“Bernarda Alba.” A one-year collective bargaining agreement was negotiated with Lincoln Center Theatre for this production at its 299-seat theatre, the Mitzi E. Newhouse. The minimum weekly scale wage per musician is $710.80 plus a guaranteed doubling premium, which brings total wages to $799.65. The premium for music director/conductor is 50 percent; 25 percent for the associate. The weekly rehearsal/audition musicians’ scale for a 42-hour week is $901.25 and $35.02 per hour, with a minimum two-hour call. Orchestra rehearsals are paid at $22.66 per hour, with a minimum two-hour call. First double pays 12.5 percent; each additional pays 6.25 percent. The synthesizer premium is 25 percent. Vacation is 6 percent, pension is 9 percent and health is $24 per call and capped at $58 per week. Transporting cartage instrument pays $16 per round trip. Music preparation services are paid at 100 percent of the general price list. Musicians have full identity with the product. The agreement calls for a ban on virtual orchestra machines.

Gotham Chamber Opera. Gotham musicians unanimously ratified a new contract as they prepared for the 2005-2006 season. The term of the agreement is retroactive from Sept. 12, 2005 through Sept. 11, 2008. The new contract mirrors the Single Engagement Classical Wage scales in all areas besides cartage, allows the company to Web stream under certain conditions and includes a virtual orchestra machine ban.

Guitar Study Center. Last December, Local 802 reached a new agreement with the New School University covering instructors in the Guitar Study Center. The one-year agreement runs until Aug. 31, 2006. The instructors won a 5 percent increase in wages, retroactive to Sept. 1, 2005. Health benefits rise to $800 a year, from $400. Pension goes up to 5 percent, from 4.5 percent.

Highlights in Jazz. Local 802 reached a new agreement with Highlights in Jazz on Feb. 13. The term of the agreement is three years. The minimum wage scale per concert increased to $200 from $150. The minimum wage scale for opening act big band increased to $75 from $60. Pension pays 8 percent.

“Kristina.” The production was negotiated with Nina Lannen Associates as a four-week pre-Broadway workshop. The side musician scale is $1,035 for a 40-hour, six-day week and $40 per hour, minimum three-hour call. The minimum for performances beyond the scheduled 40 hours of rehearsal is $155 for three hours or less. The music director earns a 50 percent premium; the associate conductor earns a premium of 15 percent. The premium for the first double is 12.5 percent and additional doubles pay 6.25 percent. Musicians are reimbursed for transporting cartage instruments. Vacation pays 6 percent, pension is 9 percent, and health pays $7.25 per call, capped at $58 per musician per week. There are two musicians in the production and both have full identity-of-product rights. Music preparation is paid at Broadway scale.

“Legally Blonde.” A four-week pre-Broadway workshop was negotiated with Nina Lannen Associates for this production that covers five musicians. The wages, benefits and working conditions are the same as for the “Kristina” workshop (above), except that there will be two musicians hired for 29 hours of rehearsal at $750.23. If they are engaged for performances they will be paid the full performance rate. Since these musicians were not hired for the run of the production they will not have full identity-of-product rights.

Peniel Concert Choir. This new agreement is retroactive from Sept. 12, 2005 through Sept, 11, 2007. The agreement matches the Single Engagement Classical Wage scales, establishes a primary hiring list and includes a virtual orchestra machine ban.