Stuck in a labor dispute, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra has canceled its concerts through the end of the year. The SPCO locked out its musicians on Oct. 21, and the musicians on Wednesday rejected management's latest offer. Musicians have said they are working on a new proposal.

Musicians with the locked out Minnesota Orchestra said Friday they will play concerts in the Twin Cities in December in light of the news that management's announcement Thursday that it was cancelling all concerts at Orchestra Hall through Dec. 23. The orchestra members will play Dec. 15 and Dec. 16 at Ted Mann Concert Hall under the direction of Edo de Waart, who was the orchestra's music director from 1986 to 1995.

The musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra dressed up in their formal concert garb and played to a delighted audience Thursday night, which was to be the opening of their 110th season. But there was a cloud hanging over the gala – the musicians have been locked out by management since Oct. 1 amid a contract dispute, and while they organized this performance themselves through donations, future performances are in question.

Locked out musicians with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra were unanimous in their rejection of a four-year contract offer. Musicians say the pay cuts contained in the offer would reduce salaries by one-third, although management says they amount to only 14 percent. Concerts through this weekend have already been cancelled and more cancellations will follow Wednesday's vote.