RPO's total earned revenue grows for second year in a row

RPO 2015-16 season finale
credit: Erich Camping

The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is proud to report that its just-completed 2015-16 subscription season marks the second year in a row for total earned revenue growth. The 2014-15 season was the first year of growth since 2010-11.

Ward Stare’s inaugural season as music director was the first year of subscription revenue and package growth since the 2007-08 season, reversing a multi-year trend for the RPO that is consistent with orchestras nationwide. During the 2015-16 season, subscription revenue grew by 4% over 2014-15, and subscriber retention rates were the highest in six seasons.

Subscription and single ticket sales both exceeded their budgeted goals, with single ticket revenue growing again (2014-15 was a record-breaking year) to total $1.68 million. The most impressive improvements in single ticket revenue and paid attendance were seen in the Pops and Sunday Matinee Series, as well as with The Nutcracker, a Rochester holiday favorite and collaboration with Rochester City Ballet.

Strong subscription sales continue for the 2016-17 season and have already surpassed final subscription totals for the 2015-16 season in Philharmonics, Pops, and Sunday Matinee Series. The RPO is poised to grow subscriptions for the second year in a row next season, fueled by an increase in the number of performances and the addition of blockbuster programming like Yo-Yo Ma, which sold out to subscribers in only six weeks.

“These numbers go against the industry trend in orchestras and are a true testament to the artistic leadership of Ward Stare,” says RPO President & CEO Ralph Craviso, who has led the orchestra since October 1, 2015. “We are proud of the RPO’s ticketing success, but it’s important to note that ticket sales cover only 40 percent of our overall operating costs. As a world-class orchestra that is deeply committed to serving the community, we in turn look to the community for support.”

Subscription packages, including two Compose-Your-Own Series', are still available for the upcoming season. Single tickets for the RPO’s 2016-17 season go on sale Friday, July 29 at 10 a.m.

Billboard's most-charted Jim Brickman realizes dream in Rochester

Jim Brickman

He's Billboard's most-charted Contemporary artist of all time, but you might not recognize Jim Brickman by name. However, pull up a clip of hits like "Valentine," "The Gift," and "If You Believe," and you'll instantly recognize his music. With a career spanning more than 20 years, the Cleveland native is known for romantic piano melodies, pop instrumentals, and vocal collaborations with artists like Martina McBride, Lady Antebellum, and Kenny Loggins, to name a few. Brickman brings his talent and signature wit to his RPO debut at Eastman Theatre on Thursday, April 30, a performance he calls "a realized desire." Find out why in our exclusive Q and A!

This if your first time playing with the RPO, but you have performed in Rochester before, right?
Yes. I’ve played there about 15 times. I usually play the Auditorium Theatre at Christmas and have also performed solo shows and with special guests at Nazareth College and in the Finger Lakes. I’ve always wanted to play the Eastman Theatre. I actually applied to Eastman School of Music and didn’t get in! [side note: Brickman attended the very prestigious Cleveland Institute of Music] I plan on telling the audience "I got here finally, that’s what I wanted!” It's a realized desire.

What will we hear you perform with the RPO?
I always play the hits. I’m lucky to have them so I think they should be played in every concert. I will also debut some material I just wrote for the Olympic Games in Brazil. The rest ranges from Kermit the Frog to Deep Purple’s "Smoke on the Water" and even an electric violin concerto.

And you have an electric violinist who tours with you, right?
Yes. Tracy Silverman is a Juilliard-trained musician. He plays with symphonies all over the world. He provides a cinematic quality to the concert. He will perform a concerto for electric violin that I wrote called “Serenade.”

Tell me about vocalist Anne Cochran who will also perform with you.
I’ve known Anne since we went to high school together. She was my female vocalist in high school and still tours with me. The Rochester fans know Anne. If she wasn’t here, they might turn around and leave! We have been performing together for 35 years. She is a charming and wonderful performer.

