Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra

What Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra does

The Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) non-profit symphony orchestra founded in 1913 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, now launching its 111th season (2026-27). The orchestra presents live orchestral performances and music education programs to residents of Plymouth and the broader South Shore Massachusetts region from a small administrative office at 116 Court Street, with concerts held primarily at Plymouth Memorial Hall, Plymouth South High School Performing Arts Center, and select outdoor venues including the Plymouth waterfront.

The orchestra's programming spans a classical Masterworks series, pops concerts (Broadway tributes, swing-era repertoire, holiday programs), a free Independence Day waterfront concert drawing approximately 40,000 attendees, a free summer concert series, family concerts, benefit concerts featuring guest artists, and education outreach (Link Up with Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute, Music Immersion, the Plymouth Children's Chorus, Lunch & Listen for seniors, and an annual music scholarship). It reaches 2,500 students across 15 schools and roughly 3,000 students and adults through free outreach annually. Artistic leadership is provided by Music Director Steven Karidoyanes (appointed 1994, also understudy conductor for the Boston Pops) and Assistant Conductor Neal Hampton; Executive Director Kim Corben has led operations since 2014. The orchestra is supported by approximately 5 full-time staff and contracted professional musicians.

Revenue is diversified across earned and contributed streams: ticket sales (~30-35%), individual contributions (~33%), corporate sponsorships (~17%), Massachusetts Cultural Council and other government grants, special events, and program advertising. Distribution runs through the Spektrix online ticketing platform, subscriptions, single tickets, group sales, and gift certificates, with marketing executed across email (10,000+ subscribers), social channels, WATD 95.9 FM radio, PACTV television, and community partnerships. FY2020 revenue was $932,954 against expenses of $936,892 — essentially break-even — with the season truncated by COVID-19 and staff retained through the Payroll Protection Program.

Name

Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra

Legal name

Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra

Website

https://plymouthphil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra is a non-profit symphony orchestra founded in 1913 that presents classical, pops, holiday, and educational programming to 40,000+ attendees annually across Plymouth and the South Shore of Massachusetts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Performing Arts / Symphony Orchestra

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Concerts & Music Festivals (THAJAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC), Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

Keywords

• Live orchestral performances
• Symphony orchestra concerts
• Music education programs
• Community outreach concerts
• Pops concert series

Headquarters

HQ city

Plymouth

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Concert Revenue: Ticket sales from concerts including subscriptions, single tickets, and group sales. Approximately 30-35% of total revenue.
2. Individual Contributions: Donations from individual supporters and patrons. Major source of funding with 33% of revenue in FY2020.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship funding from businesses. Approximately 17% of revenue.
4. Government Grants: Funding from government sources including Massachusetts Cultural Council.
5. Special Events: Revenue from benefit concerts and fundraising events including golf tournaments and cocktail parties.
6. Advertising: Advertising opportunities available to local businesses on program books and event materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra is a non-profit regional symphony orchestra that produces and presents live orchestral concerts — classical masterworks, pops, Broadway, holiday, and outdoor summer programming — alongside youth music education, senior outreach, and community enrichment programs. Offerings are sold to the public via single tickets, subscriptions, group sales, gift certificates, and supporting donations/corporate sponsorships. The orchestra operates annually across Plymouth Memorial Hall, Plymouth South High School Performing Arts Center, and select outdoor venues on the South Shore of Massachusetts.

