On September 12, 2025, the San Francisco Symphony launched its 2025‑26 season in resplendent fashion with a gala at Davies Symphony Hall that was both a celebration of music and a culmination of months of labor tensions. Led by guest conductor Jaap van Zweden with piano superstar Yuja Wang as soloist, the gala marked the end of a fraught labor dispute between the Symphony’s musicians, represented by American Federation of Musicians Local 6, and Symphony management. Just hours before the concert, the two sides reached agreement on a three‑year contract that covers the period from November 2024 through November 2027.
The contract resolves long‑standing concerns raised by the musicians about compensation, artistic control, working conditions, and financial transparency. Under the new terms, musicians will receive retroactive pay increases, with weekly base pay rising from earlier levels, along with a ratification bonus. The deal also secures enhanced benefits including health care, pension support, and additional paid leave. These terms follow step‑ups in demands earlier in the summer when the musicians narrowly authorized a strike, signaling how serious the threat to performances and season planning had become.
At the gala, the music itself spoke of renewal and ambition. The program included Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1—featuring Wang’s vivid and powerful playing—as well as John Adams’s “Short Ride in a Fast Machine” and Respighi’s “Pines of Rome.” The selections, combining the romantic, the modern American, and the lush orchestral, emphasized both virtuosity and ensemble coherence that reflected what many hoped the new contract would support: bold programming under stable conditions.
For Board Chair Priscilla Geeslin and CEO Matthew Spivey, the contract’s ratification offered not just relief but renewed confidence. In remarks to the audience, they stressed that with the labor issue resolved, attention could now return fully to artistic innovation, outreach, and the Symphony’s broader role in serving the Bay Area, especially amid leadership change and recent departures. Indeed, Esa‑Pekka Salonen, the previous music director, stepped down in March 2024 after disagreements with management over budget and creative direction. The Symphony is still without a music director, and this gala, with its striking performance and restored trust, is seen by many as a turning point.
Financially, the gala was also a success. The evening raised approximately $2.1 million for the Symphony’s programs, including artistic initiatives, education, and community outreach. That sum not only reflects strong support from donors and the patron base, but also provides immediate resources at a moment when many arts institutions are navigating rising costs, inflation, and uncertainties in philanthropic giving.
Musicians in the orchestra expressed relief and optimism, saying the contract allows them to feel heard and valued. Negotiators noted that the agreement ensures regular salary increases and preserves essential benefits. Management, for its part, acknowledged the challenges posed by balancing fiscal sustainability with competitive compensation, but called the pact vital to preserving the Symphony’s reputation and ability to attract and retain top talent.
The resolution of this labor dispute is being watched beyond San Francisco as a potential model for orchestras facing similar pressures. Across the U.S., many ensembles have been grappling with aging infrastructures, pandemic aftershocks, increased cost of living for artists, and public scrutiny about how institutions manage both financial and artistic priorities. The S.F. Symphony’s agreement may offer guidance in how long negotiations, risk of performance suspension, and leadership transitions can be handled while preserving trust and mission.
As performances resume, patrons, musicians, and staff alike seem ready for a fresh start. With the contract in place, the Symphony can now move ahead with its season under more stable terms, ambitious artistic programming, and renewed assurances to its artists.