8/10/2023 – The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) is pleased to announce that the Artists of the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir have voted overwhelmingly in favor of unionizing with AGMA.
Since its formation over six years ago as the resident choral ensemble of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir has rapidly established itself as the premier chorus for symphonic works, drawing some of the best choral singers from the region and the country.
“Many of us join a choir for the sense of community it provides, and it’s inspiring how this community has shown up for each other time and time again through this arduous process," the unionizing artists said in a statement. "It’s been a long road, but we are enjoying this momentous victory, and we look forward to collaborating with the Philadelphia Orchestra Association to reach a collective bargaining agreement."
For 20 months, the musicians of the chorus were committed to winning their union, launching their own social media presence and engaging the public through leafletting and a highly successful letter-writing campaign. Ultimately, the Philadelphia Orchestra Association respected its artists' wishes and voluntarily recognized AGMA as the exclusive bargaining representative of the Artists. Negotiations for a first contract are expected to commence soon.
“Congratulations to the Artists of the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir!” said Sam Wheeler, AGMA’s National Executive Director. “Throughout this nearly two-year period, not only did you succeed in forming a union, but you also demonstrated remarkable solidarity by supporting other unions on their picket lines. Your dedication to the broader labor movement is inspiring. By standing together, you’ve demonstrated the true spirit of the worldwide labor movement. Welcome to AGMA!”
Please join us in welcoming the Artists of the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir into the AGMA community!