SPCO cancels concerts through March 23

Recent attempts to forge an agreement in private have apparently failed for now and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra is canceling concerts through March 23. A note from Dobson West, board chair and interim president, said that if an agreement is made before March 23, some concerts could be reinstated. The SPCO announced in late December that board and union musicians would hold off-the-record discussions aimed at solving the now longstanding contract dispute. The format was intended to allow both sides to speak freely, away from the glare of publicity. Several sessions later, however, the attempt stalled out. Ticketholders will be notified of their options. The Minnesota Orchestra has canceled concerts through Feb. 24 because of its labor stalemate.