N ASH VIL L E SYMP H O NY
INSPIRE.
E N T E R TA I N .
E D U C AT E .
SERVE.
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OUR VISION FO R THE FUTURE
NASHVILLE SYMPHONY | SCHERMERHORN SYMPHONY CENTER
T H E N A S H V I L L E S Y M P H O N Y I N S P I R E S , E N T E R TA I N S , E D U C AT E S A N D S E R V E S T H R O U G H E XC E L L E N C E I N M U S I C A L P E R F O R M A N C E .
Dear Friends: Our community is in the midst of a transformational period, and so is the Nashville Symphony. Building on our seven-decade history, we continue to grow and innovate, and we remain devoted to building a sustainable, world-class orchestra that is fully supported and embraced by the community we serve.
20 19 H i g h li g hts , By t he N um b e rs :
Finding new and vibrant ways to represent and engage with our diverse community. Celebrating American music and contributing to the Music City brand. Building imaginative partnerships and projects. Building an orchestra that can meet the changing needs of Middle Tennesseans for years to come. These are the strategic initiatives that propel us forward.
158 concerts $9.9 million in ticket sales 188,730 tickets sold
This work, accomplished daily by the outstanding musicians of the Nashville Symphony, alongside the institution’s staff, volunteers and board, helps to cement our purpose as a community-focused organization. This brochure shares some information about who we are and what we do – visionary artistic projects, internationally distributed recordings, impactful education and community engagement programs and initiatives. Equally important is why we do this work:
9.8 MILLION people reached internationally through broadcasts, recordings and digital media
To create an orchestra that embodies and reflects the richness of the community we serve. To share beauty, inspire joy and create meaningful experiences for everyone. To cultivate the next generation of artists, educators and leaders. Because music matters. We are reimagining what it means to be an orchestra in the 21st century. Our donors and attendees inspire us to pursue our vision and fulfill our mission. Music truly comes alive when there is an audience – you. Thank you for taking the time to learn about the Nashville Symphony. We invite you to lean in and listen. Sincerely,
Alan D. Valentine President and CEO
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600,000+
FULL-TIME MUSICIANS
reached through local performances and education initiatives
293 EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY EVENTS
$8.4 million
in donations from the community
45,000 children and adults reached through education and community programs
95,000
cumulative impact hours of education and community programs
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In v e sti ng in our c ult ur e , o u r co mmu ni t y a nd our futu r e —
T H E N A S H V I L L E SY M P H O N Y I S H E R E F O R A L L . As the Nashville Symphony continues to innovate and respond to our changing community, we are in the third year of a multi-year diversity, equity and inclusion planning process. As part of this process, the Nashville Symphony is undertaking a thorough internal analysis to learn how it can effectively fulfill its commitment to equitable and inclusionary practices. We are also actively seeking input from a diverse array of community stakeholders, whose insight and feedback will help to shape the Symphony’s future direction. We continue to reach out to our community to inform the process. In recognition of this vital work, the Nashville Symphony has received local and national grant awards, including renewed funding in 2019 through the League of American Orchestras’ Futures Fund. We are one of 19 orchestras in the United states to receive this grant, which supports comprehensive
diversity planning, while recognizing our continued innovation in artistic and educational programming. Additionally, the Symphony was the recipient of a 2019 Catalyst Award through the League, which further increases our capacity to focus on equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging. We continue to collaborate with the League and other orchestras across the U.S. to contribute to a growing body of best practices around this significant work. Driven by both immediate and long-range goals, our work will set the stage for an even more vibrant, engaged and relevant Nashville Symphony — one that truly represents the community it serves.
W E I NVE ST I N T H E ARTI STS W H O B R I N G th e MU S I C TO L I F E . At the heart of our work is the 83-member Nashville Symphony. These remarkable musicians are among the finest players anywhere, and their artistry knows no bounds, from classical and jazz, to country, pop and R&B. Performing an astonishing 158 concerts every year, they’re active members of our community who provide daily inspiration as artists, teachers, volunteers and citizens. These are the musicians of your Nashville Symphony. Gifts in support of our musicians are a direct investment in the heart and soul of the Symphony, today and for years to come.