You started playing piano at age five. Was that choice or your parents?
Starting piano was my choice. My parents are extremely unmusical. It’s just part of me. I grew up taking classical piano and pop improvisation. At the core I think of myself as a songwriter who plays the piano. I am fortunate to get to soar with the beauty of an orchestra of such high caliber like the RPO.

When did you start writing music?
I started writing at 12 years old. As a teenager, I got jobs writing commercial jingles. Jingles are a great job for a songwriter at that age because you aren’t evolved enough to write love songs. When you write about kitty litter, you don’t have to have an emotional connection to the cats!

When did you decide to make a career as a musician and songwriter?
I never thought of doing anything else besides music. I wasn’t interested in being onstage. I wasn’t that kid who was seeking the spotlight. I just loved music and it took shape in performing. I’m just me onstage, and it’s that authenticity that attracts people to me.

As a songwriter, who are your musical influences?
It’s a combination of pop songwriters: Carole King, some Beatles, Burt Bacharach, Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Irving Berlin. I write in a very melodic and cinematic way, but its origin is in my classical training.

What’s the funniest thing that has happened to you recently?
About a year ago, someone I did not know proposed to me by sending a live dove via FedEx. I was pretty scared at the time. I didn’t know live doves could be mailed and it was still alive. My agent contacted them and said, “We appreciate you being there for Jim, but you can’t do that!”

Wow, I can see how that would be scary but it’s a funny story to tell! You also host a national radio show every week. Tell me about it. (Airs Sundays on Warm 101.3 8AM-11 AM)
It’s a lifestyles show that’s aired for over 20 years. We cover everything from health and wellness to money and finances and Hollywood news. It’s basically “The Today Show” on the radio. I have spent so much of my adult life being interviewed and this gives me a chance to be on the other side. I am a naturally curious person.

If you had to pick your favorite song you’ve ever written, what would it be?
It changes every now and then, lately it’s a song called "Simple Things". Every day is a brand new chance to be or do something that you want to do. That’s what a new day represents. It will definitely be on the RPO program.

If you go
Jim Brickman
Saturday, April 30 at 8 PM
Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre
Tickets start at $22

A limited number of post-concert meet-and-greet tickets are available for $100 per person. Call the box office at 585-454-2100 to purchase. Quantities are limited!

Jim Brickman shares a special message with Rochester!

RPO's Annual Meeting: Reviewing 2014-15

At its annual meeting with membership today, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) looked back at its 2014-15 fiscal year (September 1, 2014 – August 31, 2015), reviewing highlights – including Music Director Ward Stare’s first season, audience growth and record-setting ticket sales – as well as challenges that include an ongoing deficit.

Artistically, the year began with last season’s Philharmonics Season opener conducted by Stare featuring superstar violinist Midori, and ended with his conducting the RPO’s entire summer season of 11 community concerts that took the orchestra over 600 miles – from downtown Rochester to the Adirondacks. In between, the 33-year old Rochester native hosted the RPO’s first-ever, free, season-announcement concert in Kodak Hall to preview his current inaugural season.

“There’s no doubt that Ward’s appointment and subsequent hard work with the orchestra and within the community is being embraced by both groups,” said RPO Board Chair Jules L. Smith. “He’s enticing a new generation of music lovers with his willingness to engage with the community in new ways while delighting our regular patrons with his thoughtful mix of programming.”

Other season highlights included:

• Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik’s 2012 commission to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Memorial Art Gallery, Images: Musical Impressions of an Art Museum, was brought to life with world-premiere choreography by Rochester City Ballet’s Jamey Leverett. 
• Conductor Laureate Christopher Seaman returned to Rochester to lead the RPO in the music of Elgar and Stravinsky, with pianist Jon Nakamatsu performing Saint-Saëns’ second concerto. 
• Carl Orff’s epic Carmina Burana closed last season, with the Rochester Oratorio Society, the Bach Children’s Chorus, and vocal soloists. The Democrat and Chronicle called the performance “overflowing with musical skill and emotional relevance – a fine conclusion to the season.”

