CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH GREAT LIVE MUSIC
SEASON SPONSOR
DEAR FRIENDS,
Through many decades, Utahns of all ages and backgrounds have found knowledge, inspiration, and joy through Utah Symphony | Utah Opera performances—whether at our concert halls, opera theatre, libraries, parks, or school gymnasiums. In recent years, we have taken bold steps toward ensuring that our art forms will remain an essential part of the fabric of our state.
In 2022, USUO laid out our priorities in a five-year strategic plan, Composing Our Future, intended to guide the organization through 2027. With audience development at the heart of the plan, we outlined ambitious goals in the areas of relationship-building with our diverse communities; artistic growth and creativity; fostering an innovative, supportive, and united organizational culture; and financial stability.
WITH THESE GOALS ESTABLISHED, WE ARE SET UP TO SERVE UTAHNS MORE MEANINGFULLY THAN EVER BEFORE.
The report ahead outlines key examples of the results we’ve achieved and the service we’ve delivered through music in the plan’s first two years, FY23 and FY24. Significantly, a new contract with our symphony musicians, ratified in 2023, recognizes the caliber of our orchestra, aligns with our values as an organization, speaks to our collaborative spirit, and provides a sturdy foundation upon which we can build out strategic initiatives in the coming years.
With the exciting news that Markus Poschner has been appointed the symphony’s next Music Director, we are confident that we’ll create a vibrant future together—one that is made possible through the extraordinary efforts of our patrons, donors, artists, Trustees, volunteers, and staff. Your support is, and will continue to be, essential in allowing us to carry out our mission to connect the community through great live music.
With gratitude,
BRIAN GREEFF Chair, Board of Trustees
CONNECTING WITH OUR STATE
WEBER COUNTY
We offered a full day of education activities in Huntsville—in partnership with Mountain Arts and Music—ahead of our first performance on the Music Elevated: Forever Mighty® State Tour in August 2023.
SALT LAKE COUNTY
Free Community Concerts in Salt Lake City and West Valley City around Juneteenth in 2023 featured music by African American composers.
SUMMIT COUNTY
We brought 15 free concerts to Park City locations such as Kimball Junction Transit Center and nature trails over the past two summers.
UTAH COUNTY
Families enjoyed Mason Bates’ Philharmonia Fantastique, an animated multimedia concert, at The Noorda Center for the Performing Arts.
SANPETE COUNTY
Residents of Fountain Green and Spring City came together in celebration of music and community, as we made two Music Elevated Tour stops in Sanpete.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
“Musicians in the Classroom” reached the far southwestern corner of our state for the first time.
I wanted to thank you folks for coming and performing for us. We don’t get a lot of that sort of thing in this town... the performances were magnificent, and it made for a wonderful evening.”
—IRON COUNTY AUDIENCE MEMBER
Every year, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera performances and education programs engage citizens from all 29 counties in our state. The map below represents just a few examples of how we’ve lived up to the “Utah” in our name!
SAN JUAN COUNTY
Our Opera Resident Artists’ visit to the San Juan School District, where cultural opportunities are scarce, sparked many student requests for music courses.
IRON & BEAVER COUNTIES
After years of pandemic-related challenges, our Resident Artists traveled for a multi-day Southern Utah residency. Artist illness nearly caused another cancellation, but the healthy performers created a new program so the shows could go on!
NEW TURNING POINTS AND ARTISTIC MOMENTUM
We marked milestone moments, presented premieres, and introduced new performance formats—confirming USUO’s upward artistic trajectory and exciting future.
TOASTING THIERRY AND WELCOMING MARKUS
The Utah Symphony’s influential Music Director, Thierry Fischer, concluded his extraordinary tenure in 2023, transitioning to Music Director Emeritus. Our community’s outpouring of love was evident, from the heartfelt words and musical tributes shared at our Toast to Thierry gala, to the full-house audiences at his farewell concert.
In his final season, the release of an album featuring Messiaen’s From the Canyons to the Stars… (a work inspired by Utah landscapes) and a collaboration with The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square for Mendelssohn’s Elijah epitomized the ways in which Thierry embraced our state during his 14 years.
After an extensive international search, during which dozens of guest conductors took the podium, we were thrilled to name Markus Poschner as the symphony’s 8th Music Director.
BRINGING NEW MUSIC TO UTAH
After years of anticipation and with generous community support, Utah Opera co-produced a new production of Mason Bates’ and Mark Campbell’s The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, the Grammy-winning opera about the famous—or infamous—tech titan. (While only one performance made it to the stage due to illness, we will bring the production back.)
