First Contract Alert! The first-ever collective bargaining agreement between AGMA and Handel + Haydn Society was approved on September 14, 2026. For some background, in September 2024, AGMA announced that H+H choristers had signed cards to form a union. In February of 2025, the Boston-based choristers officially unionized with AGMA after management voluntarily recognized their union. Thank you to the negotiating committee and congratulations!
CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS:
Economics
- Wages:
- Rehearsals (hourly): +17.4% increase over the three-year contract
- Performances (per perf.): +9.3% increase over the three-year contract
- Established Pay-or-Play protection for performance pay, with increased compensation for rehearsal cancellations as it gets closer to the production
- Increased compensation for any rehearsals scheduled during early mornings, Sundays before 2 p.m., overnight breaks, or other restricted time
- Provisions for travel, parking, and per diem
- Provisions for Educational Services, Run-outs, and Tours
- Provisions for Holidays, Free Days, Sick Leave, and Bereavement Leave
Employment & Auditions
- Maintenance of a general Call-List, until separate Core Roster and Sub-List are established through a two-year audition process:
- Core Roster Artists receive contract offers before Sub-List Artists
- Core Roster Artists who do not receive a contract offer in a given season receive a contract guarantee for the following season
- Artists will be notified of their roster status once Core Roster and Sub-List are established
- No new members may be added to the roster without an audition
- Established regular audition and re-audition processes:
- Core Roster Artists must re-audition every 3 years to maintain status
- Core Roster Artists who have had an unsuccessful audition or sudden, severe deterioration in voice or musicianship may be placed on one-year probation and an opportunity to re-audition
- Artists may request AGMA staff or delegate presence during re-auditions
- Artists receive advance audition notice before public notice
- Established a timeline for surveying Artist availability and issuing contract offers:
- Availability survey due by April 1 for the following season
- Initial contract offers due no later than 120 days before the first rehearsal
- Artists must be notified when initial contract offers are made
Scheduling & Working Conditions
- Artists receive a 25-minute rest period during each 3-hour rehearsal
- Extended rest periods for nursing parents
- Established overtime provisions for:
- More than 6 hours of rehearsal or performance in a day
- More than 3.5 hours per rehearsal call
- More than 2.5 hours per performance call
- Established health and safety provisions, including vocal health
- Provides protections intended to support Artists’ well-being throughout rehearsals and performances
Equity & Respect
- Detailed Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment protections
- Artists may choose attire that is accurate to their gender expression
- Provides contractual protections for a respectful and inclusive workplace
Artist Voice & Governance
- Established a Joint Labor-Management Committee
- Four bargaining unit members may attend Management’s Board meetings as observers
- Bargaining unit input required for strategic planning
- Protects bargaining unit work and provides input on community initiatives and collaborations with outside groups
- AGMA introduction and delegate election during Artists’ first day of work
Media, Subscription Series, & Artist Credits
- Side Letter guarantees the use of the H+H Chorus in Management’s subscription series
- Media provisions permit typical promotional, news, and radio uses
- Artists retain the right to bargain over other uses
- Artists and AGMA receive credit in performance programs and on the website