Asheville Symphony
The Asheville Symphony is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional symphony orchestra based in Asheville, North Carolina, that performs a seven-concert Masterworks Series and an ALT ASO alternative series, operates a 200+ student Youth Orchestra and broader music-education ecosystem, and serves over 45,000 individuals annually across Western North Carolina through concerts, recordings, and broadcasts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1958
- HeadquartersAsheville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Asheville Symphony does
The Asheville Symphony (legal entity: Asheville Symphony Society, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional symphony orchestra founded in 1958 and based in Asheville, North Carolina, where it serves Western North Carolina as the region's primary symphonic organization. Its core product is the Givens Communities Masterworks Series — seven classical concerts per season conducted by Music Director Darko Butorac, performed primarily at First Baptist Church of Asheville — complemented by the ALT ASO alternative series that places chamber orchestra programs at distinctive local venues (The Orange Peel, Highland Brewing, Pisgah Brewing, White Horse Black Mountain). The organization also operates an integrated educational ecosystem including the Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra (200+ students across five orchestral ensembles plus chamber and percussion groups), Music in the Schools, the Hip Hop Folktale Project (with GRAMMY winner Secret Agent 23 Skidoo), Young People's Concerts, MusicWorks (an El Sistema-inspired after-school program at Leicester Elementary), and the Asheville Symphony Chorus (founded 1991), reaching over 45,000 individuals annually.
Revenue is generated across seven documented streams: single ticket sales, season subscriptions to the Givens Communities Masterworks Series (with up to 15% savings and exchange flexibility), individual donations across eight tiers from $50 (Friend) to $25,000+ (Season Underwriter), corporate sponsorships ($3,000–$25,000+, anchored by Givens Communities, Flow Automotive/Porsche, and Hotel Arras), planned giving via a Legacy Society, an annual Porsche raffle at $209 per ticket, and MusicWorks sliding-scale tuition. Audience reach is extended beyond live performance through Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR Classic), a multi-year PBS North Carolina broadcast partnership, digital marketing across web and Instagram, and recorded albums including Be Still Moses (with Steep Canyon Rangers and Boyz II Men), Mozartistic, and The Asheville Symphony Sessions.
The organization is led by Executive Director Daniel Crupi and governed by a Board of Directors, with 11–50 administrative staff supporting an orchestra that exceeds 100 musicians. Notable institutional milestones include the late-1970s transition to fully paid musicians, the 24-year Robert Hart Baker tenure (1980–2004), the Daniel Meyer era (2004–2018) that produced the Asheville Amadeus festival and key recordings, and the 2018 appointment of Darko Butorac. The 2025 Candid Platinum Seal indicates recognized nonprofit transparency standards.
Asheville Symphony firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Asheville Symphony
- Legal name
- Asheville Symphony Society, Inc.
- Website
- https://ashevillesymphony.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1958
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Asheville Symphony is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional symphony orchestra based in Asheville, North Carolina, that performs a seven-concert Masterworks Series and an ALT ASO alternative series, operates a 200+ student Youth Orchestra and broader music-education ecosystem, and serves over 45,000 individuals annually across Western North Carolina through concerts, recordings, and broadcasts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Asheville Symphony industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts - Symphony Orchestra
- NAICS
- Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Fine Arts Schools (61161)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Performing Arts Programs (Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theater) (EDAJAJAE), Music Camps (Band, Choir, Instrument Intensive) (EDAMALAJ)
Keywords
Where Asheville Symphony is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Asheville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Asheville Symphony business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue from single tickets to Masterworks concerts, ALT ASO performances, special events, and recitals. Single tickets for Masterworks concerts are priced with area-based pricing plus a $5 fee per ticket. ALT ASO tickets are generally $45 each.
- Season Subscriptions: Full season subscriptions to the Givens Communities Masterworks Series offering 7 Masterworks concerts with exclusive benefits including 15% savings, first access to pops concerts, ticket exchange flexibility, and tax deduction for unused tickets.
