The state's largest arts organization, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, and the 85 musicians of the Utah Symphony have ratified a new three-year contract.
The deal includes an average 3.5 percent increase in base salary in each of the next three seasons for the musicians, who endured $3.8 million in salary cuts over the past seven years as the orchestra weathered a nationwide economic downturn and its aftermath.
"Those were painful periods for everyone involved," said violinist David Porter, who headed the five-member musician negotiating committee. More than the salary increase, Porter said the negotiations yielded an innovative contract that will allow the Utah Symphony to attract and retain top players.