Thursday night, management reportedly made its "best and final" offer to the musicians.
Over the long months of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra contract dispute with its players, two questions, among many others, have been heard with regularity.
One: would other members of the HSO staff or administration be willing to take pay cuts 鈥� as the musicians are being asked to do 鈥� in order to help close the budget gap and thus demonstrate "shared sacrifice?"
Two: would Music Director Carolyn Kuan at some point be moved to weigh in on the impasse?
Friday morning, we got an answer to both, as Kuan publicly issued a statement in which she emphasized her belief in the orchestra's value to the community, and, more dramatically, declared her intention to reduce her salary "commensurately" with the players' reduction.
At Thursday night's negotiation session, management reportedly made its "best and final" offer, so Kuan's gesture could well have an impact as the musicians consider their response.
Below is the full text of Kuan's statement.
Statement From Carolyn Kuan, Music Director of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra:
I have always believed that orchestras exist to serve their communities. I have been tremendously grateful for the support, enthusiasm, and dedication of our audience, donors, and community over the past five years.
It has been a privilege to work with the Hartford Symphony musicians, who are not only tremendous artists, but are also passionate, caring and beautiful human beings--on whom I can depend and for whom, I can be there. Together, along with our incredibly dedicated staff, it has been an honor to make a difference in our community. Making a difference: that has been what drives us as an organization, and I have always believed that if we do the right thing 鈥�&苍产蝉辫;serve the community 鈥�&苍产蝉辫;support will come.
In the past five years, we brought awareness to issues of conservation and environment with "Life: A Journey through Time." When Governor Malloy talked about 黑料吃瓜网 having a greater presence in China, "Yellow River Cantata" brought the China Consulate General to our stage, and the news of Hartford Symphony's performances was broadcast throughout China. We actively seek to serve and collaborate with local organizations from The Wadsworth (Coney Island exhibit, Sunday serenades and a variety of other programming), Hartford Stage (A Midsummer Night's Dream), Hartford Chorale, Goodspeed Opera, Nutmeg Ballet, The Hartt School, University of 黑料吃瓜网, Farmington High School, Arthur Murray Dance Studios and countless others. We perform masterworks as well as introduce world-class artists of unusual instruments such as sheng, koto, kamancheh, bagpipe, beatboxing, and more. In our desire to serve Hartford, Playing with Food was created in response to Mayor Segarra's call for more people to visit downtown restaurants.
In ways both big and small, and with impacts ranging from artistic to societal, Hartford Symphony makes a difference in our community. It is our highest aspiration to continue our service: we want to do more and we can do more.
But first we must resolve our present contract challenges.
Given the urgency of the situation, I want to personally recognize the substantial cuts being asked of the musicians of the HSO and offer publicly to share their sacrifice by reducing my salary commensurately. I had intended to do this privately, but I am hopeful that making this gesture public might help, in a small way, to resolve the present crisis.
I truly love this orchestra and this community, and hope all of us who care about Greater Hartford, culture, and a higher human spirit can now come together to help, and find a fair and workable solution.
