Sent on Behalf of the Dancers of Dallas Black Dance Theatre Dear friends and supporters in Dallas and beyond, We, the dedicated dancers of Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT), voted unanimously on May 29 to form a union with the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA). Since that day, DBDT’s leadership has made several unusual and aggressive decisions. Why? It would seem for no other purpose than to punish us for our decision to have a real voice in our working lives. We’ve attempted to communicate with leadership and have been met with silence. We now exercise our collective right to talk about our situation publicly, with the hope that DBDT leadership will hear us and work with us on a path forward. So, let’s get in... Read More -->

AGMA urges its members to help protect vital funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). These funds support millions of union jobs for creative professionals in every state and provide all Americans with access to enriching programs that lift up local economies. We have been informed by the Department of Professional Employees (DPE) that there are proposed amendments to cut NEA and NEH funding by over 23%, which amounts to $48 million for each agency. These cuts would be devastating to the performing arts industry. Now is the time to invest in the NEA and NEH, not cut funding. We hear that the vote on this could happen as early as 9:00 p.m. ET TONIGHT! AGMA members ar... Read More -->

The San Francisco Symphony management has once again shown their disregard for the hardworking members of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. Management has informed us that they won’t be available to meet again until August 23—well after our contract expires.  This ongoing situation is unacceptable. Fortunately, both national and local San Francisco press, along with our supportive community, are highlighting these issues and standing in solidarity with us. (Check out some headlines below!) It's time for management to acknowledge and address these concerns as well. AGMA will continue to advocate for the ENTIRE chorus and we do not plan on slowing down. We are in this together and will continue to keep everyone updated.  Recent... Read More -->

Published on Behalf of the Members of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus Dear Friends and Supporters, We, the members of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, write to you with a deep sense of pride in our collective accomplishments and a sincere concern for the future of our cherished institution. The 32 paid singers of the Chorus are members of the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), whose collective bargaining agreement expires at the end of July. The rest of our ensemble is composed of well over 120 unpaid singers who give their time and significant talents to the Symphony Chorus. Given the recent public discussions about the financial challenges faced by the Symphony, we feel compelled to share information, offer our perspe... Read More -->

The Opera & Concert Choristers Caucus (OCCC) hosted a seminar on body equity on Tuesday, July 2. Guest speaker Patrick Hansen led a discussion on the various challenges—both real and perceived—that singers face during auditions and the casting process. The seminar was recorded and is now available to view on the members-only section of the AGMA website. AGMA members can access the webinar by logging in to MyAGMA, selecting "AGMA Webinars" from the MyAGMA dropdown menu, and then "AGMA Caucus Webinars."... Read More -->

The new collective bargaining agreement between AGMA and Florentine Opera was approved by AGMA leadership on June 17, 2024, after being ratified by the shop. Thank you to the negotiating committee and congratulations on this 4-year agreement! CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS: COMPENSATION AND OTHER BENEFITS: Increase in payments for all Artists: 2% (2023-24) 2% (2024-25) 3% (2025-26) 3% (2026-27) Chorister payments: Chorus Bit: 3 hours rehearsal at 3 production rate for each performance​ Non-Spoken Role: 2 hours rehearsal at 3 production rate for each performance​ Spoken Role: Schedule C Role rate OR 3 hours rehearsal at 3 production rate for each performance​ Choristers will receive overtime after 6 hours in a day Per Performance P... Read More -->

On Tuesday, July 2, at 7:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. PT), the Opera & Concert Choristers Caucus (OCCC) will host a seminar featuring guest speaker Patrick Hansen. Hansen will lead a discussion on body equity and the challenges—both real and perceived—that singers encounter during auditions and the casting process. Patrick Hansen is a distinguished operatic conductor, vocal coach, and stage director with an extensive career across North America. Acclaimed for his interpretation of Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle, his work has been praised by leading critics for its nuanced pacing and vivid orchestral color. His stage direction, noted for its vitality and strong character depiction, has garnered positive reviews in Canada and the U.... Read More -->

In today’s AGMAzine Spotlight, AGMA Soloist Allegra De Vita explores the parallels between singing and martial arts. Recalling her early training where balance and tranquility were emphasized, she describes how these ideals often clashed with the high-stakes, adrenaline-fueled nature of performing. Despite initially embracing practices like yoga, she later discovered that her true strength lay in embracing the chaos and intensity of performing. Through her experiences with martial arts, specifically Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai, Allegra learned to channel her adrenaline and anxiety into a driving force for her singing, akin to the focus required in combat sports. This allowed her to see singing as an athletic endeavor where harnessing,... Read More -->

As we commemorate Juneteenth, we honor a watershed moment in American history—the final liberation of enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. This day not only signifies freedom but also underscores the enduring resilience and contributions of Black individuals throughout our nation's history. That enduring resilience and those contributions are deeply apparent in the performing arts industry, mirroring our society at large. We are proud to say that, in recent years, AGMA artists have achieved significant gains in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (I.D.E.A.) across many of our contracts, and our artist leaders in the Board of Governors and Caucuses, like the AGMA Black Caucus, have shaped ba... Read More -->

The Spring 2024 AGMAzine theme was “balance.”  Today, AGMA shares this essay from Dancer and AGMA Governor Sarah Cecilia Bukowski as part of the Union’s AGMAzine Spotlight Series. Sarah describes balance as a dynamic and fleeting state she continually seeks as a dancer. She extends this pursuit of balance to her life, managing multiple roles as a freelance dancer, writer, union leader, and student. Despite the challenges, she passionately engages in each role, using intentional time management to maintain her balance. Sarah doesn’t aim for perfection but understands that finding balance and doing her best means adapting to her current situation with patience and self-awareness. Balancing Through LifeBy Sarah Cecilia Bukows... Read More -->