Here is a comprehensive list of articles pertaining to Orchestral Apocalypse ‘012. Both pro- and anti-management viewpoints are represented. Please keep in mind that certain statements within these articles are of questionable veracity, so take everything here with a grain of salt. You can read about my personal questions about what’s been said on other pages of my blog.
I’ll update as new information is published or made available. If you have an article you want to have added to the list, the comment section is open to you.
Websites
Minnesota Orchestra Musicians Blog
Minnesota Orchestra Musicians Facebook page
SPCO Management (they’ve updated this relatively frequently with new documents)
Minnesota Orchestra Management (the only thing they’ve ever updated so far is “Industry News” and their “final offer” contract, so don’t go here expecting much news; also, patrons have had questions about the claims presented within this site)
Articles
MPR News Primer: Orchestra contract negotiations, MPR, 18 August
Fearing for ‘our orchestra, as we know it’, by Evelina Chao, Pioneer Press, 25 August
Do the Twin Cities need 2 orchestras?, MPR, 27 August
SPCO musicians take their case to the Fair, MPR, 28 August
MinnPost article, MinnPost, 30 August
Minnesota 2020 Journal: Sour Notes, Minnesota 2020, 31 August
Solutions today to ensure a vibrant SPCO tomorrow, by Dobson West, Pioneer Press, 1 September
Orchestra musicians plan free concert, Star Tribune, 4 September
Minn. Orchestra seeks big cut in musician salaries, MPR, 5 September
MN Orchestra opens up about contract negotiations, MPR, 5 September
SPCO faces deficit of “up to $1 million” for fiscal year, Star Tribune, 5 September
Minn. Orchestra, SPCO go public with calls for major cost cuts, Star Tribune, 6 September
Orchestra contract talks a matter of money vs. artistry, MPR, 6 September
Musicians seek audit of Minnesota Orchestra, Star Tribune, 6 September
MinnPost article, MinnPost, 7 September
SPCO proposes new contract for musicians, MPR, 7 September
SPCO makes new salary offer, MPR, 7 September
SPCO, Minnesota Orchestra in tough contract talks, Pioneer Press, 7 September
When Should A Conductor Speak Up?, Colin Eatock, 10 September
On governance, by Robert Levine, Polyphonic
Twin Cities orchestras make public appeal amid contract negotiations, MPR, 21 September
Labor talks at SPCO apparently fruitless, MPR, 22 September
Orchestra headed toward lockout?, Star Tribune, 24 September
Minn. Orchestra Musicians Say Strike Is Possibility, WCCO, 24 September
Could Twin Cities Orchestras Go Silent?, KARE, 24 September
The latest on SPCO, Minnesota Orchestra labor talks, MPR, 24 September
Minn. Orchestra, SPCO contract negotiations still without agreement. MPR. 24 September
SPCO rejects musicians’ contract counterproposal. MPR. 24 September.
SPCO contract talks stall; management wants 28 players, down from 34, Pioneer Press, 24 September
SPCO musicians make counteroffer; Minnesota Orchestra talks appear stalled, Pioneer Press, 25 September
Minnesota Orchestra’s final offer, Star Tribune, 25 September
As deadlines near, developments in contract struggles at MnOrch and SPCO, MPR, 26 September
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra managers reject union contract offer, Pioneer Press, 26 September
Contract negotiations continue at orchestras; final offer, counter-proposal, MPR, 27 September
Without contract, Minn. Orchestra lockout possible, MPR, 27 September
Minn. Orchestra musicians face lockout if no deal, Star Tribune, 27 September
10,000 lakes, one fish, and no settlements, by Robert Levine, Polyphonic, 28 September
Keep Your Eye on the Details in Minnesota, by Drew McManus, 28 September
Mn Orch musicians reject management proposal as SPCO bosses reject contract extension, MPR, 29 September
Minn. Orchestra Musicians Reject Contract, CBS Minnesota, 29 September
Musicians vote down contract proposal, Star Tribune, 29 September
Musicians veto deal in Mpls. as SPCO rejects contract extension, KARE, 30 September