- Individual Donations: Annual fund donations at tiered levels from Friend ($50-$99) up to Season Underwriter ($25,000+) with progressive benefits including program recognition, event invitations, patron receptions, and exclusive social events with music director.
- Porsche Raffle: Major fundraising raffle with tickets at $209 each, with the December 2026 raffle featuring a Porsche Macan S. Previous raffles have generated significant revenue with winners from multiple states.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Institutional supporters at tiered levels from $3,000 to $25,000+ including premium season sponsorships, concert sponsorships, guest artist sponsorships, and music sponsorships. Partners include Givens Communities (Masterworks Series title sponsor), Flow Automotive, Hotel Arras, and numerous local businesses.
- Planned Giving: Legacy society membership through planned gifts including bequests, retirement plan beneficiaries, charitable gift annuities, and charitable remainder trusts. Donors recognized in Legacy Society with special acknowledgment.
- MusicWorks Tuition: After-school music education program at Leicester Elementary serving approximately 50 students, operating on sliding scale tuition. Originally founded at Hall Fletcher Elementary with expansion to nearly 90 students from three schools by 2020.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Per seat | Pay-as-you-go | Student Rush Tickets |
| Per seat | Pay-as-you-go | Youth Tickets |
| Per seat | Pay-as-you-go | ALT ASO Concert Tickets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Group Discount |
| Subscription | Annual | Season Subscription (Givens Communities Masterworks Series) |
| Subscription | Annual | Donor Tiers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Asheville Symphony product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Asheville Symphony is a performing arts nonprofit that produces and presents live symphonic concerts, music education programs, and recorded orchestral music. Its flagship offering is the Givens Communities Masterworks Series, a seven-concert classical season led by Music Director Darko Butorac, complemented by the ALT ASO alternative chamber series at local venues. The organization also operates a youth orchestra, school-based music education programs, a community chorus, and recorded albums.
Product overview
The Asheville Symphony Orchestra is a performing arts organization offering a multi-faceted portfolio centered on live symphonic concerts and music education. The core product consists of the Givens Communities Masterworks Series (seven classical concerts per season conducted by Darko Butorac) and the ALT ASO Series (intimate chamber concerts at local venues). Supporting products include recorded music (albums such as Be Still Moses, Mozartistic, and The Asheville Symphony Sessions) and ASO Radio broadcasts on Blue Ridge Public Radio. The organization operates extensive education programs through the Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra, Hip Hop Folktale Project, Music in the Schools, Young People's Concerts, and MusicWorks. Additional offerings include the Asheville Symphony Chorus, Symphony in the Park (free outdoor concert), Pre-Concert Talks, season subscriptions, and gift certificates.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra (ASYO): Youth orchestra program serving more than 200 young musicians with multiple orchestral ensembles, chamber ensembles, and percussion ensemble.
- Asheville Symphony Chorus
- ALT ASO Series
- Hip Hop Folktale Project
- Mozartistic
- Be Still Moses
- The Asheville Symphony Sessions
Products and services
- Givens Communities Masterworks Series The signature classical concert series featuring a full professional symphony orchestra and guest artists across seven performances per season, conducted by Music Director Darko Butorac, performed at First Baptist Church of Asheville.
- ALT ASO Series On-the-road chamber orchestra concerts bringing symphonic music to unique Asheville venues including The Orange Peel, Highland Brewing, Pisgah Brewing, and White Horse Black Mountain, featuring diverse genres from opera to jazz to heavy metal with tickets generally priced at $45 each.
- Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra (ASYO) Youth music education program serving more than 200 young musicians with five orchestral ensembles, two string orchestras, percussion ensemble, flute choir, and chamber ensembles, led by Music Director Alexandra Dee.
- Asheville Symphony Chorus Volunteer community choral ensemble performing regularly with the symphony and presenting independent concerts focusing on choral masterworks and modern repertoire.