ANNUAL INVESTMENT IN OUR MUSICIANS : $8,496,848
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W E CRE AT E T HE S OUND O F NOW. The Nashville Symphony is one of the most active recording orchestras in the United States, with a focus on promoting new, groundbreaking American music. Just like our friends and neighbors on Lower Broadway and in clubs and recording studios across town, our commitment is to creating the sound and the soul of music’s greatest city. Since 2000, the Symphony has released more than 30 recordings on Naxos, a Middle Tennessee-based label that has become the world’s largest distributor of classical music. Our discography encompasses a wide range of repertoire, from Beethoven and Bernstein, to Ben Folds and Jennifer Higdon — to name just two renowned artists with strong ties to Tennessee. And the music world is taking notice: our recordings have earned a total of 13 GRAMMY® Awards and 24 nominations.
As a leader in our field, the Nashville Symphony has been a champion of new music, working with celebrated composers right here in Middle Tennessee and across the country. Our orchestra has presented 36 world premieres and has commissioned 30 new pieces of music — because we believe that classical music has the power to move and inspire listeners in the 21st century. Current recording projects include major works by American composers Jennifer Higdon, Gabriela Lena Frank, Christopher Rouse, Aaron Jay Kernis, Horatio Parker, Tobias Picker, John Adams and Brad Warnaar. Most are firsttime recordings. Through projects such as these, the Nashville Symphony shares inspiring repertoire with Middle Tennessee audiences, while cultivating a global audience of music lovers.
W E CR E AT E T H E AUDI E N C E S O F TO MO R R OW. The Nashville Symphony is dedicated to serving thousands of children and families from the 41-county Middle Tennessee region, both at Schermerhorn Symphony Center and in local schools and community gathering spaces across the region. These programs feed directly into our mission. Through music, we seek to enrich young people’s lives and connect people of all ages with listening and learning opportunities. We are working every day to build future audiences and inspire joy through the arts. • Young People’s Concerts are live orchestra performances for students in grades K-12. Offered at Schermerhorn Symphony Center and out in the community, these concerts are designed to open young people’s minds and ears to a world of ideas and experiences, with accompanying curriculum and lesson plans that enable teachers and students to make direct connections to classroom learning. • Ensembles in the Schools serve local schools with multiple visits from Nashville Symphony ensembles, along with lesson plans and other resources to enrich classroom learning. Participating schools receive downloadable lesson plans, online music playlists, and resources for students with disabilities. • Masterclasses, Sectionals and Lessons provide resources, instruction and performance coaching for individual musicians and small ensembles of students around Middle Tennessee. • Open Dress Rehearsals offer a look at what goes on behind the scenes at our Classical Series rehearsals before the first public performance. For students ages 10 and up.
Jennifer Higdon
Christopher Rouse
A N N U A L I N V E S T M E N T: $ 4 9 0 , 6 4 0
Aaron Jay Kernis
Gabriela Lena Frank
Learn more at NashvilleSymphony.org/recordings.
Tobias Picker
John Adams
• Instrument Petting Zoos give children hands-on opportunities to try out a variety of instruments.
• Soundcheck offers $10 tickets to a variety of concerts for students from kindergarten through graduate school, providing an affordable option for young people to experience the Nashville Symphony. • Family Series concerts offer integrated support for children with autism and other sensory sensitivities, including flexible and accessible seating, closed captioning, quiet spaces, trained staff and additional resources. • Free Community Concerts bring the orchestra’s music to neighborhoods across the region, reaching 10,000+ people. • Free Chamber Music Series concerts feature small ensembles of Symphony musicians performing in an intimate setting, with interactive, educational components in which musicians share their knowledge and insights. Audience members are invited to ask questions in a Q&A session following each performance. • Lifelong Listeners offers senior citizens multiple opportunities to experience the Nashville Symphony with their peers through open dress rehearsals, ensemble performances and Chamber Music Series concerts. Learn more at NashvilleSymphony.org/Education.
