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Orchestra offers new information about Nézet-Séguin's pay

The Philadelphia Orchestra has offered new information regarding the compensation of its music director. After a Nov. 22 Inquirer article about the orchestra's finances, the Philadelphia Orchestra Association reported that in addition to paying $519,319 in 2013 to Yannick Nézet-Séguin, it paid the IRS $227,950 on his behalf for taxes, plus $12,564 for primarily travel-related expenses.

Music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin was paid $519,319 in 2013. In addition to this, the Philadelphia Orchestra paid the IRS $227,950 on his behalf.
Music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin was paid $519,319 in 2013. In addition to this, the Philadelphia Orchestra paid the IRS $227,950 on his behalf.Read moreDAVID SWANSON / Staff Photographer

The Philadelphia Orchestra has offered new information regarding the compensation of its music director.

After a Nov. 22 Inquirer article about the orchestra's finances, the Philadelphia Orchestra Association reported that in addition to paying $519,319 in 2013 to Yannick Nézet-Séguin, it paid the IRS $227,950 on his behalf for taxes, plus $12,564 for primarily travel-related expenses.

"When an orchestra pays a foreign national as an individual independent contractor, as is the case with Yannick, it must pay taxes directly to the government, and those taxes are excluded from the total that appears on the 990," said orchestra chairman Richard B. Worley in a Nov. 24 email.

Some conductors, Worley said - U.S. nationals and foreign nationals alike - have set up corporations to be the independent contracting agent. In those cases, the compensation amount listed on tax returns is the pretax amount.

Normally, the orchestra does not discuss "any individual's employment status with the press," Worley said. In this case, however, the association decided to make an exception. Nézet-Séguin's contract runs through the 2020-21 season.

pdobrin@phillynews.com

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