“The Omaha Symphony set records in ticket sales and attendance during the 2015-16 season,” writes Betsie Freeman in Thursday’s (6/9) Omaha World-Herald (Nebraska). “A total of 54 concerts at the Holland Center and Joslyn Art Museum drew 75,194 patrons, a 9.8 percent increase over the previous season, which featured 51 concerts. That figure includes complimentary tickets for students, community members and people who attended the free International Friendship Concert with the Shizuoka (Japan) Philharmonic on Sept. 20. Even without the free tickets, however, paid attendance of 63,593 was a 7 percent increase over last season, setting another record…. Overall ticket revenue increased 15.9 percent, ending the season at $2.16 million…. Symphony President and CEO James M. Johnson said he thinks that patrons are catching on to what the orchestra has to offer, whether it’s classical, pop or rock. He praised Music Director Thomas Wilkins and Principal Pops Conductor Ernest Richardson for their leadership…. Symphony officials say subscription ticket sales for next season are 8 percent higher than they were on this date last year…. The fastest growth is in the Rocks and Movie Music series. The symphony’s education and community engagement programs also continue to grow. Those activities attracted 32,341 participants for 43,279 hours of engagement.”
Posted June 13, 2016