The orchestra also began to experiment with different types of Special Concert programming to reach new audiences, including Video Games LiveTM and six-time Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald. And, audience numbers continued to rise for the 2014-15 season, with an approximate attendance total of 172,300 at 146 concerts and broadcasts, compared to the previous season’s 168,300.

Education and community engagement have been at the core of the RPO’s mission since its founding in 1922, and Principal Conductor for Education and Community Engagement Michael Butterman (The Louise and Henry Epstein Family Chair) has been directing these activities since 2000. Last season, the orchestra performed six OrKIDStra family concerts for more than 4,500 attendees, and nearly 12,000 school children in grades K-6 came to concerts in Kodak Hall. Every third and fifth grader from the Rochester City School District attended educational concerts in Eastman Theatre free of charge, and more than 2,500 children ages three to six saw free Tiny Tots concerts.

Additionally, students in grades eight through twelve representing a seven-county region and 27 schools make up the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (RPYO), which has RPO musicians as mentors and plays an annual side-by-side concert with the RPO. After a year-long search, Ithaca College Assistant Professor of Music Education Dr. James Mick succeeded Dr. David Harman, who retired after 21 years of service, as music director.

As in previous seasons, the RPO presented nearly 40 community concerts, many of them free of charge. More than 2,000 people from surrounding urban, suburban and rural communities attended the RPO’s free Around the Town series. RPO ensembles performed at locations including Camp Good Days and Special Times, Wilmot Cancer Center at URMC, a pop-up concert at the Rochester Regional Transit Center, and four City-sponsored outdoor neighborhoods concerts in July.

Community participation also includes performing with the RPO. The RPO’s annual production of The Nutcracker, with Rochester City Ballet and the Bach Children’s Chorus, featured 175 local children. And Gala Holiday Pops concerts featured 184 area students from 34 different schools in the Festival High School Chorale.

In terms of its financial health, the RPO achieved record-setting single ticket sales and total earned revenue growth for the first time since its 2010-11 season. Single ticket revenue increased 19% over the previous main season, attributed in large part to the popularity of non-subscription Special Concerts. That affected total earned revenues from ticket sales as well, which grew by 6% during the regular 2014-15 season, due also to the appointment of Ward Stare and the implementation of ticketing/patron growth strategies from arts and entertainment consultant, TRG Arts.

In fiscal 2015 ending on August 31, the RPO’s financial results indicate an operating surplus of $234,000. However, this is the result of a series of one-time, non-repeatable events: bequests in the amount of $817,000, and $850,000 of supplemental draws from the unrestricted endowment fund. Without these one-time events that increased operating revenue, the RPO’s deficit would have been $1.433 million.

“Obviously, we have been struggling with operating deficits for several years, and helping to reduce them is the reason I agreed to serve as Board treasurer,” reported Douglas W. Phillips. “We know that it is our responsibility to create a new business plan and that is the administration’s and board’s number one priority going forward.”

That plan will be in place this spring, and will focus on: 

1. Building an organization that has the capacity to generate increased ticketed and contributed revenue.
2. Reducing and eliminating the deficit and positioning the RPO for the future.

The first part of the financial recovery plan is already being addressed with recent restructuring and new hires in marketing and development areas that will expand capabilities to grow revenue. Vice President of Finance and Administration Ronald L. Steinmiller has been promoted to the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer. A Direct Sales position (vacant for several years) will focus on group sales, and two new fundraising positions (Annual Campaign and Development Assistant) as well as an Interim VP of Development will boost efforts to gain funding.

Another important step in generating more revenue is programming, and the RPO’s just-announced 2016/17 season offers events and programming that will appeal to Rochester audiences, generating excitement and ticket sales. That trend continues into the current season with, for example, Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy, and into next – as revealed at last week’s 2016/17 season announcement concert – with Yo-Yo Ma and more.

