Tag: Business and Finance

OpenAI Awards $40.5 Million to Nonprofits, Including Orchestras

Posted on December 5, 2025 by - News Briefs

In Wednesday’s (12/3) Associated Press, Thalia Beaty writes, “OpenAI has awarded $40.5 million to more than 200 nonprofits in the first round of grants it has made since it rebranded its nonprofit as the OpenAI Foundation in October…. OpenAI promised to grant out $50 million in July in response to the recommendations of an advisory commission they convened to offer feedback about how it should accomplish its mission of building safe artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity…. OpenAI asked groups to apply with projects that support AI literacy, strengthen civic life or foster economic opportunity. The awards were limited to nonprofits with an annual budget between $500,000 and $10 million.… The Three Rivers Young People’s Orchestras based in Pittsburgh received $90,000, which is 10% of its annual budget this year. Executive director Lindsey Nova said … her organization already uses ChatGPT as an assistant and drafting tool … Her organization, which runs multiple kinds of youth orchestras, proposed to use the funds to research the possibility of developing … apps. One would record rehearsals and add bookmarks when queued by the conductor. The goal would be to produce notes about what the conductor said during the rehearsal paired with the relevant clip of the rehearsal.”

Among the OpenAI grantees was the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, based in Park Forest, IL, which received $40,000. In a press release, the orchestra states that it “is keen to investigate utilizing the technology to enhance and bolster its mission and efforts…. ‘IPO champions live music and live arts experiences. IPO also recognizes AI’s potential to strengthen civic and cultural life, if applied thoughtfully,’ says IPO Executive Director Christina Salerno. ‘We see AI not as a replacement for human artistry, but as a tool to expand access, enhance participation, and amplify community voice.’ ”

Pittsburgh Symphony’s Return to Carnegie Hall Reveals How the Orchestra is Faring, Onstage and Off

Posted on December 5, 2025 by - News Briefs

In Friday’s (12/5) New York Times, David Allen writes, “I’m not sure I’ve ever been as scared in a concert hall as I was on Wednesday night when the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra played Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony at Carnegie Hall…. Shostakovich wrote it in 1937, at a time when his career and even his life were in danger, a year after Soviet authorities had denounced him … [Music Director Manfred] Honeck made that pressure, that inhumanity, above all that pain, physically palpable … This was an unsparing demonstration of how orchestral sophistication of the highest order can be put to profound aesthetic ends—a testament not only to what musicians can do, but also to why they must do it. The Pittsburgh Symphony flew in to Carnegie on a high, making its first appearance in 11 years … Melia Tourangeau, its president and chief executive, said … that the problems the organization has faced are broadly those that others confront … Last month, though, the orchestra announced strong results for the past season, including a surplus of $2.3 million … and a 17 percent increase in ticket sales…. When Honeck and the Pittsburgh Symphony play [as they did for the Shostakovich], they play with a primal sort of mastery.”

New Chief Marketing Officer for Seattle Symphony and Benaroya Hall: Derek A. Johnson

Posted on December 5, 2025 by - Who's In

Derek A. Johnson will join the Seattle Symphony and Benaroya Hall as chief marketing officer on January 5, 2026. Johnson will oversee the institutional marketing of the Seattle Symphony and Benaroya Hall, the orchestra’s home, including brand, digital, communications, design and public relations strategies, both external and internal. Johnson is currently serving as interim vice president of marketing at the Nashville Symphony. Prior to Nashville, Johnson was vice president of marketing at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where he oversaw integrated marketing strategy for more than 2,000 annual events, including the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary culture, social impact, theater, dance, education, and multidisciplinary programming. Johnson began his career at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, advancing from marketing and public relations intern to senior marketing manager. A flutist, Johnson performs with Anita’s Flutes and the Category 5 Wind Ensemble, both community-based groups. He previously served as a teaching artist with the DC Youth Orchestra Program and is a graduate of the University of Maryland.

