Press
From national news to local artists' voices, see what people are saying about our contract negotiations.
SFS and SFCM musicians rehearsing side-by-side for LA wildfire relief, 2025
"San Francisco Symphony reaches new deal with musicians, avoiding strike before gala"
Aidin Vaziri, Tony Bravo | San Francisco Chronicle
September 12, 2025
“The musicians of the San Francisco Symphony have reached a tentative three-year contract agreement with management, averting a strike that threatened to derail the orchestra’s 2025-2026 season-opening gala.”
"Musicians Union Notifies SF Symphony of Strike Authorization"
Janos Gereben | San Francisco Classical Voice
September 5, 2025
“Musicians of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra gave notice of a strike authorization, enabling union executives to declare a strike… this comes one year after the San Francisco Symphony Chorus boycotted the SFS season opening due to labor disputes."
"San Francisco Symphony musicians authorize strike as new season nears"
Aidin Vaziri | San Francisco Chronicle
September 4, 2025
“Negotiations have dragged on for more than a year, focusing on pay, artistic leadership and the financial health of one of the Bay Area’s premier cultural institutions.”
"Esa-Pekka Salonen’s new roles in L.A. and Paris show S.F. Symphony made a costly mistake"
Joshua Kosman | San Francisco Chronicle
September 3, 2025
“The current board and executive leadership of the San Francisco Symphony were the people who looked at Salonen’s track record with the orchestra and at his plans for the future, and said... 'Nah, we’ll pass.'"
"Vanishing Act"
Joshua Kosman | On A Pacific Aisle
June 18, 2025
“The choice of the next music director will be left to the very people who thought Salonen was dispensable; how much faith do you have in their judgment?”
"Esa-Pekka Salonen leaves the troubled San Francisco Symphony with Mahler’s call for ‘Resurrection’"
Mark Swed | Los Angeles Times
June 17, 2025
“The San Francisco Symphony has not followed the L.A. Phil example. It did not put its faith and budget in Salonen’s vision, despite five years of excitement."
"Esa-Pekka Salonen’s farewell to S.F. Symphony ends in tears, cheers, lingering questions"
Lisa Hirsch | San Francisco Chronicle
June 16, 2025
“'You’ve heard what you have in this city — this amazing orchestra, this amazing chorus,' [Salonen] said. 'So take good care of them.'"
"At the San Francisco Symphony, Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Extraordinary Exit"
David Mermelstein | The Wall Street Journal
June 16, 2025
“The conductor concluded his all-too-brief term as music director with three unforgettable performances of Mahler’s ‘Resurrection’ Symphony."
"An Open Letter to the San Francisco Symphony"
Emily Hogstad | Song of the Lark Blog
May 4, 2025
”If the only thing that knocked you off-course was the pandemic in 2020, why are we going back to 2009 in the Finances tab? Do we trust the you of then, or the you of now?”
"90s boy band pays tribute to San Francisco Symphony: ‘Support these guys’"
Mariecar Mendoza | San Francisco Chronicle
December 18, 2024
“These guys back here, they struggle to fill up these seats. …So when we’re not here, please do everything you can to come and support these guys.”
"Hear that? It’s the sound of the San Francisco Symphony setting itself on fire"
Adam Lashinsky | San Francisco Standard
June 20, 2024
“Now it will be up to San Francisco audiences to decide...if the moves the current symphony leadership makes to replace Salonen are up to snuff–or if they need replacing themselves.”
"San Francisco Symphony In Trouble On A Major Scale"
Alex Mak | Broke-Ass Stuart
May 23, 2024
“If the loss of innovative programming like SoundBox wasn’t enough, the resignation of a world-class music director like Esa-Pekka Salonen is more than a paper cut, it’s tantamount to a decapitation.”
"The San Francisco Symphony is in crisis. It’s time to bust open the books"
Cynthia Hersey | San Francisco Standard
May 11, 2024
“This isn’t just about losing a brilliant music director; it’s a wake-up call highlighting deeper issues within the symphony’s leadership and governance.”
"What’s an Orchestra For? — Mulling Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Resignation from the San Francisco Symphony"
Joe Horowitz | Unanswered Question, An Artsjournal Blog
March 26, 2024
”Beset by conductors, lacking music directors, our major American orchestras today struggle to define what they’re for and how they connect to the changing cities they serve.”
"S.F. Symphony leadership cites financial hardship in the struggle to keep Esa-Pekka Salonen"
Joshua Kosman | San Francisco Chronicle
March 25, 2024
“'While we are glad that the administration is responding to the overwhelming outpouring of concern regarding the departure of Esa-Pekka Salonen…there is still no plan nor timeline for the reinstatement of these supposedly temporary cuts.’"
"San Francisco Symphony Musicians Urge Board to Keep Music Director"
The Violin Channel
March 22, 2024
“‘Their concern is that if these matters aren’t addressed, then the orchestra may be facing a doom spiral that would threaten its standing.’”
"Esa-Pekka Salonen’s departure in San Francisco is a wake-up call for arts groups nationwide"
Mark Swed | Los Angeles Times
March 20, 2024
”Salonen’s calling out the cluelessness of the San Francisco Symphony is a wake-up call to the future of not just orchestras but all American arts institutions, including his old orchestra here in L.A.”
"San Francisco Symphony Musicians Urge Leadership to Keep Esa-Pekka Salonen"
Gabe Melina | KQED
March 20, 2024
“'But what is the endowment for?’ asked Payne. ‘Is it to find the music director’s artistic vision, or is it to just sit there and be added to, and grown and grown?’”
"S.F. Symphony musicians urge board to keep Esa-Pekka Salonen on as music director"
Joshua Kosman | San Francisco Chronicle
March 19, 2024
“‘The decision to cut innovative programming and cancel touring, as well as the failure to competitively invest in the Symphony’s musicians, has led to the departure of a world-class Maestro and raises serious questions about the future of the Symphony.’”
"San Francisco Symphony’s Maestro to Step Down, Citing Split With Board"
Javier C Hernandez | New York Times
March 14, 2024
“Disputes between maestros and management rarely break into public view, and this split is notable because of Salonen’s stature: A revered conductor and composer, he has been a leading force in efforts to redefine the modern symphony orchestra.”