• Is It a Fiddle or a Violin?, offered in collaboration with the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, invites students to explore the commonalities and the differences between country and classical music. • Accelerando prepares gifted young students of diverse ethnic backgrounds to pursue music at the collegiate level and beyond. Learn more on the following page.
A N N U A L I N V E S T M E N T: $ 6 5 8 , 8 9 2
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W E C U LT I VAT E t h e A R T I S T S OF THE FUTURE. ACCELERANDO America has changed dramatically over the last 30 years, and it continues to evolve at an astonishing pace. To remain relevant to our increasingly diverse audience, we have a responsibility to ensure that the orchestras of the future reflect the communities they serve. That’s why we started the Accelerando initiative. One of just a few programs of its kind in the United States, Accelerando prepares gifted young students of diverse ethnic backgrounds to pursue music at the collegiate level and beyond. Through intensive training with Nashville Symphony musicians, participation in youth orchestras, music theory classes, masterclasses and much more, these students work tirelessly year-round so that they can become the next generation of great American musicians. Accelerando has helped shape me into the person and musician I am today. It has pushed and challenged me to grow as a musician, and my playing is at a level that 10-year-old me would have never imagined. I now am working toward my future in music. — Emily Martinez-Perez, Accelerando student
COMPOSER LAB & WORKSHOP Launched in 2015, the Nashville Symphony Composer Lab & Workshop provides emerging young composers with the opportunity to develop their talents and gain hands-on experience working with a major American orchestra. Open to U.S. citizens between the ages of 18 and 33, the program is a valuable opportunity for composers to develop their craft and artistry while building professional relationships in the orchestra industry, with an opportunity for the public to hear their work performed live in an open rehearsal with the orchestra. The program operates on a two-year cycle, inviting a round of composers to participate in the first year, and bringing back selected Composer Lab Fellows to deepen their relationship with the Symphony in the second year. In 2019, five up-and-coming composers were selected from a nationwide call for submissions. In September, they traveled to Nashville for an intensive experience with the Nashville Symphony. Participants received mentorship from Workshop Director Aaron Jay Kernis and Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero, along with composers Gabriela Lena Frank and Kip Winger, and participated in a course on business essentials in the orchestra industry.
W E B UI L D COM MUN I T Y T HR O UG H MUS I C . Music brings people together. It transcends languages, borders and cultural differences. Music matters. And through the life-transforming power of music, the Nashville Symphony seeks to make Middle Tennessee a more vibrant, connected and culturally rich place. Each year, we collaborate with partner organizations to create unique opportunities for people to gather in celebration of art, culture, history and community. Recent efforts include partnering with Casa de la Cultura and other local organizations to present México en el Corazón, a free mariachi celebration at Schermerhorn Symphony Center. In 2018, in collaboration with the Jewish Federation of Nashville, the Nashville Symphony presented Violins of Hope Nashville, a community-wide initiative with 27 partners and 60 events, all revolving around a collection of restored instruments played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust.
In September 2020, the Nashville Symphony will present the world premiere of a commission by composer Julia Wolfe, written to commemorate the centennial of women’s suffrage. The piece, written for full orchestra and vocal ensemble, is especially meaningful for Tennessee, as the state played a pivotal role in the passage of women’s suffrage. The Symphony will collaborate with partners across the state to present community-focused programming to accompany the premiere.
TOTA L I N V E S T M E N T F O R T H I S I N I T I AT I V E $ 6 4 3 , 4 4 9
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GOVERNING MEMBERS For highly engaged patrons, the Governing Members program is a way to support and advocate for the Symphony’s future. Members receive exclusive benefits and special recognition. To learn more, call 615.687.6480 or email governingmembers@nashvillesymphony.org.
