For the fiscal year ended August 31, New York’s Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra is reporting a balanced budget, its first in six years. The orchestra is in the first year of a five-year financial plan developed under former president and CEO Ralph Craviso and now led by Curt Long, who became the RPO’s president and CEO on September 1. The plan includes new fundraising approaches and expanded programming—including concerts incorporating films and video games—to bring in new audiences. In 2016-17, ticket sales were up by 20 percent, with a 10 percent increase in the number of subscribers and a 30 percent increase in the number of individual patrons. The RPO’s season-ending, matching-gift Summer Challenge campaign exceeded its $200,000 goal. Said Ingrid Stanlis, chairperson of the RPO board of directors, “We owe a great debt to Ralph Craviso and outgoing Board Chair Jules Smith for their exceptional work through this process. With the excellent artistic leadership provided by Music Director Ward Stare as well as Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik, and the recent appointment of Curt Long with his 24 years of success managing symphony orchestras, the Board is confident that we will continue to advance that five-year plan.”
Posted October 16, 2017