Product overview

The Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra is a premier non-profit symphony orchestra offering live orchestral music performances to the South Shore of Massachusetts. The organization operates a dual-season model (Fall-Spring concert series and Summer outdoor series) featuring classical symphonic repertoire, pops concerts spanning Broadway, holiday programming, and swing-era popular music. Educational outreach includes youth programs (Music Immersion, Link Up, Children's Chorus), senior-focused Lunch & Listen performances, scholarships, and side-by-side concerts with student musicians. The orchestra utilizes Spektrix for ticketing and offers subscription packages, single tickets, group sales, and gift certificates. The 2026-27 season marks the orchestra's 111th season, with performances held primarily at Plymouth Memorial Hall and Plymouth South High School Performing Arts Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Subscription Series Season subscription packages offering savings, priority seating, and exclusive perks for concert-goers attending multiple performances throughout the season.
• Classical Concert Series Full-orchestra symphonic performances featuring classical repertoire performed by professionally trained musicians under Music Director Steven Karidoyanes at Plymouth Memorial Hall and other regional venues.
• Pops Concerts Popular music performances including Broadway tributes, holiday programs, and swing-era repertoire designed to attract diverse audiences with accessible, genre-spanning programming.
• Summer Concert Series Free outdoor concerts held at Laura's Center for the Arts at Emilson YMCA in Hanover and special events at locations like World's End in Hingham, featuring small ensembles and the Phil Cabaret Orchestra.
• Independence Day Celebration Concert Annual free outdoor concert on the Plymouth waterfront, televised on PACTV and broadcast on WATD 95.9 FM, attracting approximately 40,000 attendees.
• Family Concert Annual family-friendly orchestral concert with pre-concert instrument demonstrations by Phil musicians, featuring student performers and affordable ticket pricing ($12 child / $25 adult).
• Benefit Concerts Special fundraising performances featuring guest artists (such as Eileen Ivers and Time for Three) where 100% of ticket sales support the orchestra, including premium sponsor tables.
• Youth Education Programs Comprehensive educational outreach including Music Immersion for elementary schools, Link Up (Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute curriculum), Youth Concerto Competition winner performances, and the Plymouth Children's Chorus. Reaches 2,500 students across 15 South Shore schools annually.
• Lunch & Listen Program Small ensemble performances brought to senior housing developments across Plymouth, Kingston, and Duxbury, in partnership with the Center for Active Living, Old Colony Elder Services, and local housing authorities.
• Music Scholarships Annual music scholarship awarded to a Plymouth County high school junior pursuing four-year music studies, made possible through anonymous donor support and the Marinus and Minna B. Koster Foundation.
• Blockbuster Broadway Pops Series Pops concert series featuring Broadway show tunes and musical theater repertoire performed with full orchestra, produced in collaboration with Spot-On Entertainment.
• Group Sales Special pricing for organizations and businesses purchasing groups of tickets to Phil concerts.
• Gift Certificates Gift certificates redeemable for Phil concert tickets and subscriptions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40,000+ audience members annually attend concerts and events
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Trustees of ReservationsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 August 2019First-time collaboration in August 2019 for outdoor concert at World's End property in Hingham. Enchanting music with sweeping views and ocean breezes featuring violinist Irina Muresanu.
• WATD 95.9 FMcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Long-time broadcast media partner. Produces on-air interviews and stories featuring Music Director Steven Karidoyanes. Live broadcasts of July 4th concert each year. Popular concert ticket giveaways. Weekly 'Name That Tune' feature during COVID lockdown.
• South Shore ConservatorycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Longtime partnership for youth concerto competition winner and youth orchestra programs. Students from SSC perform with the Phil at Family Concert. Part of ongoing outreach efforts.
• Plymouth Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership for free community concerts and educational programs. Hosted commissioned piece premiere for Plymouth 400.
• Center for Active LivingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership for 'Lunch & Listen' program bringing small ensembles to senior housing developments. Also partners with Old Colony Elder Services and Plymouth, Kingston, and Duxbury Housing Authority.
• Town of PlymouthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership with Town of Plymouth and local school systems. July 4th concert made possible with support from Town of Plymouth Visitor Services Board. Partnership with Plymouth Public Schools for education programs.
• Laura's Center for the Arts at Emilson YMCAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Summer concert series venue in Hanover. Free family-friendly outdoor concerts introducing new audiences to the Phil.
• League of American OrchestrasminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019National membership organization for orchestras. Phil participates in Link Up program created by Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute.
• America's Hometown Thanksgiving CelebrationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership allows Phil to be part of beloved holiday occasion and link to nation's history and heritage. Brings annual Phil concert to greater South Shore community each year.
• South Shore Community Action CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Community partnership for outreach programs and food drives benefiting South Shore Community Action Council's Food Distribution Center.
• Plymouth Area Coalition for the HomelessminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Community partnership for charitable outreach and support.
• Plymouth Area Community Television (PACTV)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Local community television partnership for broadcasting Phil performances including 4th of July concert.
• Pilgrim Hall MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Cultural institution partnership for pre-concert cocktail parties and events.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Boston Symphony Orchestra: Major incumbent orchestra in Boston with Tanglewood season and substantial endowment; the regional gold standard that New England audiences compare against, and a key talent pipeline for regional orchestras including the Phil.
• Boston Pops Orchestra: Significantly larger pops orchestra based in Boston; Karidoyanes serves as understudy conductor. Represents a broader incumbent in the same pops/concert programming category that competes for casual concertgoers.

Others

• New England Conservatory: Boston-based music school where Karidoyanes conducts the Youth Symphony and which is a training pipeline for the Phil's musicians; functions as an ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Lexington Philharmonic: Mid-sized regional American orchestra of similar budget size and mission, offering classical and pops programming with a comparable education and outreach model; useful peer for benchmarking revenue mix and subscriber economics.
• Portland Symphony Orchestra: Regional symphony in Portland, Maine offering Masterworks, Pops, and family series plus education programs; similar in size, mission, and mix of subscription, contributed, and ticket revenue streams.
• Handel and Haydn Society: Boston-based period and classical orchestra with a subscription-driven concert season and education programs; a direct New England peer in the orchestral performance space.
• Brockton Symphony Orchestra: South Shore-adjacent community orchestra of similar scale and budget, also serving southeastern Massachusetts with classical programming and youth outreach; a closely comparable regional peer.
• Rhode Island Philharmonic: Regional New England orchestra serving a similar demographic with classical, pops, and education programming; operates in an adjacent geography to Plymouth and competes for touring soloists, conductors, and donor attention.
• Vermont Symphony Orchestra: Statewide Vermont orchestra running a multi-city tour model with Masterworks and pops programming; another New England regional peer of similar scale with comparable education and community engagement work.
• Cape Symphony: Cape Cod, MA-based regional symphony orchestra of comparable size and mission, also offering a Masterworks and Pops season plus education programs; a direct competitor for South Shore/Cape audiences and donor pools.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PlymouthPhil
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/plymouthphilharmonicorchestra
• Facebookfacebook.com/plymouthphil
• Instagraminstagram.com/plymouthphil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plymouth-philharmonic-orchestra-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra