Riverside Symphony

What Riverside Symphony does

Riverside Symphony is a New York City-based nonprofit professional orchestra founded in 1981 by conductor George Rothman and composer Anthony Korf. The orchestra presents a subscription concert series at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center and, beginning in the 2025-2026 season, at W83 Ministry Center, programming a mix of lesser-known contemporary and classical works alongside established repertoire. Its repertoire base includes over 150 world and local premieres, six commissioned works, and seven internationally released CDs (including one Grammy-nominated recording) issued through Bridge Records.

The organization's business model combines earned revenue from concert ticket sales ($55 single tickets) and season subscriptions with a multi-tier individual donation pyramid topping at a $10,000+ Conductor's Circle, plus corporate and foundation grants from Con Edison, Morrison & Foerster, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, William R. Kenan Charitable Trust, Kindermorgan Foundation, TD Bank Foundation, and the Music Performance Trust Fund. The Music Memory educational program, launched in 1999 and recommended by three successive NYC Department of Education Music Directors, generates additional earned revenue by selling curriculum packets ($75 basic, $135 elaborate) to public schools across all five NYC boroughs and culminates annually in a Citywide Finals competition at NYU Skirball Center. Secondary revenue includes CD/recording sales through an online store, and the Salon Series and Hear Hear! pre-concert programs deepen engagement with adult audiences. The orchestra is supported by a board chaired by Phillip Y. Zhang following the July 2025 passing of long-tenured chairman Ed Schiff.

Name

Riverside Symphony

Legal name

Riverside Symphony

Website

https://riversidesymphony.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Riverside Symphony is a 1981-founded NYC nonprofit orchestra that performs contemporary and classical works at Alice Tully Hall and W83 Ministry Center, runs the citywide Music Memory program for NYC public school students, and funds operations through ticket sales, donations, and corporate/foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Orchestral Concert Performances and Music Education

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652)

akta.pro primary industry

Concerts & Music Festivals (THAJAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music Schools & Conservatory Prep (Pre-College) (EDAMANAE), Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Orchestral performances
• Classical music concerts
• Music education programs
• Contemporary orchestral recordings
• Live concert programming

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from single tickets and season subscriptions to orchestral performances at venues including Alice Tully Hall and W83 Ministry Center.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible contributions from individual donors across tiered giving levels (Conductor's Circle through Supporter tiers), plus corporate sponsorships at Leader, Patron, and Supporter levels.
3. CD and Recording Sales: Sale of orchestral recordings featuring contemporary works performed by Riverside Symphony. Available through the online store.
4. Music Memory Program: Curriculum packet sales to NYC public schools at $75 per school for basic packet. Schools purchase the educational curriculum which includes materials for the music education program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Riverside Symphony is a New York City-based professional orchestra that delivers live orchestral concert performances at major venues such as Alice Tully Hall and Lincoln Center, programming a mix of lesser-known and beloved works with a focus on contemporary and rarely-performed pieces. Beyond concerts, it runs the citywide Music Memory educational program for NYC public school students in grades 3-6 and sells recordings of its performances online.

Product overview

Riverside Symphony is a New York City-based orchestra founded in 1981 offering live concert performances, educational programs, and recorded music. The organization provides orchestral performances at major venues including Alice Tully Hall and Lincoln Center, featuring innovative programming that combines lesser-known gems both old and new with beloved masterpieces. Its educational offerings center on the Music Memory program for public school students in grades 3-6, the Hear Hear! pre-concert contemporary music series, and the Meet the Orchestra video series. The organization also operates a store selling CDs and recordings of its performances, and engages adults through its Salon Series. Beyond its concert hall success, Riverside Symphony is known for its citywide educational efforts and the Music Memory program serving thousands of students annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Riverside Symphony Concerts Live orchestral performances featuring innovative programming combining lesser-known gems both old and new with beloved masterpieces, presented at major New York venues including Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, and W83 Ministry Center. Available to the general public via single tickets (around $55) and season subscriptions.
• Music Memory Program Citywide music education initiative serving thousands of third-through sixth-grade NYC public school children annually through curriculum packets (basic $75, elaborate $135), professional development workshops for teachers, and an annual Citywide Finals competition at NYU Skirball Center where student teams identify musical excerpts played live by the orchestra.
• CDs and Recordings Recorded music releases sold through the Riverside Symphony online store, featuring the orchestra's performances of contemporary orchestral works by composers including Anthony Korf, Marius Constant, Mario Davidovsky, Andrew Imbrie, Stephen Hartke, and Poul Ruders.

