Santa Rosa Symphony reports highlights of another successful, record-breaking season
The Santa Rosa Symphony, in its fifth season as resident orchestra of Weill Hall at the Green Music Center, continues to set records and add programs. The 2016-2017 season was a milestone in the Santa Rosa Symphony’s 89-year history, as it sowed the seeds for future artistic and educational vibrancy, diversity and relevancy within a fiscally sound environment.
Top 2016-2017 organizational highlights included:
- Historic high for donations broke $2 million ceiling, accentuated by record level of individual and Board giving
- Endowment Fund value exceeded $12 million for the first time
- All Education programs grew, with record-setting Summer Music Academy attendance
- Fourteenth consecutive year ending the fiscal year in the black
- Funded new music education program, Primarily Classical, which launched in Fall 2017, bringing a free orchestral concert to every Sonoma County elementary school (127 in all) within a four-year period
- Third free community concert reached diverse audience of 4,000 with a female mariachi ensemble
- Music Director Bruno Ferrandis conducted the entire season of the Classical Series
- Search for fifth Music Director resulted in an impressive roster of five highly-experienced candidates
- Most successful gala fundraiser in a 13-year run of galas honored Evert Person
“Key factors in our success have been, and will continue to be, the artistic excellence of our orchestra, performing a repertoire noted for its creativity and audience appeal; an educational program responsive to the needs of our youth; the ongoing commitment and teamwork among staff, volunteers and the Board of Directors; aggressive and targeted marketing and fundraising efforts; and continued monitoring of investments and control of expenditures. Going into our 90th season, we look to sustain our vision to be one of the leading regional symphony orchestras in America, locally acclaimed and nationally recognized for community engagement, artistic vibrancy and fiscal sustainability,” said Alan Silow, SRS President & CEO.
About the Santa Rosa Symphony
Santa Rosa Symphony, the Resident Orchestra of the Green Music Center, is the third-oldest professional orchestra in California, and the largest regional symphony north of Los Angeles. Bruno Ferrandis, who began his tenure in 2006, is the fourth Music Director in the organization’s history. The Santa Rosa Symphony (SRS) is committed to core values of artistic excellence, innovative programming and community service. This year the SRS infused the local economy with more than $4 million.
Currently in its 90th season, the Symphony’s performance schedule includes 21 Classical Series concerts (7 sets), 7 Discovery Dress Rehearsal concerts, a 3-concert Family Series and a 4-concert Pops Series, as well as special concerts. The Symphony is also recognized for having one of the most comprehensive music education programs in California, serving nearly 23,000 youths annually.
Collaborations with schools and organizations across Sonoma County have gained SRS national attention and support. Awards include an American Symphony Orchestra League MetLife Award for Community Engagement and a first place award for adventurous programming in the 2012-2013 season from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).