Utah Symphony audiences were the first in the U.S. to hear Erkki-Sven Tüür’s Flute Concerto, performed by 2022-23 Artist-in-Association Emmanuel Pahud; Stephen Hough’s Piano Concerto (The World of Yesterday), performed by the composer; and Quinn Mason’s Trombone Concerto, “Sonorous,” with our own Principal Trombone Mark Davidson as soloist. And, for the first time, our Deer Valley® Music Festival audiences were treated to a world premiere in 2023— Rhapsody in Red, White, and Blue by Peter Boyer.
CREATING A COMMUNITY FESTIVAL
We began a three-year partnership with our inaugural Creative Partner, conductor David Robertson, who is
charged with creating innovative programs and multifaceted artistic projects that speak to our community.
Robertson’s final initiative of the 2023-24 season, the Guitar Celebrations Festival, brought eight internationally known guitarists to Utah. Focused on the world’s most popular instrument, the festival engaged audiences across generations and backgrounds—with mainstage symphony concerts at Maurice Abravanel Hall, a performance at alternative venue The State Room, classes and workshops, and repertoire for electric and acoustic guitar, spanning Renaissance to rock.
PARTNERING IN THE THEATRE
Utah Opera formed a memorable partnership with Repertory Dance Theatre (RDT) for the final production of the 2023-24 season, Massenet’s Thaïs. The dance sequences—particularly the sublime Méditation performed by Utah Symphony Concertmaster Madeline Adkins and RDT dance artist Ursula Perry—enhanced the storytelling, creating a result greater than the sum of the parts.
Together with the intricate and dazzling costumes and sets, and impressive cast, chorus, and orchestra, the production was a grand spectacle to behold and moved audiences beyond expectations. Utah Theater Bloggers Association called it a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
MAGNIFYING THE EXPERIENCE
Aiming to provide an immersive classical music experience, the symphony introduced a new concert format, Masterworks Magnified, in the 2023-24 season. These concert events feature classical repertoire combined with elements such as video projections, program insights shared from the stage, conversations with performers, themed activities in the lobby, and even special concessions.
In its first season, our three Masterworks Magnified events—designed to appeal to symphony aficionados and newcomers alike—drew more than 1,200 firsttime concertgoers to programs featuring works by Rachmaninoff, Strauss, Ravel, and more.
NEW AUDIENCES ENGAGING WITH OUR ART FORMS
Thoughtful programming and partnerships allowed us to create new points of connection with Utah’s citizens.
REACHING FAR AND WIDE ON TOUR
• In August 2023, our Music Elevated: Forever Mighty® State Tour brought great live music to more than 12,000 people—with first-time tour visits to Huntsville, Fountain Green, Spring City, and Torrey; and return visits to Bryce Canyon and Teasdale.
• For the first time, the tour shared both the symphonic and operatic sides of our organization—with orchestral favorites such as the “Hoe-Down” from Copland’s Rodeo, as well as Broadway and opera selections featuring Utah-based pair Madison Leonard and Shea Owens. (An unusual collaborator—a mechanical dinosaur brought by our partners at Thanksgiving Point— sparked “uproarious” excitement for John Williams’ Theme from Jurassic Park !)
• The tour included an unprecedented number of educational offerings. Leading up to our performances, classes and workshops specially curated for each community could be found in nearly every corner of our host towns—from Instrument Petting Zoos, to fiddle classes, to Q&As with musicians.
500 MILES TRAVELED
6 PERFORMANCES
1 WEEK
DOMINICK’S STORY
Born at 23 weeks, Dominick has faced significant health challenges in his six years and music therapy played a crucial role in his recovery. After witnessing his joy during a symphony concert at Thanksgiving Point in Utah County, we invited Dominick to a rehearsal where he met many of our musicians and was gifted a baton by thenAssociate Conductor Benjamin Manis. Dominick used that baton to conduct Concertmaster Madeline Adkins in a private performance!
The boy you met is an example of a thousand different miracles—and I know that when he hears the symphony play, he thinks that's a miracle too,” said Dominick’s father.
LAURA’S STORY
When we met 12-year-old Laura in Teasdale, the final stop of our Music Elevated Tour, it was a full circle moment. In 2014, Teasdale was the first stop on our statewide tour and Laura, then three years old, was in the audience. Now an accomplished violinist, Laura said, “When the Utah Symphony came to Teasdale nine years ago, I remember being up front and watching the violins—and that’s how I started playing violin!”
