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Utah Symphony and Utah Opera sign 4-year contract with their musicians

Chris Lee | Utah Symphony The Utah Symphony performs at Carnegie Hall in New York City on Friday, April 29, 2016.

Utah Symphony | Utah Opera has signed a four-year agreement with the organization’s musicians, giving them pay raises through Aug. 31, 2022.

The agreement comes three months before the expiration of the current one-year contract and takes effect on Sept. 1. It will increase the musicians’ current base salary of $72,968 by 1.75 percent in the first year; 2.84 percent in the second year; and 3 percent in both the third and fourth years — resulting in a base salary of $81,496 in the 2021-22 season.

The contract covers the orchestra’s 85 musicians, plus two music librarians, a USUO spokeswoman said.

Utah Symphony music director Thierry Fischer is also under contract though the 2021-22 season.

According to the organization, the new contract also includes “scheduling flexibility for films and education programming, opportunities for additional audience development, community outreach or special revenue-generating events through the donation of rehearsal and performance time at no extra cost; and increases to insurance coverage for string instruments.”

Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Symphony | Utah Opera CEO Paul Meecham in Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016.

In a prepared statement, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera president and CEO Paul Meecham said the agreement “will further the exhilarating artistic momentum of the last seven years, maintain USUO’s vital commitment to the community, and sustain fiscal stability.” He also thanked the federal mediators who helped hammer out the deal.

Principal percussionist Keith Carrick, a member of the negotiations committee, said in a statement, “We believe the future of the Utah Symphony is bright, and we look forward to continuing to bring the very best classical music to the people of Utah.”