December 11, 2024
The Administration was enabled to meet the latest contract terms thanks to a generous $4 million gift to the San Francisco Symphony, providing both annual operating and endowment support restricted to the Chorus and resulting in the creation of the new San Francisco Symphony Chorus Endowment Fund
Download a PDF of this Press Release San Francisco, CA—The San Francisco Symphony Board of Governors and the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) members of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus have reached a tentative two-year collective bargaining agreement that maintains current compensation rates for the 32 paid AGMA choristers for the 2024–25 and 2025–26 contract years. The new, tentative agreement, which is subject to AGMA ratification, will be applied retroactively from August 1, 2024, and runs through July 31, 2026.
The tentative agreement maintains the total number of professional choristers and guaranteed number of rehearsals and performances for the full complement of AGMA singers in the current and following season, keeping minimum compensation at $22,053 for up to 26 choral performances and 53 rehearsals each season. The contract also provides for additional payments for meals, clothing allowances, parking, and other items above the minimum guarantee.
A generous $4 million gift from a donor wishing to be anonymous enabled the San Francisco Symphony to agree to the negotiated terms. The donor, a devoted Symphony patron, gave this generous support to help facilitate an agreement between the Symphony and AGMA, and to also provide support for the San Francisco Symphony Chorus in perpetuity. The Symphony has been transparent about the significant financial challenges facing the organization, which makes the impact of this gift even greater. The donor requested that the gift be split between funds for annual operations and the Symphony’s endowment. Two million dollars from the gift will be designated for the Symphony’s annual fund, fully funding the cost of the Chorus over the next two seasons.
The additional $2 million from the gift will be used to establish a distinct endowment fund for the SF Symphony Chorus, enabling a draw of approximately $100,000 in annual support each season, ensuring permanent, restricted support for the Symphony’s Chorus. The donor has chosen to designate the $2 million endowment gift as an open fund, which will allow additional supporters to contribute philanthropically and increase the fund’s impact. Patrons interested in donating to the new San Francisco Symphony Chorus Endowment Fund are encouraged to contact the SF Symphony Development team at [email protected].
"All of us at the San Francisco Symphony are deeply grateful to the donor for their remarkable generosity and belief in our mission to bring powerful musical experiences to our community,” said Matthew Spivey, SF Symphony Chief Executive Officer. “Their extraordinary gift enabled the Symphony to meet the terms of this agreement with AGMA, offering vital support for our choral programs over the next two seasons and establishing a dedicated endowment fund to ensure lasting support for the Chorus. Our artists, including the Chorus, are the lifeblood of our work and mission, and we are grateful that this gift allows us to continue delivering high-caliber performances to our audiences. We’re inspired by the donor’s generosity and hope it motivates others to contribute to the fund, helping sustain the Chorus for seasons to come.”
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