In Tuesday’s (12/8) Plain Dealer (Cleveland), Zachary Lewis writes that in fiscal 2015 the Cleveland Orchestra’s “push to remain viable and relevant paid off in the forms of higher attendance, endowment growth, and record-setting levels of philanthropy. The organization came out ahead for the year, reporting a surplus of $72,000…. The surplus came despite the release of thousands of free and steeply discounted tickets. In fact, both the orchestra’s ‘Under 18s Free’ and Student Advantage programs … drew 46,000 young people—almost 12 percent more than last year—to Severance Hall and Blossom Music Center…. At Severance Hall, average admissions per concert rose by about 20 people, to 1,630…. At Blossom Music Center … the orchestra’s summer festival smashed attendance records, [attracting] an average of 7,500 people, 450 more than the previous summer…. [At] Cleveland Orchestra Miami … the orchestra also reported reaching 8,000 … students and adults … through educational and outreach events…. Gifts to the orchestra’s yearly Annual Fund totaled $11.1 million in 2015.” The article includes a detailed breakdown of fiscal results from 2009 to 2015.
Posted December 10, 2015