PRESENTING MUSIC FOR EVERYONE
USUO belongs to our entire community and we offer performances for nearly every musical taste. Programs that attracted thousands of new ticket buyers and completely sold out venues in the past two seasons included:
• Family Series concerts designed especially for children ages 3 to 10
• The fiddle, harp, bagpipes, and angelic vocals of Irish ensemble Celtic Woman
• A special evening with world-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman
• Films in Concert, where scores were performed live in sync with movies like The Nightmare Before Christmas, How to Train Your Dragon, and more
• Music familiar to gamers of all ages at Video Games Live
• Symphonic works that have crossed into pop culture, such as Orff’s Carmina Burana and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9
• A tribute to timeless pop at The Music of ABBA
• At the Deer Valley® Music Festival—The Beach Boys, Ben Folds, The Music of John Williams, and The Music of Queen
For many years, our season has opened with Celebración Sinfónica, a festival presented as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. Audiences at this concert grew to new levels in 2022 and 2023, as did the festival activities on the plaza of Abravanel Hall, expanding into an all-afternoon event.
15,000+ FIRST-TIME TICKET BUYERS EACH YEAR
INSPIRING UPCOMING GENERATIONS
• In the 2023-24 season, every Family Series performance drew full-house audiences, indicating how deeply our community values the arts. Utah families have flocked to many other kid-friendly performances as well, including Utah Opera’s productions of The Daughter of the Regiment in 2023 and The Little Prince in 2024.
• We created a partnership with the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art to curate events designed for young professionals, featuring themed group art projects at the museum over drinks and hors d’oeuvres, followed by a symphony performance next door at Abravanel Hall.
62% INCREASE IN STUDENT & UNDER-30 TICKET SALES SINCE FY22
PROVIDING TICKETS FOR GOOD CAUSES
Each year, USUO partners with community groups representing underserved populations, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Guadalupe School, Neighborhood House, Salt Lake County Aging, VetTix, and many more. Over FY23 and FY24, we provided:
• 18,704 complimentary tickets to community service organizations
• 884 ticket vouchers to fellow nonprofits for auction at fundraisers
NEW ERA FOR EDUCATIONAL IMPACT
In the 2022-23 school year, USUO returned to a level of education activity not seen since prior to the pandemic.
We further expanded our impact in the 2023-24 school year by introducing a new program, Mindful Music Moments. This program currently serves 25 Utah schools, helping teachers use music to create a focused learning environment for their students.
Plus, our 5th grade concerts at Abravanel Hall entered the digital age! Debuting in February 2024 and performed for students from 141 schools, the program “Hey, Bravi!” brings to life a virtual assistant (like Alexa or Siri) who helps introduce the world of symphonic music in a way familiar to young digital natives.
130,000+ STUDENTS AND TEACHERS SERVED EACH YEAR
Defining one of the most extensive music education programs in the U.S.
EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCES
• 5th Grade Concerts—students take a field trip to Abravanel Hall for a symphony concert designed for them
• In-School Symphony Concerts—the symphony travels across the state to deliver programs curated for elementary and secondary students
• Opera 101 & Freeze Frame—secondary students receive a crash course in opera via performances and commentary from Resident Artists
• Who Wants to Be an Opera Star—Resident Artists introduce elementary students to opera through an interactive game-show style presentation
PERSONAL INSTRUCTION
• Instrument Zoos—children (and adults!) have the opportunity to try out musical instruments, in partnership with Summerhays Music
• New in 2023! Mindful Music Moments—teachers use USUO recordings, complete with guided listening prompts, to encourage students’ focus
• Musicians & Conductors in the Classroom USUO artists visit in person or digitally to perform, lead rehearsals, facilitate discussions, play alongside students, or teach lessons
• Opera Up Close—secondary choral students gain insights from Resident Artists about life as an opera singer
• Performance Classes—open for public observation, USUO artists or guest artists work one-on-one with students to refine their repertoire I really liked the solo of the violinist in the front. She really inspired me and maybe I could do something like her someday.”
