Musicians of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra went on strike Wednesday night during a scheduled rehearsal and have cancelled tonight’s concert at the Overture Center.

It is the first time in the orchestra’s history a strike forced the cancellation of a performance.?

Despite months of intense negotiations, the musicians have been unable to reach a deal with the directors’ board of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra.

“It is disheartening in these troubled times to have our musicians be unwilling to perform,” Doug Gerhart, executive director of the orchestra, said in a statement.?

The directors pointed to numerous parts of the proposed contract, like meal allowances, pension plans and wage increases as evidence of fairness of the deal.?

They also pointed to a 244 percent wage increase in the past five years, which made the orchestra “one of the highest compensated part-time orchestras in the United States,” according to a statement issued by the WCO.]

The musicians, however, remain opposed to any plan that does not force the directors to provide “just cause” if they choose to fire a player.

?”We don’t strike lightly,” Todd Jelen, negotiating member of the musicians, said in a statement released Wednesday.

Under the current proposal, the directors are not required to provide a reason for firing a musician.

“If we accept the changes the board proposes, the very integrity of the institution is eroded,” Jelen said.

Even the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra’s Concert on the Square series, which has long been popular with Madison community members and UW students staying in the city for the summer, could be cancelled if the strike goes on long enough.

Members of the Madison arts community have expressed wishes for a speedy resolution to the strike.

“We hope that they can solve this dispute as soon as possible,” said Tom Carto, president and CEO of the Overture Center, adding the orchestra was a “wonderful partner.”?

Because the orchestra simply rents space for performances, the Overture Center is not directly involved in negotiations.?

Norma Sober, member of the Madison Arts Commission, also weighed in on the strike but admitted the committee has little influence on the decision.

“If it’s settled quickly, that’s very good,” Sober said, but she was quick to point out the commission had “no jurisdiction” in the strike.

A long strike would threaten all upcoming events in the orchestra’s 49th concert year.

According to a statement released late Thursday night, ticket-holders will be contacted so they can exchange their tickets for a different day or be refunded.

Violinist Kyoko Takezawa was scheduled to perform alongside the orchestra as part of the Masterworks program.