CEO Isaac Thompson on the Business of Running the Minnesota Orchestra

Posted on December 4, 2025 by - News Briefs

In the November 21 Twin Cities Business, Erik Tormoen writes, “Isaac Thompson was a serious violinist. He played in the Minnesota Youth Symphony and earned a master’s in violin performance from the University of Texas at Austin. But … he moved into management, and he’s been exceptional at it. Thompson started as president and CEO of the Minnesota Orchestra last month. His administrative career has [included] … director of artistic administration for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra; managing director of the New York Philharmonic; and, most recently, president and CEO of the Oregon Symphony. Minnesota’s orchestra is in the same league, Thompson says. ‘This is one of the top orchestras in America—period, hands down.’ But by the numbers, it has not fully returned from pandemic-era deficits. Traffic last season trended 9% lower than pre-Covid levels. Even so, last season also notched record highs for the orchestra, across earned revenue and donations…. Earned revenue, at $11.6 million, rose year-over-year by 22%…. The organization nonetheless incurred an operating loss of $3.8 million… Thompson sounds up to the task: ‘The opportunity to come back to a vibrant community, which has a tradition of great cultural institutions, to lead one of the anchor arts organizations, was a thrilling opportunity.’ ”

San Antonio Philharmonic May Need to Find a New Venue

Posted on November 26, 2025 by - News Briefs

In Tuesday’s (11/25) San Antonio Current (Texas), Sanford Nowlin writes, “San Antonio’s Scottish Rite fraternal order has given the San Antonio Philharmonic until Friday, Nov. 28 to vacate the group’s historic downtown building, a letter obtained by Current shows.  The document signals a possible split between the two organizations after they reached an agreement a little more than a year ago to make the imposing 1924 structure and its 2,200-seat auditorium the orchestra’s permanent home. Most of the Philharmonic’s musicians previously served in the now-defunct San Antonio Symphony … [The Philharmonic] rented out performance spaces until it inked a deal with the Scottish rite in October 2024. James Carter IV, the attorney for the Scottish Rite whose name appears on the order to vacate, declined comment. Philharmonic Executive Director Roberto Treviño said he wasn’t at liberty to discuss the letter other than to say the orchestra’s attorney is in talks with Carter…. The letter … does allow the orchestra to rent the auditorium for its scheduled concerts on Dec. 12 and 13 as well as Jan. 16 and 17. To do so, the arts organization would be required to pay … in advance.”

Williamsburg Symphony Names Violinist Alana Carithers as Executive Director

Posted on November 26, 2025 by - Who's In

Alana Carithers was appointed as executive director of the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra in Virginia on November 20 following three months as interim executive director. Carithers has been a member of the Williamsburg Symphony’s violin section since 2005 and, for the past decade, has served as principal second violin. Her career includes orchestral performance, chamber music, international festival and guest solo appearances, and nonprofit artistic administration. In 1999 she earned a double Master of Music degree in Violin Performance and Pedagogy from Northwestern University, where she served as assistant concertmaster and principal second violin of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and principal second violin of the Northwestern Symphony Orchestra. In 2000, Carithers was named associate principal second violin of the Colorado Springs Symphony. She joined the Richmond Symphony in 2003 and became principal second violin of the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra in 2015 after serving for 10 years as a section violinist. Carithers’s career has included engagements with U.S. and international orchestras and festivals, and she performs regularly with chamber groups. Carithers has also worked at nonprofit and arts organizations for 20 years as artistic director, treasurer, development officer, programmer, personnel manager, music librarian, guest artist manager, and operations administrator.

Classical Movements, Introducing Orchestras and Choruses to Audiences Worldwide

Posted on November 25, 2025 by - News Briefs

In Wednesday’s (11/19) Alexandria Times (Virginia), Ella Mitchell writes, “Opening tour routes in post-Soviet Russia, hauling an orchestra to Cuba, and creating live music experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic—Neeta Helms meets [nearly everything] with an almost mischievous smile, asking herself, ‘How hard can it be?… Everything is possible and I can do it.’ It’s the mantra that shifted the trajectory of Helms’ career in the hospitality business to founding her own company, Classical Movements, that plans concert tours for orchestras and choirs across the world. In the more than 30 years since her company’s inception, Helms, who now serves as president, shares music across cultures and borders. She’s traveled to about 120 countries personally, and the musical touring company has helped world-class orchestras, choruses, conductors, composers and soloists transcend cultural differences…. She co-created Blue Heart Travel, Inc. in 1992 to coordinate tours to both Russia and Ukraine … In 1995, Blue Heart Travel was incorporated into Classical Movements due to its expansion of instrumental and choral clientele. The National Symphony Orchestra hired Classical Movements to organize a two-week U.S. tour for its 1997 season, marking Helms’ company’s first professional orchestra client…. ‘The magic happens because of the musicians and artists themselves,’ Helms said.”

