National Symphony Orchestra in Washington Announces Deal with Musicians

The Kennedy Center and the union representing musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra have reached an agreement on a short-term, 18-month labor contract following a brief strike that threatened today's season-opening gala.

The Kennedy Center stated that this short-term contract “will provide all parties with time to come together and negotiate a longer-term agreement that acknowledges our respect for their artistic contributions while maintaining the orchestra’s competitiveness in the field.”

Under the new deal, wages will increase by 4% in the first year and another 4% in the second year, with negotiations for a longer-term agreement set to begin in early 2026. The contract will raise the base salary for musicians to $165,268 in the first year and $171,879 in the second year.