The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) musicians and management have ratified a new four-year contract that carries the ensemble through the two-year Kennedy Center renovation proposed by the Trump administration. Negotiated by the DC Federation of Musicians, AFM Local 161-710, and the NSO Association, the agreement includes a 9% wage increase across its first three years, with the fourth year left open for later bargaining, WCR reports.
Contract details and the coming season
The pact runs through September 2, 2030, following an earlier 18-month labor agreement that came on the heels of a brief strike—the orchestra’s first since 1978. As part of the new terms, musicians will receive compensation for additional local travel, reflecting plans to divide the 2026/27 season among multiple venues during the Kennedy Center’s planned closure. The timing of the deal aligns with Music Director Gianandrea Noseda’s contract, which was recently extended to 2031, the orchestra’s centennial year.
“This four-year agreement provides stability to the NSO musicians in a transitional moment,” said Ed Malaga, president of the DC Federation of Musicians. Longtime NSO violist Jennifer Mondie, chair of the musicians’ bargaining committee, added: “NSO musicians are excited to share our performances not only with our long-time supporters, but with new audiences in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.”
NSO’s upcoming season is slated to open on September 26, 2026, with a program featuring Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake Suite, Carlos Simon’s Monuments — Suite for D.C., and Respighi’s La Boutique fantasque.
Renovation votes, legal checks, and a safety shutdown
The contract arrives amid escalating uncertainty around the venue itself. The Kennedy Center board has voted for a third time to shutter the building for renovations, after earlier votes were blocked in court by Judge Christopher R. Cooper, who described the initial decision as “ill-informed and seemingly preordained.” In a separate development, Trump posted on Truth Social asserting that unless his name is placed on the building, the renovations will not be completed.
One day after the most recent board vote, Kennedy Center leadership notified staff that the building would be closed for seven days, citing safety concerns rather than ongoing litigation. According to WUSA9, an email from Kennedy Center Executive Director and COO Matt Floca referenced “life-safety risks presented by the building’s deteriorating infrastructure,” as well as ceiling damage caused by the September 4 storm. The New York Times reports that an emergency hearing has been requested to assess whether this abrupt closure conflicts with Judge Cooper’s prior orders.
For now, the NSO’s newly ratified agreement offers a measure of continuity as the orchestra prepares to perform across the region while its longtime home faces renovation plans, legal scrutiny, and immediate safety repairs.
