Summermusik and musicians of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra have announced the enactment of a new four-year collective bargaining agreement.
This agreement, which went into effect at the beginning of 2026, marks a recommitment to artistic excellence and financial stability, according to a news release.
“We appreciated the open and positive dialogue with staff and board members throughout the negotiation process, ” said Sujean Kim, member of the Musicians Committee and assistant concertmaster of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. “With the agreement’s ratification, we believe we have made meaningful improvements not just to wages, but to working conditions and to the audition and tenure processes as well.”
The new agreement increases the per-service compensation rate by 15% over the course of the agreement and, for the first time, the orchestra will incorporate additional compensation paid to principal orchestra musicians above the minimum base salary payment structure, according to the release. This is known as principal overscale.
New language regarding audition practices and the tenure process are also included with the aim of ensuring all candidates are assessed equally and objectively and set up for success once they join the orchestra, the release said.
“From the start, it was evident everyone involved shared the common goal of providing fair compensation while ensuring the future of the orchestra. We are a very unique organization — we don’t operate like a large symphony orchestra nor a small non-profit,” said Daniel Pfahl, who held the position of board president during negotiations. “We are in the wake of things like the pandemic, changes in arts funding and new technology. It was important to come to an agreement that would keep us stable as the world around us continues to change.”
The musical ensemble is the only professional chamber orchestra in the Greater Cincinnati area.
The release also stated that music director Eckart Preu agreed to extend his contract with the ensemble through the 2030 Summermusik Festival season. Preu has served as music director and the primary artistic director of the orchestra and the Summermusik Festival since October 1, 2016.
“I am thrilled to continue my journey with the Summermusik family, and to continue working with the fantastic musicians of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra,” Preu said. “This organization embodies both extraordinary quality and an exemplary adventurous spirit. I am looking forward to a continuous exploration of ideas and repertoire and to creating musical experiences that inspire our audience and us.”
Summermusik with the resident ensemble, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, was founded in 1974. The orchestra comprises more than 30 professional musicians. Summermusik’s signature program, the Summermusik Festival, presents 11 orchestra and chamber music concerts each August.