- Season Subscriptions Subscription packages for the Masterworks Series offering savings up to 15%, early access to pops concerts, ticket exchange flexibility, and exclusive subscriber benefits, with full-series and compose-your-own options.
- MusicWorks El Sistema-inspired after-school music education program serving approximately 50 students at Leicester Elementary School, combining musical instruction with academic enrichment and sliding-scale tuition.
- Music in the Schools Elementary school music education program providing live classical performances to students in grades 2-5 across Asheville City and Buncombe County schools, sponsored by the Asheville Symphony Guild.
- Young People's Concerts Free symphonic performances for fifth-graders from Asheville and Buncombe County schools, often featuring collaborations with the Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra and guest artists.
- Hip Hop Folktale Project Music education curriculum for grades 2-8 created with GRAMMY winner Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, teaching music appreciation, cultural exploration, and self-expression through hip-hop versions of folktales from around the world.
- Symphony in the Park Free community outdoor concert held at Pack Square Park featuring the full orchestra, presented annually with VIP reserved seating options.
- ASO Radio Radio broadcast partnership with Blue Ridge Public Radio featuring performances from the Givens Communities Masterworks Series aired on BPR Classic.
- Be Still Moses Album Collaborative album featuring GRAMMY-winning Steep Canyon Rangers and Boyz II Men with orchestral arrangements from the Asheville Symphony.
- Mozartistic Album Family-style hip-hop album collaboration with GRAMMY winner Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, pianist Orion Weiss, and DJ Marley Carroll, reimagining Mozart's story through modern hip-hop.
- The Asheville Symphony Sessions Album Album featuring local musicians including Doc Aquatic, Electric Owls, Free Planet Radio, Rising Appalachia, and Steep Canyon Rangers, with orchestral arrangements produced at Echo Mountain Recording Studios.
- 2021 Virtual Concert Series COVID-era deep-dive concert series featuring soloists including soprano Christina Pier, baritone Corey McKern, cellist Amit Peled, violinist James Thompson, and pianist Adam Golka, later broadcast on PBS North Carolina.
Quantifiable outcome
- Serving 45,000+ individuals annually through performances and programs
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Asheville Symphony
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Asheville Symphony technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Asheville Symphony partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Givens CommunitiesflagshipFirst-ever title sponsor of the Masterworks Series for 2026-2027 season. Givens Communities' sponsorship elevates the season under the 'Givens Communities Masterworks Series' branding, with their logo prominently featured on all Masterworks concert materials and promotional content.
- PBS North CarolinacoreThree-year partnership for broadcasting selections from the 2021 Virtual Concert Series. Reaches millions of households across North Carolina, with programming featured in At Home Learning Blocks for education impact.
- Flow Automotive (Porsche of Asheville)coreOfficial Automotive Company of the Asheville Symphony. Provides vehicle donations for Porsche raffle fundraiser and serves as premium season sponsor. The partnership includes vehicle donation for fundraising raffles with winners from across the country.
- Hotel ArrascorePremium season sponsor providing lodging partnership for visiting artists and corporate sponsorship support for symphony programs.
- Blue Ridge Public RadiocoreBroadcast partner for ASO Radio, airing performances of the Givens Communities Masterworks Series on BPR Classic. Broadcasts include Tuesday evening and Thursday morning slots throughout the season, extending reach beyond live audiences.
- Bob Moog FoundationminorCollaboration on Masterworks 3: Double Take program featuring Gabriel Prokofiev's Concerto for Minimoog Synthesizer. Partnership celebrates Asheville's electronic music legacy through orchestral programming.
- MoogseumminorCo-presentation of Masterworks 3 program alongside Bob Moog Foundation, celebrating local electronic instrument innovation through orchestral performances.
- Black Mountain College MuseumminorPartnership celebrating John Cage's legacy through orchestral programming. Black Mountain College was named one of 10 sites in World Monuments Fund's Irreplaceable America initiative.
- Brevard Music CenterminorCollaboration for Holst & Heldenleben performance featuring side-by-side performance of Youth Philharmonic musicians with the professional symphony at Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium.
