Power of Inclusion – Detroit Symphony Orchestra: Inclusion Drives a Turnaround

In 2010, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) went out on strike over pay cuts proposed by management. The strike lasted six months, leaving many musicians bitter over concessions. Tensions were understandably high between staff and musicians. Then-CEO Anne Parsons and Board Chair Philip Fisher focused on rebuilding relationships, and staff turnover resulted in key positions being held by new hires.

General Manager Kathryn Ginsburg was among those hires. “There was a lot of hurt,” she recalls. “But it was an opportunity to build the culture we wanted.” After years of intentional work on inclusion and belonging, the DSO can now boast a notably healthy workplace. They have coined the term “one DSO.” “Our last four negotiations have finished early,” Ginsburg says. “We do it with mutual respect.”

“Building individual relationships with every musician onstage—that’s something I’ve prioritized,” continues Ginsburg. Conversations, both casual and work-related, foster a welcome atmosphere of psychological safety. “You have to be intentional about building relationships when times are good; then you’ll have that to fall back on for tough times.”

When the DSO tours, there’s ample time for casual interaction, for instance at hotel bars and restaurants, and that is a necessity for getting through tough patches together. “Things go wrong sometimes,” Ginsburg admits, “but we come back together, recognize that it was hard, and try to fix it.”

For a large organization like DSO, staffing is also part of the equation. Hannah Lozon, Senior Director of Talent and Culture, notes that the HR staff has increased from 1.25 full-time-equivalent positions (whose entire work was occupied with benefits administration and new employee paperwork processing) to four full-time employees. Lozon and her team now have time to listen and to support. All staff meet eight times per year, with Lozon leading de-siloing ice-breaker activities. Prompts might be to tell each other about a concert you’re looking forward to and why, or to find ten things that four of you have in common. Via Microsoft Teams, staff also share a “good word” every Friday—one thing that went well in one’s week. It’s a fun, easy way to share about each other’s work and personal lives in a hybrid environment.

The DSO will host its 3rd annual staff anniversary event this June, a 90-minute celebration with years-of-service pins, gifts for those celebrating milestone years of service, and a feature on employees celebrating 10+ years at the DSO. This event has become a celebrated staple in the annual calendar and an easy way to express appreciation for the staff behind the scenes. “I was at a webinar recently where the research mentioned the fact that ‘the happiest places on earth celebrate often.’ The more we can build that into our culture, the more dividends it has for our workplace,” Lozon says.

DSO involves musicians in as many committees and task forces as possible, alongside board and staff. Among the DSO’s cross-sector working groups are the Equity Champions, advancing the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion—a group, notably, with no senior management, so that hard issues can be voiced freely. DEI learning sessions continue for musicians and staff. President and CEO Erik Rönmark has told the team that the DSO’s commitment to inclusion will continue despite changes in the national climate. That ongoing internal work, together with the scale and success of the outward-facing Detroit Strategy (an ambitious set of tailor-made partnerships across the city), keeps musicians and staff invested in the distinctive vision of the DSO to be “an inclusive and culturally relevant community where all people can experience their world through music.”

Lozon stresses the importance of leadership modeling the behaviors desired among staff and musicians. “If we’re good at providing safety, communication, recognition—that rolls downhill. If we don’t, that’s a liability.”

Photo: Detroit Symphony Orchestra staff are intentional about building relationships with each individual musician. Here, its musicians and board members work together at the orchestra’s annual Day of Service, held at Keep Growing Detroit. Photo by Natalie Berger.