Pittsburgh Symphony Posts $2.3 Million Surplus for FY 2025

Posted on November 24, 2025 by - News Briefs

In Thursday’s (11/20) Pittsburgh Business Times, Jake Dabkowski writes, “The PSO released its financial results for fiscal year 2025, which runs from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025. In addition to a $2.3 million surplus on its operating budget of $34.6 million, the PSO saw its highest annual ticket sales since the Covid-19 pandemic. Total ticket sales reached $9.48 million, a 17% increase over last fiscal year and is one part of earned revenue, alongside Heinz Hall rentals, which accounts for 23.6% of the PSO’s total revenue. Contributed revenue, in the form of donations, makes up approximately 52.8% of its total revenue with 23.5% from its endowments, according to the organization’s annual impact report…. The impact report also provides a breakdown of the PSO’s expenses. Approximately 78% goes toward ‘people, programming and Heinz Hall’ while approximately 22% goes towards administrative costs…. PSO President and CEO Melia Tourangeau wrote in the impact report, ‘Many arts organizations are making tough decisions about their future. However, I view our recent successes as confirmation that our continued investment in our people and programming is the right strategy for the future and for the Pittsburgh communities we serve.’ ”

Orchestra Lumos’ Russell Jones’ Superpower: “Evangelizing About the Sublime Pleasures of a Live Symphony”

Posted on November 24, 2025 by - News Briefs

In Friday’s (11/20) Connecticut Insider, John Breunig writes, “Russell Jones reasons that after serving for eight years as president and CEO of Orchestra Lumos, ‘the orchestra deserves fresh legs on the field.’ It’s not often you hear a scrum of classical musicians compared to a rugby roster. But then, Jones has had to tackle appointing a new music director (Greenwich resident Michael Stern, a collaboration he clearly cherishes), rebrand the former Stamford Symphony, explore new stages throughout Connecticut and—oh yes—captain the squad through a pandemic. He’ll stick around as a consultant after he is succeeded Jan. 1 by Walker Beard, currently director of operations at The Dallas Opera…. Jones’ origin story hearing a live orchestra took place in a cinema. He was 10 and spotted a poster at his local library promoting a live performance by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra…. Fifty-five years on, it was an experience he has since aspired to share with the world, to ‘let as many people as possible know that well-kept secret about how incredible an orchestra is.’… Jones sings and plays violin, something he looks forward to retrieving from its case in coming months … But his superpower is evangelizing about the sublime pleasures of a live symphony.”

Arts Groups Declining NEA Grants in Light of Rules Restricting D.E.I. Initiatives

Posted on November 21, 2025 by - News Briefs

In Thursday’s (11/20) New York Times, Michaela Towfighi writes that “tensions around public funding for the arts [are emerging] after executive orders by President Trump restricted the use of federal grant money for projects that promote diversity, equity and inclusion.… Amid concerns over funding after the National Endowment of the Arts canceled a large percentage of its awards in May, organizations across the country have decided they would rather find money elsewhere than be subject to federal restrictions. The Denver Philharmonic Orchestra declined an $8,000 grant, citing concerns about diluting its D.E.I. work. The Portland Opera in Oregon said it would not apply for future federal grants if current restrictions remain in place. And in Troy, N.Y., the Arts Center of the Capital Region rejected a $50,000 grant because of what it called fears of censorship. Since August, more than 875 people and 270 organizations have signed a statement released by the National Coalition Against Censorship and the Vera List Center for Art and Politics that emphasized a need for art independence…. Michelle LaFlamme-Childs, the executive director of New Mexico’s arts council, said eight of about 220 applicants had declined funding this year, the first time she had seen groups do so.”