- Asheville Symphony GuildcoreOver 50-year-old volunteer organization providing fundraising support, community engagement, and sponsorship of Music in the Schools program reaching thousands of elementary students annually.
- First Baptist Church of AshevillecorePrimary performance venue for Masterworks concerts. Partnership deepened with Chorus Director appointment to church staff, creating integrated performance and community relationship.
- Wortham Center for the Performing ArtsminorOriginal venue for 2021 Virtual Concert Series during COVID-era restrictions, now historic venue partnership for performances.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Asheville Symphony competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Carnegie Hall: Iconic performing arts venue and presenter of orchestral concerts with extensive education programs; comparable in programming, education, and nonprofit performance model but at vastly larger scale.
- Nashville Symphony: Larger regional symphony with a major concert hall (Schermerhorn), classical programming, and educational programming including youth orchestra initiatives; broader portfolio but operates in a nearby geography.
- Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: Major regional symphony with extensive education programming, recording label, and broader portfolio; operates at significantly larger scale but comparable nonprofit performance and education model.
Direct peers
- Chattanooga Symphony & Opera: Mid-sized regional symphony serving the Chattanooga metro with Masterworks, Pops, and education programs; comparable scale and nonprofit operating model in an adjacent Southeast market.
- North Carolina Symphony: Statewide symphony orchestra based in Raleigh with similar Masterworks programming, youth education, and community engagement; comparable nonprofit operating model serving North Carolina audiences.
- Charlotte Symphony Orchestra: Regional symphony orchestra serving the Charlotte, NC metro with Masterworks and Pops programming, comparable in mission, programming structure, and donor-funded nonprofit model to the Asheville Symphony.
- Greenville Symphony Orchestra: Mid-sized regional symphony in Greenville, SC with classical Masterworks, education programs, and donor-funded nonprofit structure; similar scale and community-symphony positioning.
- Brevard Music Center: Summer music festival and institute in Western North Carolina collaborating with the Asheville Symphony; comparable music education programming and orchestral training mission in the same region.
- Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra: Regional symphony in Tallahassee, FL previously led by Darko Butorac before his move to Asheville; comparable scale, programming mix, and nonprofit structure.
Others
- Bob Moog Foundation: Asheville-based nonprofit collaborating with the symphony on innovative programming (e.g., Prokofiev Minimoog Concerto); adjacent arts-education organization enabling the orchestra's genre-bridging initiatives.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Asheville Symphony social profiles
Digital presenceAsheville Symphony financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Asheville Symphony leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Asheville Symphony funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Asheville Symphony M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Asheville Symphony
What does Asheville Symphony do?
The Asheville Symphony is a performing arts nonprofit that produces and presents live symphonic concerts, music education programs, and recorded orchestral music. Its flagship offering is the Givens Communities Masterworks Series, a seven-concert classical season led by Music Director Darko Butorac, complemented by the ALT ASO alternative chamber series at local venues. The organization also operates a youth orchestra, school-based music education programs, a community chorus, and recorded albums.
Is Asheville Symphony a public or private company?
Asheville Symphony is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Asheville Symphony founded?
Asheville Symphony was founded in 1958. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Asheville Symphony based?
Asheville Symphony is headquartered in Asheville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Asheville Symphony make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are season Subscriptions, individual Donations, porsche Raffle, corporate Sponsorships, planned Giving and musicWorks Tuition.
Who are Asheville Symphony's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Carnegie Hall, Nashville Symphony and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Direct peers are Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, North Carolina Symphony, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Greenville Symphony Orchestra, Brevard Music Center and Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra. Bob Moog Foundation is listed as an others.
Does Asheville Symphony have an API?
No public API is recorded for Asheville Symphony.
What industry is Asheville Symphony in?
Asheville Symphony's product category is Performing Arts - Symphony Orchestra. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAB, Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music), with a secondary code of BPAGAHAC, Arts Education & Community Arts Programs. Its NAICS code is 711130 and its SIC code is 8200.