NYC musicians’ union Local 802 welcomes new incoming president Robert Suttmann
Musicians in NYC are welcoming new incoming AFM Local 802 union president Robert Suttmann, who ran unopposed and took office on Jan. 1, 2025.
Mr. Suttmann, a professional trombonist, succeeds harpist Sara Cutler who has led the union since August 2023 and who will continue to serve on the union’s Executive Board. During her term, Cutler negotiated landmark agreements with the New York Philharmonic, Broadway and the New York City Ballet, among many others.
Robert Suttmann has played over 95 Broadway musicals and worked for many headliners in Atlantic City casinos. Suttmann is also the longstanding trombonist at the Big Apple Circus and recently played a union tour of “Beetlejuice” (click here to download photo). His previous union experience includes many years serving on Local 802’s Executive Board, Trial Board and numerous committees as well as on the board of the Philadelphia musicians’ union.
INCOMING LOCAL 802 PRESIDENT ROBERT SUTTMANN (click here for official head shot) said: “I am honored to lead this powerful union of the world’s finest musicians, and I have great faith in the power of solidarity. Together, we and our allies will push for more arts investment in NYC so that audiences will continue to see our great city as the cultural capital of the world. Musicians provide the soundtrack to New York City and we will always fight to ensure that they’re paid the wages and benefits they deserve.”
OUTGOING LOCAL 802 PRESIDENT SARA CUTLER (click here for official head shot) said: “I welcome incoming president Robert Suttmann and will assist him in any way possible in his transition to leadership. Our musicians are the best in the world and they are the power that makes this union great. During my term, it’s become clear that musicians win big victories when we come together as a team. Bob knows this and he will continue amplifying the voices of our members to achieve excellent contracts and make sure that live music continues to ring out in NYC.”
In addition to welcoming a new president, Local 802 members voted in new faces on the union’s Executive Board and Trial Board. The union’s other two full-time officers ran unopposed and will remain in their posts for another term. A partial list is below (click here for full election results):
PRESIDENT: Robert Suttmann
FINANCIAL VICE PRESIDENT: Karen Fisher
RECORDING VICE PRESIDENT: Harvey Mars
EXECUTIVE BOARD: Deborah Assael Andrew Bove Bud Burridge Sara Cutler Julia DeRosa Diva Goodfriend-Koven Sarah Haines Martha Hyde Morris Kainuma
AFM Local 802 represents thousands of highly skilled musicians who drive New York City’s thriving cultural and tourism economy. Its members — who perform on Broadway, at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and Radio City, in recording studios, as teaching artists, on late-night TV shows and in other televised bands, in hotels, clubs, festivals and venues across NYC — are protected by collective bargaining agreements ensuring proper classification, fair treatment and a living wage. For more background on Local 802, click here.