Additionally, the musicians/board mutual ratification in October 2015 of a two-year extension to the 2014/15 Collective Bargaining Agreement includes a salary freeze for the 2015/16 season, marking the fifth season in a row with weekly salary levels at the same rate. The musicians’ willingness to once again invest in the RPO’s future provides an exact knowledge of their costs over the next three years, allowing the RPO to create a workable financial plan.

“RPO administration and staff – like its Music Director, conductors and musicians – are investing in the future of this world-class orchestra to ensure its ability to continue contributing to our community,” said Interim President & CEO Ralph P. Craviso, who has been leading the organization since October 1, 2015, while a nationally recognized executive search firm looks for his permanent replacement. “We ask the community to continue to invest in our future as well, by attending our wonderful concerts and seeing and hearing first-hand what a vibrant, cultural gem we all have in the RPO.”

Also during the Annual Meeting, the RPO announced the election by the RPO membership of eight members of the Board of Directors, for the class of 2019:

Steven E. Feldon, M.D., MBA, is currently Chair of Ophthalmology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry and Founding Director of the David and Ilene Flaum Eye Institute. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the USC Marshall School of Business, and his Medical Degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Feldon has served on the board of the University of Rochester Medical Center and is currently on the boards of the Doheny Eye Institute and the RPO. He also has served on the board and executive committee of the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired – Goodwill Industries of Rochester, and on the board of Goodwill Industries of the Finger Lakes.

Marjorie L. Goldstein holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from SUNY at Buffalo and an MBA in Marketing and Management from RIT. She was formerly a Vice President with Fleet Bank and, prior to that, an Account Representative at J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, where she supported all activities associated with the management, sales and delivery of 401(k) Plan services to corporate clients. She is active with the Jewish Community Federation of Rochester and the Lions of Judah, and is involved with the Brighton Central School District PTSA, Gilda’s Club of Rochester (event co-chair), Rochester City Ballet (Marketing Committee member); and Hillel of Rochester Area Colleges (Board member). Marjorie and her husband are avid supporters of the arts in Rochester.

Dr. Sandra S. Johnson has been Senior Vice President for Student Affairs at RIT since 2014, after having served in a variety of leadership positions at Barnard College, Columbia University, and Hofstra University. She holds a doctorate in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Johnson has served in a leadership capacity with the International Parent Advisory Council for Spence-Chapin Services for Children, The Riverside Park Fund, President of the Parent Board at the Red Balloon Childcare Center, and Representative to the Parent Board at the School at Columbia. Her interest in the RPO was sparked after attending a number of performances last year as a new resident of the Rochester community.

Mark Siwiec is a local real estate agent and investor. Originally from Buffalo, he graduated from the University of Rochester and enthusiastically adopted Rochester as his home. Mr. Siwiec currently sits on the RPO Board, the board of the MCC Foundation and serves on the Board of Directors of COMIDA (County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency). Along with his partner Duffy Palmer, he is committed to making Rochester a better community for all. His interest in philanthropy has benefited Young Women’s College Prep, Garth Fagan Dance, Memorial Art Gallery, Willow Center for Domestic Violence, Flower City Habitat for Humanity, and Hillside Children’s Center, among others.

Ingrid A. Stanlis is a retired partner of the global audit and consulting firm of KPMG. She was the managing partner of KPMG for Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, and a former chair of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. She also chaired the Music Director search committee which resulted in Ward Stare joining the RPO. In addition to her Board position with the RPO, Ms. Stanlis has served on the boards and as an officer of numerous other not-for-profit organizations. She is a graduate of Middlebury College with a degree in English, and received her accounting training at the University of Vermont.

Jason Thomas is currently a Vice President in the Commercial Segment Finance Team at M&T Bank. Prior to that, he worked at Deloitte and several other major financial firms, including Morgan Stanley and Citigroup. Jason graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a B.S. in Accounting, and holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from the Simon School at the University of Rochester. He relocated from Hoboken, N.J. in 2011 and currently lives in Brighton. Although he does not play an instrument, Jason is a music lover with diverse tastes. Being an avid James Bond fan, his interest in the RPO was sparked when he attended the Classic Bond pops in 2013. He counts Rochester extremely lucky to have a professional orchestra that provides a broad spectrum of programming and works to be accessible to the community.

