MASTER AGREEMENT BETWEEN MUSICIAN AND THE ACADIANA

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
2017-2018 SEASON

1. All contracted musicians are required to play a minimum of 75% of all services offered in their
contracts in order to be considered for contract renewal the following year. Extra services added
during the season will be offered only to those musicians who honor the minimum requirement.

In case of a medical emergency or a professional conflict, the musician must notify the Personnel
Manager in writing and have the approval of the Music Director 30 days prior to the date of the first
rehearsal of that concert block, or as soon as the conflict is known. Because some concerts use a reduced
orchestra, string players will rotate for these concerts.

2. The instrumentation of each concert will be ready at the beginning of each season. When using a
reduced orchestra, the management is responsible for informing the musicians of all details or changes
60 days in advance of the concert block.

3. The Management has the right to cancel any rehearsal or concert due to extreme inclement weather or
natural disaster.

4. In case of poor road conditions, musicians are expected to attend any service if there are alternative
routes open to travel. The Music Director and Management may be flexible concerning this issue, if the
musicians feel that it is not safe to travel, they have the choice of not attending. The musician will not
receive payment for that service if they choose not to attend.

5. Any musician who misses the dress rehearsal of a concert block will automatically be excused from
the performance unless the absence is due to life threatening emergencies. Two absences will cancel one’s
bonus eligibility.

6. Musicians must be seated on stage 5 minutes prior to the start of rehearsals and 10 minutes prior to
performances. Musicians not on stage 5 minutes prior to rehearsal start time or 10 minutes prior to
performance start time are considered tardy and may have compensation reduced at ¼ service. The
Personnel Manager will give a rehearsal arrival time to those musicians not playing all repertoire. These
musicians must also check in with the PM 10 minutes prior to concert time. Exceptions must be
approved by the Music Director. Announcements and tuning will begin 3 minutes prior to the downbeat.
Two tardies in one concert block, or a total of three tardies for the entire year, will cancel the bonus
eligibility.

7. If the Music Director deems it necessary to keep the orchestra overtime to complete a rehearsal, the
musicians will receive compensation of 1/4 service pay per 30 minutes of overtime, or any fraction
thereof.

8. The pay scale for 2011-2012 Season is as follows:

Classical/Pops Concerts Educational /Runout Concerts
Section player................................$70.............................................$75
Principal player..............................$80.............................................$85

9. SEASON BONUS:
Every player who accepts a contract or letter of agreement with the ASO and makes a commitment to all
services, including last minute additions/changes that were not on the original schedule, is eligible to
receive a special bonus of $5 per service if he/she has not missed more than one service, not had too
many tardies during the year. Two absences will cancel one’s bonus eligibility. Two tardies in one
concert block, or a total of three tardies for the entire year will cancel the bonus eligibility. The bonus is
not part of the salary; it is a reward from management for commitment. Bonuses will be given at the July
4 Pops concert.

10. Additional concerts may be scheduled after the season starts, but no musician is required to commit
to those concerts now. Management has the responsibility to notify the musicians as soon as the concert
has been contracted. However, these concerts ARE counted toward the BONUS eligibility provided that
management has given a 30 day notice.

11. The Music Director and Management have the authority to negotiate fees when hiring extra
musicians, and to handle unique situations.

12. Checks may be available during concert intermission. Otherwise, all checks will be mailed to the
musicians within seven working days after the concert.

13. TRAVEL:
Musicians who live over 50 miles from Lafayette will receive travel pay based on an increment scale as
follows: 100-170 round trip miles = $22; 171-250 RT miles = $27; 251-300 RT miles = $30; over 301
RT miles = $35. Mileage is calculated on Google Maps from city name to city name. On days where two
services are performed, only one travel will be paid.

14. Musicians traveling from over 50 miles may request overnight accommodations on Friday and
Saturday nights. They must notify the Personnel Manager two weeks before the concert so that
accommodations can be arranged. This service depends upon the availability of rooms; there is no
guarantee.

15. If the ASO has a Runout Concert over 30 miles away, the Acadiana Symphony Association will
provide a bus for the musicians. If an overnight stay is necessary, the ASO will provide meals and
accommodations.

16. For the 2012-13 Season, a rehearsal or performance time of 2 hours and 45 minutes inclusive of a
fifteen-minute break is considered a service. Exceptions are the Nutcracker Ballet and Opera blocks,
which constitute of a 3 hour rehearsal or performance time inclusive of one fifteen-minute break. For
Runout concerts requiring a sound check, the total time will not exceed 2 hours and 45 minutes.

17. As part of the ASO community service philosophy, every contracted musician is asked to participate
in one long service per season for a Symphony fund-raising event. Musicians are asked to donate their
services although this donation is not required.