Quantifiable outcome

• One Grammy nomination (2000)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NYC Department of Education / Division of MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Music Memory program has been recommended by three successive Directors of the NYC Department of Education's Music Department/Division, indicating ongoing institutional endorsement and support for the educational curriculum.
• NYU Skirball Center for the Performing ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe annual Music Memory Citywide Finals competition is held at NYU's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, providing a prestigious venue for student performances.
• Mighty Music PublishingcoreOthersMighty Music Publishing (Mollie Gregory Tower, LLC, approved NYC vendor code: MOL082701) provides the official Music Memory curriculum packets sold to schools at $75 (basic) or $135 (elaborate).
• Bridge RecordscoreOthersRecording label partner that has released multiple Riverside Symphony albums including the Grammy-nominated Andrew Imbrie Requiem recording. Riverside Symphony recordings are distributed through Bridge Records.
• New York Virtuoso SingersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChoral ensemble led by Harold Rosenbaum that has collaborated with Riverside Symphony on multiple occasions, including performances of Andrew Imbrie's Requiem. The ensemble has commissioned 110 new works and 550 premieres.
• Brooklyn College Conservatory OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic Director George Rothman serves as Conductor of the Conservatory Orchestra at Brooklyn College, creating an academic partnership and talent pipeline.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Knights: NYC-based orchestral collective with strong contemporary and community programming. Comparable as a similarly sized, NYC-resident ensemble balancing classical and contemporary repertoire with community engagement.
• Brooklyn Philharmonic: Brooklyn-based orchestral organization presenting contemporary and community-focused programming. Comparable to Riverside as a similarly sized NYC orchestra with new-music emphasis and education/community mission.
• American Composers Orchestra: NYC-based orchestra focused on American contemporary music, commissioning and premiering new works. Highly comparable to Riverside's new-music-discovery mission and scale of operation, with overlapping composer network and audience.
• Orpheus Chamber Orchestra: NYC-based conductorless professional chamber orchestra performing at Carnegie Hall. Directly comparable as a similarly sized NYC professional ensemble with strong recording catalog and contemporary programming.
• American Symphony Orchestra: NYC-based professional orchestra performing at Carnegie Hall. Comparable as a similarly sized, NYC-resident professional orchestra sharing the same freelance-musician pool and donor/audience landscape.
• Metropolis Ensemble: NYC-based contemporary music ensemble that commissions and premieres new works. Closely comparable as a similarly sized NYC new-music ensemble with parallel composer-discovery programming and educational outreach.

Emerging players

• New York Youth Symphony: NYC-based youth orchestra performing classical and contemporary works, with parallel educational programming. Comparable as a NYC orchestral organization serving student performers and partnering with schools, though training-focused rather than professional.

Broad incumbents

• Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: Lincoln Center resident presenting chamber performances and education programming. Comparable as a Lincoln Center-affiliated classical music presenter serving the same NYC audience, donors, and educational partners.
• New York Philharmonic: NYC's flagship orchestra also performing at Lincoln Center (David Geffen Hall). Comparable as a professional orchestra serving the same NYC classical audience and donor base, though substantially larger and broader in repertoire scope.
• Carnegie Hall: Premier NYC concert presenter hosting resident and visiting orchestras plus extensive education programs. Comparable as the major NYC concert venue/presenter competing for the same audience, donor, and education-grant dollars.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC5N0-2UzuMvmtH0PrkN0BwQ
• Xx.com/rivsymph

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Riverside Symphony