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Musicians from the Colorado Springs Philharmonic Orchestra took part in a âMarch to Save Our Orchestraâ on June 4. Carrying signs and playing Beethoven and Brahms on kazoos, the musicians marched up and down Tejon Street to raise awareness about their ongoing contract dispute with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic Orchestra (CSPO).
While professional orchestras across the country moved to virtual performances due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CSPO invoked a force majeure clause (circumstances beyond their control) in the collective bargaining agreement to furlough musicians in July 2020. The CSPO board of directors officially canceled the collective bargaining agreement in September 2020, again citing force majeure.
Courtesy Mary Malizia Evans
From right, Chandler Spoon, Michael Yopp, and Jenny Doersch play their instruments. Each is part of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic Orchestra, but were performing as part of the musicians self-produced recordings.
The Colorado Springs Philharmonic has not played together since September. A few days after their last performance, management of the philharmonic citing financial constraints caused by the pandemic tore up the five-year contract they had just signed with musicians in April.
Now the sides are locked in arbitration, trying to come to an agreement to allow the musicians to start playing again. But, the sides argue over almost every detail. Sarah Wilson, president of the Pikes Peak Musicians’ Association, said management of the philharmonic is blaming the pandemic for the closure instead of finding new ways to bring people music.