Steven H. Whitman, a Fairport native, received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University, and has a master’s degree in Physics Education from SUNY Geneseo. He taught physics at Brighton High School for 32 years, and was Science Department Coordinator for 12 of those years. Steve was also an adjunct physics faculty member at SUNY Geneseo and SUNY Brockport, serving as a faculty member of the CMST Institute. A former member of the Board of Trustees at Nazareth College, he is presently a member of the Wilmot Cancer Center Advisory Board. An active musician throughout his life, Steve plays tuba with four different local groups, volunteers in the RCSD as an instrumental music tutor, and recently established the Grove Place Jazz Project.

Robert A. Woodhouse is the current Chairman of the Board of G.W. Lisk Company, Inc., where he was formerly Chief Financial Officer. He attended Notre Dame High School in Utica, N.Y. and graduated from Boston College before beginning his career in public accounting with one of the “Big Eight” accounting firms. Bob has served on numerous not for profit boards, including the RPO Board as well as the Clifton Springs Hospital and Clinic (treasurer), the Clifton Springs Library (treasurer), and the Clifton Springs Rotary Club (treasurer and president). He currently serves on the board of the Ontario Trumansburg Telephone Companies.

The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) has been committed to enriching and inspiring our community through the art of music since its founding in 1922. The RPO presents approximately 160 concerts and broadcasts a year, serving up to 170,000 people through ticketed events, education and community engagement activities, and concerts in schools and community centers throughout the region. Recently appointed 12th Music Director Ward Stare joins the ranks of former notable RPO music directors, including Eugene Goossens, José Iturbi, Erich Leinsdorf, David Zinman and Conductor Laureate Christopher Seaman. Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik has earned a national reputation for excellence in pops programming during his 22-year tenure with the RPO. With Michael Butterman as Principal Conductor for Education and Community Engagement (The Louise and Henry Epstein Family Chair) – the first endowed position of its kind in the country – the RPO reaches more than 12,000 children through its specific programs for school-aged children.

View the RPO's 2014-15 Annual Report online
https://issuu.com/rochesterphilharmonicorchestra

RPO to play free concert in Churchville-Chili this Friday

Attention west-siders: the RPO is coming to you. This Friday, February 27, the RPO returns to

Churchville-Chili Performing Arts Center (C-C PAC) for a free community concert as part of the semiannual “Around the Town” concert series, sponsored by Xerox. Guest conductor Matthew Kraemer will lead a program of “Opera’s Greatest Hits,” featuring selections from Carmen, La bohème, The Barber of Seville, and more. This performance marks the second time that the RPO has played at C-C PAC, located on the Churchville-Chili Senior High School property. The orchestra played the inaugural concert in the nearly 1300-seat auditorium in the fall of 2013. 

The Churchville-Chili Performing Arts Center
Photo provided by Jeffrey Smith

“Our vision for C-C PAC is that it’s not just a great space for students to learn in, but it’s also an ideal location to bring in world-class performers like the RPO,” said Jeffrey Smith, Director of Fine Arts at Churchville-Chili Central School District. “It was designed for consistent sound throughout.”

While there will be no vocalists accompanying the orchestra, conductor Matthew Kraemer says the music carefully selected for this program stands for itself.

“These selections are really among the very best of recognizable opera excerpts,” he said. “Most of these melodies have been used in popular culture for decades. We hear the tunes from Carmen, Orpheus in the Underworld, and The Barber of Seville in cartoons, movies, and even as ringtones on cellphones.”

