The Atlanta Lockout...Continued

ASO Management responds to musicians' statement with their own.

Dr. Stanley Rommenstein, president of the
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra poses in the
Woodruff Arts Center.
Photo from WoodruffCenter.org,

by Paul J. Pelkonen

This afternoon, Dr. Stanley A. Rommenstein, President of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra released a statement giving some details of the orchestra's side of its ongoing negotiations with its musicians. As a followup to an earlier Superconductor story detailing the lockout, and in the interest of journalistic fairness, here are the highlights from his prepared statement:

• The deficit for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 was $2.7M...inclusive of $1.8M in non-sustainable sources (i.e. bequests and one-time gifts. Without them, the true operating deficit is $4.5M.
• The ASO has been running an annual deficit of nearly $5M and the accumulated deficit is approaching $20M.

• Average compensation of the musicians is $131,000, which currently includes 100% free health and dental coverage, free instrument insurance, retirement pension, and eight (8) weeks of paid vacation. 
• Since 2006, average staff compensation has been reduced by 1.7%. During this same period, average musician compensation has risen 23.6%.