances,” said Timothy Zavadil, clarinetist and bass clarinetist representing the Musicians’ Negotiating Committee. “We have great confidence in Isaac Thompson and our Board leadership, and we look forward to building on these relationships toward a bright artistic future.”
“I believe the Minnesota Orchestra is on the precipice of tremendous opportunities, and this negotiation has laid a solid foundation of trust and respect,” said President and CEO Isaac Thompson. “I very much appreciated the musicians’ leadership, their creative and collaborative approach to addressing issues and our ability to work together for the common good of the organization. This contract is a testament to our mutual investment in the future of the Minnesota Orchestra as a central artistic and civic pillar in our community.”
President of the Twin Cities Musicians Union Brad Eggen commented, “This agreement is a vital resource designed to retain the Minnesota Orchestra's stature as one of the premier orchestral ensembles in the world. This talented collection of absolute top-tier musicians is a standard-bearer of our unique community of inspiring Union artists in all genres of music performance.”
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