Matthew Kraemer

Kraemer is a past guest conductor on the RPO’s OrKIDStra concert series, most recently for The Snowman in December, 2014. Since 2012, he has served as music director for both the Butler County Symphony and the Erie Chamber Orchestra, both located in Pennsylvania. He also recently completed a five-year tenure as associate conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic.

“This concert is for anyone who wants to hear familiar and exciting music played by an exceptional orchestra,” said Kraemer, who notes the opera theme was chosen to coincide with the RPO’s concert performance of La Traviata on Saturday, February 28. “I can assure anyone thinking of attending that they will be in for a memorable evening of music. At only an hour in length, it is also the perfect way to introduce children to the Rochester Philharmonic.”

Since 1991, the RPO’s free Around the Town community concert series has brought classical music out of the concert hall and into schools, churches, rec centers, and other community spaces. With the goal of making the RPO more accessible to everyone, these semiannual concerts seek to engage audiences with a program of classical excerpts blended with familiar favorites.

If you go
What: Around the Town Concert: Opera’s Greatest Hits
When: Friday, Feb. 27, 7:30 PM
Where: Churchville-Chili Performing Arts Center
              5786 Buffalo Road, Churchville, N.Y.
$$: Free

For more information, visit rpo.org

Ward Stare to answer questions live onstage Tues. with #RPO1516

Ever wondered how the RPO chooses their programming for the year? Or, how does the conductor’s baton tell the orchestra what to do? Music Director Ward Stare is ready to answer your questions live onstage tomorrow night (Feb. 10) at the RPO’s 2015-16 season announcement concert at 7 p.m. in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. The concert is free to attend, but reservations are required by noon on Tuesday by calling the box office at 585-454-2100.

“Developing a deeper, richer relationship with our audience and our community is a major passion of mine and will be a recurring theme for the RPO moving forward,” said Stare, who will celebrate his inaugural season as RPO Music Director in 2015-16. “We want to share our excitement about the upcoming season with as many people as possible.”

To submit your question, post a tweet to the RPO (@RochesterPhil) and use hashtag #RPO1516. The RPO will be taking your questions now through the concert tomorrow night, including during the concert. See you there!

Video: Ward Stare and RPO musicians and staff invite the community to sound off on Twitter!

Rochester native Ward Stare named RPO's new Music Director

In a much-anticipated celebration with brass fanfare, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra announced Ward Stare as the twelfth music director of the RPO on Tuesday morning at City Hall in Rochester.

Stare is a Rochester native who played trombone in the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra at the age of 11 before graduating early from Pittsford Mendon High School and attending The Juilliard School in Manhattan to study trombone. At 18, he was appointed principal trombonist at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, where he made his conducting debut in 2012. After achieving international accolades as an orchestra leader, most recently as Resident Conductor of the St. Louis Symphony, Stare is looking forward to bringing his musical talents back to his hometown.

“This community was an amazing place to grow up in,” said Stare. “Not every musical community is this vibrant and I’m thrilled to be able to return and give back."

Ward Stare
Credit: Halski Studio

At 31 years old, Stare is the youngest person to be appointed music director in the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s 91 year-history, nearly tying with Maestro Eugene Goosens, who was appointed the RPO’s music director in 1925 at the age of 32. At the press conference, Stare expressed a strong desire to embrace new initiatives in symphonic music and engage everyone in the community, including a younger audience.

“Ward’s astonishing successes early in his career demonstrate his readiness to assume his place in the long line of distinguished conductors who have led the RPO over the past 90 years,” said Charles Owens, President and CEO of the RPO. “It is clear to me that he will be an inspiring leader, a model collaborator, and a game-changing ambassador for the RPO and for symphonic music, embracing the use of technology to deliver our musical product in ways that will be compelling to a new generation of listeners.”

Stare will open the 2014/15 season at Kodak Hall on September 18 with a special RPO Philharmonics concert, featuring guest soloist Midori. In February, Stare will lead the RPO in a special performance of one of Verdi's most poignant operas, La Traviata.

For more information on Ward Stare, including a full biography, visit our announcement page.