Cleveland Orchestra Cancels Concerts as Musicians Go on Strike

Published: Sep 25, 2026 - 10:32 p.m.

By Peter Lewis

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CLEVELAND, OH — The Cleveland Orchestra canceled its scheduled performance for Thursday evening at Severance Music Center after musicians and their union officially walked off the job. This labor action marks a significant disruption for one of the nation's premier musical institutions, widely considered among the elite "Big Five" orchestras in the United States. André Gremillet, president and CEO of the Cleveland Orchestra, called the strike premature. He said the organization had communicated that it had more to offer and intended to continue negotiations before the union decided to halt work. According to Gremillet, the parties have held only 11 negotiating sessions so far, a lower number than the average of 15 sessions during the last two contract cycles. Management contends the union made this choice without seeing what the orchestra considers its best possible offer. Bargaining began in July to replace the previous collective bargaining agreement, which expired Aug. 30. While both sides initially agreed to an extension through Sept. 23, that window closed without a new deal in place. Management said progress had occurred regarding parental leave, workload, touring and hiring practices, but salary remains the primary sticking point. The union is reportedly seeking a 25% salary increase over the next three years. Gremillet said such a demand is not sustainable for the institution's financial future, though he maintained that the orchestra wants to keep compensation competitive with peer ensembles worldwide. The labor dispute has already impacted audiences outside Northeast Ohio. A planned performance at the University of Michigan on Sept. 25 was also scrapped due to the strike. At this time, no further orchestra concerts have been removed from the calendar, and more negotiation sessions are scheduled for later this week. Other events at Severance Music Center that do not feature the full Cleveland Orchestra are still moving forward as planned. These include Zade Dirani on Oct. 1, the Hispanic Heritage Month Community Celebration on Oct. 3, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis on Oct. 16. The venue's annual Halloween Spooktacular on Oct. 25 also remains on the schedule for now. People who bought tickets for the Sept. 26 concert at Mandel Concert Hall have the option to receive a full refund or exchange their tickets for any future Cleveland Orchestra performance during the 2026-27 season. The Severance Music Center Ticket Office is handling these requests by phone at 216-231-1111 during its standard weekday hours. -------------------- At Cleveland 13 News, we strive to provide accurate, up-to-date, and reliable reporting. If you spot an error, omission, or have information that may need updating, please email us at tips@cleveland13news.com. As a community-driven news network, we appreciate the help of our readers in ensuring the integrity of our reporting.