The Issues

Concerts cut by over 50%

  • Over the last 10 years, the number of concerts that Southwest Florida Symphony has presented each season has been slashed by over 50%.  SWFSO used to stage 16 concerts a season that utilized the full orchestra. Now it only produces 5-6 concerts that use the full complement of professional musicians.

  • As a result, our current CEO has created an organization that is less visible and relevant to the Ft. Myers community. Yet her salary continues to increase according to the orchestra’s 990’s.

  • The decreasing amount of work being offered to the Musicians of Southwest Florida Symphony has resulted in an alarming diminution of professional Musicians you hear on stage in the orchestra. 18 Musicians have resigned and left the orchestra in just the last few years.

  • The level and quality of the musicians that have recently won positions in SWFSO are among the highest level musicians you can find, but the amount of work being offered here make it impossible for these musicians to live in this community and make a living.

  • Great orchestras are built not only by attracting top musicians, but by keeping top musicians.

    This chart shows the steady decline in work and pay that has been imposed over the years on SWFSO musicians:

Musicians worked almost 4 consecutive seasons without an agreement.

  • In October of 2020, after nearly 14 months of negotiations, Management unilaterally imposed contract terms that included cuts in pay for each rehearsal or concert worked, reduced performance opportunities, and eliminated financial support for travel and lodging for the nearly 75% of our musicians who travel from outside the area to perform with the Southwest Florida Symphony. 

  • The unilaterally imposed terms CUT our job security, CUT wages with current inflation rates, CUT affordable travel and housing compensation, CUT musician representation on the Board, CUT musician and Music Director input in artistic decisions.

  • Management consistently prolonged negotiations and paid their out-of-town lawyer an estimated over $150,000 to shut out musicians instead of using symphony money to present much needed professional classical concerts in the Ft. Myers area.

  • In March 2024, Musicians agreed to a substandard contract with a fair amount of concessions in order to allow the Orchestra time to reorganize and focus on their priorities

Youth Orchestra and Education Programs CUT by 100%

  • Cuts to the Youth Program are probably the most calamitous outcome of SWFSO’s current Management. Over the last 6 years, the program has dwindled to a point the children of Ft. Myers are no longer a priority to the organization.

  • Prior to the current SWFSO Management, the musicians of the Southwest Florida Symphony were involved in coaching the students, leading sectionals, playing with them in side-by-side concerts, and going into the schools in small groups to perform for students of all ages. Their top group performed at the Kennedy Center and also at Carnegie Hall in April of 2014.

  • Today the program no longer exists.

  • The professional musicians of SWFSO, many of whom you’ll read on the Who We Are page, have multiple degrees and are teachers at the college level… yet SWFSO musicians are no longer invited to work with Youth Program students or go into the schools. School outreach is instead done by a staff member with no professional musical training or experience.

Lack of Transparency

  • In 2020 and continuing today, the Board unilaterally cut musician representation on the Board, violating their own Bylaws at the time.

  • Southwest Florida Symphony continues to withhold requested audited financial statements from musicians. What are they trying to hide?

  • Why did they hire a non-local, union-busting lawyer for 3 years of negotiations that is costing an estimated $150,000+ in fees, rather than use the money towards producing more concerts for our audiences?

  • What is the Board leadership succession plan after 8+ years of no change?

Take a stand and support the Musicians of the Southwest Florida Symphony who believe in growth and not cuts and want to leave a thriving organization for professional classical music in the community for future generations of musicians and audience members.