Minn. Orchestra musicians seek arbitration, MPR, 30 September
Minn. Orchestra, musicians fail to agree; lockout expected, Star Tribune, 30 September
Minnesota Orchestra musicians headed for lockout, WQOW, 30 September
Lockout set to take effect for Minn. Orchestra, MPR, 30 September
SPCO, Minnesota Orchestra: Contract talks stall, Pioneer Press, 30 September
Minnesota Orchestra concerts canceled, no talks scheduled, Star Tribune, 1 October
Minnesota Orchestra locks out musicians, cancels concerts, MPR, 1 October
MN Orchestra cancels fall concerts, musicians rally, MPR, 1 October
SPCO talks to resume in 10 days, but MnOrch at impasse, Pioneer Press, 1 October
Locked-out Minn Orch musicians take cause to streets, MPR, 1 October
Good Question: Why Does The Orchestra Get Paid So Much?, CBS Minnesota, 1 October
Arts reporter explains Minnesota Orchestra lockout impact, My Fox 9, 1 October
Locked-out musicians regret concert cancellations, seek more talks, Workday Minnesota, 2 October
Minnesota Orchestra cancels concerts in the wake of lockout, Los Angeles Times, 2 October
MN Orchestra musicians locked out as SPCO’s ‘talk and play’, MinnPost, 2 October
Ground Zero for the Payless model, Robert Levine, Polyphonic, 2 October
Open Season, Frank Almond, 2 October
Locked out Mn Orch musicians plan season opening concert, MPR, 2 October
Minnesota Orchestra On Day 2 Of Lockout: We Want To Play, CBS Minnesota, 2 October
Labor Standoffs Silence Orchestras in Minnesota and Indiana, Associated Press, 3 October
Minn. Orchestra musicians plan to go solo, Star Tribune, 3 October
Management, board, also want quality, Star Tribune, 3 October
Walkouts and Lockouts in U.S. Symphonies: What Do They Portend?, NonProfit Quarterly, 4 October
Calculated, Callous, Corrosive Tactics from MN Orchestra, MNuet.com, 4 October
Leaders must solve orchestra dispute, Don Heinzman, 4 October
Blogosphere sides with musicians, MPR, 5 October
Former conductor will lead lockout concert, MPR, 5 October
Classical Musicians to the Barricades (Again), Reason.com, 5 October [very hard for me to resist editorializing on this one, but I’ll resist…for now]
In the middle of a musical labor dispute, MPR, 5 October
Orchestra lockout prompts the question: What are experts worth?, MinnPost, 5 October
Labor strife is playing out at orchestras all across the country, Star Tribune, 6 October
Skrowaczewski to lead Minnesota Orchestra musicians in opening night concert, MinnPost, 7 October
Preserving a great art, Minnesota Daily, 8 October
Locked out musicians get gigs elsewhere, MPR, 9 October
During Lockout Season, Orchestra Musicians Grapple With Their Future, NPR, 10 October
A tempest strikes American orchestras, MPR, 1o October
MN Orch musicians to perform, will not honor tickets for cancelled concert, MPR, 10 October
Minn. Orchestra makes a stand, Star Tribune, 11 October
Can’t they just be happy with that lobby?, Star Tribune, 11 October
Board should not be opposed to arbitrator, Star Tribune, 15 October
Minnesota Orchestra to put on concert Thursday, KARE, 16 October
Amid Minnesota Orchestra’s strife, the show still goes on, Pioneer Press, 19 October
Minnesota Orchestra musicians hold their own sold-out opening night, MinnPost, 19 October
Music in midst of contract dispute, Star Tribune, 19 October
Musicians, at least, have got it together, Star Tribune, 22 October
Orchestral musicians fight to maintain ‘artistic excellence’, CNN, 22 October
SPCO Is 2nd Locked-Out Twin Cities Orchestra, Twin Cities Business, 22 October
Why not spend Minnesota Orchestra’s $140M endowment?, MPR, 23 October
Orchestras Face a Season of Lockouts, by Bruce Ridge, Labor Notes, 24 October
Orchestra salary cuts continue unfortunate trend, Manitou Messenger, 25 October
Employers get control by turning to lockouts, Star Tribune, 28 October
Matt Peiken at MNuet is now aggregating links to news stories, so for links to stories published after November 1, click here.
Song of the Lark 