The musicians' previous contract expired on August 31. The new contract's short duration is unusual; generally the musicians, members of the Akron Federation of Musicians (Local 24 of the American Federation of Musicians) negotiate multi-year contracts. This year, however, musicians and management agreed to a one-year contract to allow for flexibility while the orchestra searches for a new music director.

The orchestra plans to hire its new music director for the 2006-07 season. Ya-Hui Wang, the previous music director, left at the end of the 2004-05 season.