The music of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra plays on, but the contract negotiations between the musicians and administration are at rest.

For now.

Peter Wright, President of the American Federation of Musicians Local 444, says the administration has only made one offer in seven months of negotiations.

“Why are they not willing to come back to the table and negotiate?” he said.  “They have imposed their last, best, and final offer on us, which is their only offer.”

Wright says the musicians don’t agree that it’s the administrations’ best offer.

Since no agreement was reached before the start of this year’s season two weeks ago, by the law the musicians have to accept the last offer of the symphony administration.

Right now they’re working on a ten percent salary cut. This year’s season has also been shortened from the regular 37 weeks to 33 weeks.  When factored into the musicians’ salaries, it amounts to about a 20 percent pay cut for this season.

“We would like to get back together [with the administration] because we’ve come up with some ways for them to save even more money, and we would like to discuss that with them,” Wright said.

Martin Connor, Chair-elect of the symphony association, says they sent the musicians a letter on Monday saying they’re ready to go back to the table “anytime they’re ready to negotiate.”

He says that going into this season, the JSO has a $3 million debt. He says they’ve made cuts “across the board.”

“The musicians complain that we’re asking them for a pay cut,” Connor said.

“What we’re trying to do is save their jobs.  It’s that serious.”

Connor says they’re waiting for the musicians to come in with a contract proposal which acknowledges that they have a problem.

“We have given them boxes and boxes, literally, of financial data.  And yet they come back and say, ‘You don’t have a problem.’  It’s bizarre, Gene. I don’t really understand it.”

Two weeks into the season, and the Symphony is reporting a successful start.

They told WOKV that concertgoers in the first two weeks have helped to surpass their single ticket sales goal.

Their subscription revenue is at $1.232 million as of October 8.  They’re looking to meet or surpass last year’s total revenue of $1.331 million.

“Patrons are steadily buying season tickets, and we’re closing in on last year’s total,” said Paul Witkowski, Director of Communications for the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra.

“Our goal is to convert concertgoers into season ticket holders and surpass last year’s total during the next few months,” Witkowski said.

Connor says surpassing their ticket sales goal for this year wouldn’t make much of a dent in their $3 million dollar debt but would instead alleviate the forecasted debt of this year.

“We’re gonna be in debt this year no matter what happens,” Connor said.

“Even with all of the cuts that we’ve put in place – reducing staff salaries, cutting production costs, cutting marketing expense, cutting everything we can right down to the bone….and then with the musicians’ reduced compensation….we would still be forecasting a loss this year of three or four hundred thousand dollars.”

“Even with all that we’re doing right now we will still be operating in the red this year,” Connor said.

This Thursday and Friday the Symphony has a scheduled performance with a pipe organist.  On Saturday they’ll be playing the music of the rock band Queen.