unisono Deutsche Musik- und Orchestervereinigung

unisono Deutsche Musik- und Orchestervereinigung e. V. is a German registered association that functions as both a professional body and a trade union for musicians. It represents musicians in municipal, state, and regional orchestras, radio orchestras and big bands, radio choir singers, freelance musicians, and lecturers and students at music academies. Founded in 1952 as the Deutsche Orchestervereinigung (DOV), it renamed itself unisono Deutsche Musik- und Orchestervereinigung in October 2022. The organization is headquartered in Berlin and operates primarily in Germany. As a union, unisono negotiates collective agreements with the Deutscher Bühnenverein (German Stage Association) and broadcasting corporations. Its core collective agreement is the TVK (Tarifvertrag für die Musiker in Konzert- und Theaterorchestern), which covers musicians in concert and theater orchestras. The union also advocates for fair pay and working conditions for freelance musicians, and it engages in cultural policy to preserve and develop Germany's orchestra landscape and public broadcasting. Nearly all members of German professional orchestras and radio choirs belong to unisono, totaling approximately 12,800 individuals. unisono is a co-shareholder in the Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten (GVL), representing the copyright and financial interests of over 160,000 performing artists. It is a member of the Deutscher Kulturrat (German Cultural Council), the Deutscher Musikrat (German Music Council), and the Junge Ohren network for music education. The organization also awards the Unisono-Kulturpreis der deutschen Orchester every three years since 1979, endows the German Choral Conducting Prize (Deutscher Chordirigentenpreis) since 2014, and supports the German Youth Orchestra Prize (Deutscher Jugendorchesterpreis) since 1996. unisono's activities span collective bargaining, legal advocacy, cultural policy, and member services. It has been involved in campaigns such as #MusikerNothilfe during the COVID-19 pandemic, which raised €5.5 million for freelance musicians, and initiatives for minimum fees for freelancers. The union continues to address contemporary issues including fair working conditions, health prevention for musicians, and the economic value of culture.

unisono Deutsche Musik- und Orchestervereinigung was founded in the early 1950s as the Deutsche Orchestervereinigung (DOV). The organization emerged from the efforts of committed orchestral musicians who sought to represent their professional interests. In 1952, the DOV was officially established, and it quickly became the primary trade union and professional association for musicians in Germany. In 1990, following German reunification, the orchestra association of the former German Democratic Republic (DDR) merged with the DOV. This merger was celebrated in October 2015 with the 25th anniversary of the union of the East German orchestra association with the DOV. The DOV continued to grow and adapt to the changing cultural landscape. In 2015, the Deutsche Orchester-Stiftung (German Orchestra Foundation) became legally independent on January 1. That same year, the DOV initiated a nationwide artistic performance on May 4 in Mainz under the slogan "Wir sind keine Ware!" (We are not goods!) to draw attention to the dangers of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) for the cultural sector. 130 professional orchestral musicians from all over Germany participated. In 2017, the DOV launched a campaign for minimum fees for freelance musicians and vocal soloists, aiming to sustainably improve their pay. In 2019, the DOV succeeded in bringing many orchestras back to full area compensation and achieved the introduction of additional old-age provision for freelance musicians. During the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, the DOV secured jobs through collective agreements on short-time work in orchestras. The German Orchestra Foundation collected €5.5 million in the #MusikerNothilfe donation campaign for freelance musicians. In spring 2022, the association increased the participation rights of freelancers through a change in its statutes, allowing them to be represented on the Executive Board and the General Board. In October 2022, the DOV renamed itself unisono Deutsche Musik- und Orchestervereinigung, reflecting a new focus in its association policy. Today, unisono represents nearly all members of German professional orchestras and radio choirs, totaling approximately 12,800 individuals. It negotiates collective agreements with the Deutscher Bühnenverein and broadcasting corporations, and advocates for the preservation and development of Germany's unique orchestra and music landscape. The organization also engages in cultural policy, copyright representation through GVL, and awards cultural prizes such as the Unisono-Kulturpreis der deutschen Orchester, the Deutscher Chordirigentenpreis, and the Deutscher Jugendorchesterpreis.

• 2022

  In spring, statutes amended to increase participation of freelancers. In October, DOV renamed to unisono Deutsche Musik- und Orchestervereinigung.

• 2020

  During COVID-19 crisis, DOV secures jobs through short-time work collective agreements. #MusikerNothilfe raises €5.5 million for freelancers.

• 2019

  DOV brings many orchestras back to full area compensation and achieves additional old-age provision for freelance musicians.

• 2017

  DOV launches campaign for minimum fees for freelance musicians and vocal soloists.

• 2015

  Deutsche Orchester-Stiftung becomes legally independent on January 1. DOV initiates TTIP protest performance 'Wir sind keine Ware!' on May 4 in Mainz.

• 2014

  unisono endows the Deutscher Chordirigentenpreis (German Choral Conducting Prize), awarded every two years.

• 1996

  unisono becomes a supporter of the Deutscher Jugendorchesterpreis (German Youth Orchestra Prize).

• 1990

  Merger of the orchestra association of the former GDR with the DOV.

• 1979

  First award of the Unisono-Kulturpreis der deutschen Orchester (every three years).

• 1952

  Founding of the Deutsche Orchestervereinigung (DOV) in the early 1950s.

The trade union and professional association for musicians in Germany, advocating for fair working conditions, fair pay, and the preservation of Germany's orchestra landscape.

• TVK collective agreement

  Collective agreement for musicians in concert and theater orchestras, negotiated with the Deutscher Bühnenverein.

• Unisono-Kulturpreis der deutschen Orchester

  Cultural prize awarded every three years since 1979.

• Deutscher Chordirigentenpreis

  German Choral Conducting Prize, endowed by unisono since 2014, awarded every two years.

• Deutscher Jugendorchesterpreis

  German Youth Orchestra Prize, supported by unisono since 1996.

1. 1unisono Deutsche Musik- und Orchestervereinigunguni-sono.org
2. 2Geschichte | UNISONOuni-sono.org
3. 3Unisono Deutsche Musik- und Orchestervereinigungde.wikipedia.org
4. 4Wikidata entrywikidata.org