DSO Update

On April 4th, an announcement was made that the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and its musicians reached a tentative agreement, likely ending a six-month strike.

The agreement did not happen soon enough to save the ailing orchestra, however. After the previous breakdown of talks in January, the entire percussion section quit - some left for other orchestras, some just left. The DSO also lost principal flutist and Ann Arbor native Philip Dikeman who became a professor at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

It takes great musicians to make great orchestras, and the loss of these valuable musicians is critical to its quality. Orchestras take great care and many years to choose its musicians. And then it takes even more years for the established ensemble to wrap itself around the new player.

Mark Stryker, from the Detroit Free Press, wrote, "The strike has taken an enormous tool. The DSO has lost millions in ticket income. Subscriptions have fallen to their lowest level in decades and it could take years to woo back audiences - and donors. The strike has also cost each musician at least $55,000."

What is the future of the Detroit Symphony? There are too many factors in play to give a good answer. We only have further questions:

In the current economic climate, can suffering Detroit support an orchestra of this reputation?

With less music taught in schools, is there still an audience for great acoustic symphonic music?

Should orchestras look at themselves more objectively - the style of the concerts, the music that is programmed, and the pay of the administrators and musicians - to make their survival more assured?

Are there more creative ways to finance orchestras?

One thing is clear: The once-proud Detroit Symphony Orchestra has been dealt a severe blow. Their future is still uncertain.