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STRADIVARIUS SOCIETY ($5,000-$9,999)
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GOLDEN BATON SOCIETY ($3,000-$4,999)
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CONDUCTOR’S CIRCLE ($1,500-$2,999)
Our Board of Directors and Associate Board of Directors both provide meaningful and effective ways to give back to the Nashville community, with opportunities to get deeply engaged in leadership. To learn more, please contact Jonathan Norris, VP of Development, at jnorris@nashvillesymphony.org.
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ENCORE CIRCLE ($1,000-$1,499)
LEADERSHIP Beyond valuable networking, the Symphony offers leadership opportunities for those who truly want to invest in the arts community in Nashville.
CONCERTMASTER SOCIETY ($500-$999)
DONATE More than 5,000 people every year make a tax-deductible gift to support our work. Giving offers many rewards and benefits, including special activities, exclusive donor access, opportunities to serve in leadership and governance roles, and much more. Learn more at NashvilleSymphony.org/contribute.
AT A GLANCE
FIRST CHAIR SOCIETY ($300-$499)
CRESCENDO CLUB This dynamic, fun-loving group offers young professionals ages 21-40 a chance to connect with other music lovers and to become more deeply involved with the Nashville Symphony. Join Crescendo Club to network, enjoy amazing performances and get special, behind-the-scenes access to the Nashville Symphony. Learn more at CrescendoClub.org.
SECTION PLAYER ($150-$299)
As a community-supported organization, the Nashville Symphony offers many ways for the public to get involved in our mission of providing great music and education programs for Middle Tennessee. You can engage with the arts, give back to the community — and have a great time while you’re doing it.
A N N UA L F U N D DONOR BENEFITS
ORCHESTRA FRIEND ($75-$149)
G E T I N VO LV E D
SUPPORTER (Gifts up to $75)
NASHVILLE SYMPHONY | SCHERMERHORN SYMPHONY CENTER
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The satisfaction of knowing that you have helped impact the lives of countless Middle Tennesseans Acknowledgment listing on NashvilleSymphony.org for one full year “Nashville Symphony Notes” donor e-newsletter Curb Open Dress Rehearsals Invitation to the Nashville Symphony Annual Meeting & Wine Reception Donor tours of Schermerhorn Symphony Center Invitations to Nashville Symphony education events Tickets to Patron Appreciation Concert Invitations to Chamber Music Series events with post-performance receptions Pre-sale access to newly added concerts Acknowledgment listing in InConcert program guide Visits to Founders Hall donor lounge on concert evenings VIP concierge service Invitation for two to annual Musician Recognition Dinner Invitation for two to annual Stradivarius Society Dinner
Interested in learning more? Contact us at 615.687.6494 or Giving@NashvilleSymphony.org
* Unlimited
Customized donor benefit packages available for gifts of $10,000+, including VIP valet parking, Partner with a Player program access, and more. Please call 615.687.6494 for more information!
T h e P ow e r o f C o r p o r at e Pa r t n e r s h i p s The Schermerhorn attracts a highly sought-after audience that includes Nashville’s key decision-makers, influencers and the diverse population of Middle Tennessee. Ask how our strategic partnerships will engage your brand and help to move your business forward. CUSTOMIZED MARKETING PROGRAMS Align your brand or business to reach Nashville’s key decision makers and reach more than 200,000 people at 150+ concerts and events. VIP HOSPITALITY AND SIGNATURE EVENTS Your clients and employees can enjoy exclusive access to our distinguished Allen Walter Watson Sr. Founders Hall lounge, special accommodations and hospitality in our box seats, and invitations to attend the Symphony Ball, Fashion Show and Stradivarius Dinner. COMMUNITY OUTREACH Align your brand with Nashville Symphony programs supporting quality music education and family-friendly programs impacting over 50,000 people in the Middle Tennessee region. PRODUCT SAMPLING & OUT-OF-HOME Display options available on the Schermerhorn campus and Community Concerts locations around the mid-state area. CORPORATE MEETINGS/EVENTS & GROUP ENTERTAINMENT Options include exquisite private indoor and outdoor meeting/event space and special group concert ticket programs. EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP TODAY Contact partnerships@nashvillesymphony.org
MAJOR CORPORATE PARTNERS