—STUDENT VIOLINIST
BEHIND-THE-SCENES OPPORTUNITIES
• Open Rehearsals—students observe the symphony at work preparing for a performance
• Opera-tunities—secondary students attend the final opera dress rehearsal and participate in hands-on learning activities in the lobby
• Venue Tours—students discover the logistics of the performing arts by exploring parts of our venues not usually seen by audiences
STUDENTS ON STAGE
• Music! Words! Opera!—elementary students perform their very own operas, created in their classrooms over the school year
• Salute to Youth—some of our state’s most hardworking young musicians have the chance to be soloists with the symphony
• Side-by-Side—student musicians perform at Abravanel Hall alongside their professional Utah Symphony counterparts
• Youth Orchestra Festival—youth orchestras from all over the state perform at Abravanel Hall
LIFELONG LEARNING
• Masterworks Magnified—activities in the lobby, conversations from the stage, and visual elements during the concert provide an immersive experience
• Osher Classes—through the University of Utah’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, adults develop a deeper understanding of the works we perform
• Professional Development—teachers attend talks before Masterworks and Utah Opera programs for re-licensure credit
• Concert and Opera Chats—artists and other experts share insights, before or after performances
• Presentations in the Community—learning opportunities at gathering places, such as social clubs and libraries, meet people where they are
ACCESSIBLE LEARNING
• Access to Music—those with sensory sensitivities and other disabilities enjoy a relaxed environment and can fully express themselves during this annual concert
• Blind & Visually Impaired Night—opera is experienced through accommodations such as audio description headphones, braille supertitles, and props and fabric swatches passed around the audience
• Music for Healing—since some who most need music’s healing powers are unable to travel, we bring performances to facilities like the Huntsman Cancer Institute and Primary Children’s Hospital
My son McKay calls [Access to Music] the most important night of the year.” —PARENT
NEW INVESTMENTS TOWARD FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
In our first two years of the strategic plan, we achieved our annual targets for both ticket sales and fundraising. However, implementing our strategic plan required an additional investment of financial resources; for this reason, a portion of Utah Symphony | Utah Opera’s cash reserve funding was used to cover the gap between earned and contributed revenues and expenses.
TICKET SALES
• In FY23, we sold more than 188,000 tickets, increasing the number of paid tickets by 7% compared to the previous season and achieving USUO’s third-highest sales revenue on record.
• The momentum continued in FY24 with a record-breaking sales season, achieving the year’s strategic plan goal of $7.1 million in ticket revenue.
FUNDRAISING
• Our community stepped up to support a challenge grant for Utah Opera’s production of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs in FY23 and our upcoming production of Madame Butterfly.
• In both FY23 and FY24, we met the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation’s challenge grant, which matches up to $500,000 raised from new donors and from donors who increase their gifts from the previous year.
• Our fundraising efforts over the past two fiscal years were encouraging due to the generosity of our individual, corporate, foundation, and public donors. Thank you!
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
ELECTED BOARD
Brian Greeff* Chair
Annette W. Jarvis* Vice Chair and Secretary
Judy Moreton*
Joanne F. Shiebler*
Thomas Wright* Vice Chairs
Steven Brosvik* President & CEO
Dr. Stewart E. Barlow
Judith M. Billings
Larry Brownstein
Paul E. Burdiss
George Cardon-Bystry
Gary L. Crocker
John D’Arcy*
David L. Dee
Barry L. Eden*
Jason Englund*
Senator Luz Escamilla
Jonathan Freedman
Brandon Fugal
Dr. Julie Aiken Hansen
Daniel Hemmert*
Dennis H. Hranitzky
Stephen Tanner Irish*
Thomas N. Jacobson
Abigail E. Lowder
Dr. Dinesh C. Patel
*Executive Committee Member
Frank R. Pignanelli
Gary B. Porter
Shari H. Quinney
Miguel R. Rovira
Stan Sorensen
Clint Stone
Dr. Shane D. Stowell
Thomas Thatcher
W. James Tozer
David Utrilla
Sharlene Wells
Don Willie
Kim R. Wilson
Henry C. Wurts*
MUSICIAN
REPRESENTATIVES
Travis Peterson*
Barbara Ann Scowcroft*
EX OFFICIO
Jean Vaniman
Onstage Ogden
LIFETIME BOARD
William C. Bailey
Kem C. Gardner
Jon Huntsman, Jr.
G. Frank Joklik
Clark D. Jones
Thomas M. Love*
David T. Mortensen
Scott S. Parker
David A. Petersen
Patricia A. Richards*
Harris Simmons
David B. Winder
UTAH SYMPHONY | UTAH OPERA
Maurice Abravanel Hall
123 West South Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
THANK YOU!
Thank you to the generous individuals, businesses, foundations, and community partners who support Utah Symphony | Utah Opera through contributions each season. The successes highlighted in this report—including our extensive music education programs, community engagement initiatives, and continued artistic excellence—are made possible by your support.
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