Michael Henson, the Minnesota Orchestra president has announced he will resign. Come August, Henson, will officially end his time with the orchestra making way for a new music director.
With Henson leaving the orchestra this could result in the return of the orchestra’s former music director, Osmo Vanska, who left throughout the long extended lockout reported The New York Times.
As previously reported the Minnesota Orchestra experienced a 16- month lockout that only ended last month.
With the ending of the lockout, Vanska said that Henson would have to leave in order for the orchestra to heal appropriately. No word yet on whether Vanska will return now that Henson is resigning.
Experiencing labor battles in Minnesota, the orchestra experienced high annual deficits that caused it to begin using its endowment. Although the company originally stated that the musicians would be receiving a third pay cut after the lockout to $78,000 a year, this was changed to only 15%. Previously the musicians have been paid $113,000 a year however will now be paid $96, 824.