18. MUSIC:
Winds, Brass and Percussion music for the Masterwork Concerts will be ready at least three weeks
before the first rehearsal (except when rental arrangements prevent it). The orchestra librarian will have
the music ready at the ASO office. Practice parts will be e-mailed to all out of town wind and percussion
players. Music for all pops concerts will be available at least one week before the first rehearsal.
Strings music for the Masterwork Concerts will be ready at least two weeks before the first rehearsal
(except when rental arrangements prevent it). Bowings will be in the parts for all Masterwork Concerts.
The practice parts will be available at: http://www.acadianasymphony.org/Musicians-Login.html. Music
for all pops concerts will be ready at least one week before the first rehearsal. If a string player prefers to
pick up a set of practice parts from the ASO office, the request must be made no later than 7 days before
the 1st rehearsal. Principal strings will have a 3-day limit to mark their parts and return to the
librarian.
Whenever possible original parts will be handed out at the previous block to principal strings,
woodwinds and brass players and string practice parts will have final bowings.
All deadlines depend upon the arrival of rental materials and concert programming.

19. AUDITIONS:
All newcomers must pass an audition to become a contracted player with the Symphony, the first year is
a trial period and permanent contracts may be issued after the first year. Every audition shall be held
before an audition committee, but the final decision rests with the Music Director. No one is issued a
permanent position contract unless he/she has passed an audition. The audition committee will be
comprised of the Music Director, Executive Director, Personnel Manager and principal representatives
from the String, Wind, Brass and/or Percussion sections. The principal representatives on the committee
will be paid $20/hour fee with a minimum of two hours, and per diem as applicable. If there is an
opening in the middle of the season, the Music Director has the authority to appoint a temporary, one-
year replacement.

20. All seating will be decided by the Music Director.

Winds: When a section player substitutes for Principal, he/she will receive Principal’s pay, only if
he/she plays the entire concert block. There will be no additional pay for doubling of instruments.
Strings: Seating for section players may change each concert at the discretion of the Music Director with
the concurrence of the section Principal. Title positions will not change. When a section player
substitutes for Principal, he/she will receive Principal’s pay, only if he/she plays the entire concert block.

21. Any musician who has been under contract for more than two years is eligible to take a one-year
leave of absence. This must be requested in writing and be given to management before the last concert
of the current season.

22. DISMISSAL:
It is very important for Acadiana Symphony Orchestra musicians to maintain a professional manner. If
the Music Director and Management believe that a musician has exhibited unprofessional behavior, the
Music Director will call a meeting with the individual and the Personnel Manager. If the problem cannot
be resolved, a second meeting will be called in two weeks, with the Executive Director also in
attendance. IF the problem is still not resolved, the Music Director will notify the musician, in writing,
seven days after the second meeting, that he/she is on probation for one concert. The musician has a right
to invite a member of the Orchestra Committee to attend these meetings.

23. The Orchestra Committee, elected by the orchestra members at the end of the season, will serve as a
liaison between the orchestra, music director and management. Each of the 5 elected members will serve
a two-year term and will meet as needed. A committee representative will attend ASO board meetings
and participate as needed.

24. Any suggestions or complaints should be addressed to the management or the Orchestra Committee
in writing in a professional manner and not during rehearsal time.

25. Musicians will automatically receive two complimentary tickets for each Classical/Pops Concert,
unless the concert is sold out. There are no complimentary tickets available for the Nutcracker Ballet.

26. Dress Code:

Formal Concert Attire
Ladies: Long black dress or skirt - Ankle (no shorter) to floor-length, loose-fitting, opaque - NO PANTS
(exceptions must be approved by Music Director); Tops - black blouses, long-sleeved, opaque, no
décolleté (plunging neckline). Shoes - black, dressy, closed-toe (small peep-toe acceptable) with black
stockings. Jewelry - discreet necklace, discreet earrings. No colognes or perfumes.
Gentlemen: Tux with white shirt, black vest and black bow tie. Shoes - Polished black dress shoes with
black socks. No colognes or perfumes.

Outdoor Concert Attire

Ladies: Tops – white blouses (no spaghetti straps, camisoles or décolleté). Pants – black, dressy (no
jeans or leggings) or skirts (ankle to floor-length, loose-fitting, opaque). Shoes – black, dressy (strappy-
type permitted, if dressy) – stockings not necessary. Jewelry – same as formal concert dress.
Gentlemen: Shirt - white, long or short-sleeved dress shirt. Pants – black, dressy (no jeans) and black
belt. Shoes – polished black dress shoes with black socks.
Infractions of the dress code will result in a 25% deduction of one service pay.