February 26, 2026

Statement From Local 101-473 of the American Federation of Musicians On Dayton Performing Arts Alliance

Dayton, OH - Local 101-473 of the American Federation of Musicians, the union representing the musicians at the Dayton Philharmonic, released the following statement and launched a petition in reaction to the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance cutting programming for the 2026-27 season:

“We are extremely disappointed by the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance’s decision to scale back programming for the 2026-27 season. These cuts harm the Philharmonic’s artistic mission, reduce community access to live orchestral music, and devalue the years of training and dedication of our musicians. Framing these reductions as “structural adjustments” without meaningful collaboration with the workers who make up the philharmonic is unacceptable. Short-term cost-cutting should not come at the expense of artistic excellence or musicians' livelihoods.

We demand DPAA halt program eliminations, engage in mutually beneficial financial and artistic planning, and negotiate in good faith to preserve employment and programming. We call on patrons, civic leaders, and donors to oppose decisions that weaken Dayton’s cultural life. Sustainable financial planning must be aligned with artistic vitality and the stability of the professional musicians who make the Philharmonic possible.

We are prepared to use whatever tools are available to us to achieve these goals.