Frederick Symphony Orchestra

What Frederick Symphony Orchestra does

The Frederick Symphony Orchestra (FSO) is a 501(c)(3) community orchestra founded in 1997 and based in Frederick, Maryland, now in its 29th season. It is a semi-professional ensemble composed of professionally trained and amateur musicians performing five annual masterworks programs and two spotlight chamber music concerts, with repertoire spanning classical masterworks, contemporary compositions, and popular works. Performances are held at the Jack B. Kussmaul Theater at Frederick Community College, Hood College's Brodbeck Hall, and the Seventh Day Adventist Church, and the orchestra is formally in residence at Frederick Community College, where qualified musicians may earn college credit.

FSO operates an extensive educational and community outreach portfolio, including the Young Artist Competition for middle and high school instrumentalists, the Side-by-Side Mentoring Program, the FSO Camerata summer residency with free community concerts, Symphony Storytime at Frederick County Public Libraries (in partnership with Music & Arts), Kids Go Classic narrated chamber concerts, and Music Makers Jr. early childhood classes. Digital reach is extended through YouTube live-stream broadcasts, email newsletters, and the orchestra's "Musical Musings" educational blog.

The orchestra's revenue model is a hybrid non-profit mix: ticket sales cover approximately 30% of operating expenses, grants from the Maryland State Arts Council and Frederick Arts Council contribute roughly 13%, and the remaining ~57% is funded through corporate sponsorships (Platinum Circle sponsors FirstEnergy Foundation and Ausherman Family Foundation; Gold Circle sponsor PNC), private donations (processed via PayPal), and in-kind support. Ticketing is distributed through the orchestra's website via a third-party platform (cur8.com) with a phone box office. Leadership is provided by Music Director & Conductor Glenn Quader (10th season), Concertmaster Alyssa Boxhill (since 2015), and a Board of Directors led by President Matthew R. Stegle.

Name

Frederick Symphony Orchestra

Legal name

Frederick Symphony Orchestra

Website

https://fredericksymphony.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Frederick Symphony Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) semi-professional community orchestra founded in 1997 in Frederick, Maryland, presenting five annual masterworks concerts, two chamber music concerts, and educational programs serving local audiences, students, and young musicians.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Symphony Orchestra Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Performance Coaching & Competition Preparation (Auditions, Recitals) (EDAMANAL)

Keywords

• Symphony orchestra performances
• Classical music concerts
• Community music education
• Young artist competition
• Chamber music ensembles

Headquarters

HQ city

Frederick

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Ticket sales for concert performances constitute approximately 30% of the orchestra's operating expenses, serving as the primary revenue source from audiences attending masterworks and pop concerts.
2. Grants and Sponsorships: Grants from arts councils (including Maryland State Arts Council and Frederick Arts Council) and corporate/foundation sponsorships contribute approximately 13% of operating expenses.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from patrons and supporters help fund symphony operations and community outreach programs including Symphony Storytime, Kids Go Classic concerts, and the Young Artist Competition.
4. Educational Credits: Qualified musicians performing with FSO at Frederick Community College may receive college credit for participation in the ensemble.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Frederick Symphony Orchestra is a community symphony orchestra that produces five annual masterworks concert programs and two spotlight chamber music concerts, performing classical masterworks, contemporary compositions, and popular works for audiences in Frederick, Maryland. It complements its concert programming with educational outreach initiatives such as the Young Artist Competition, FSO Camerata summer residency, Side-by-Side Mentoring Program, Symphony Storytime, Kids Go Classic concerts, and Music Makers Jr. classes. The orchestra operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, receiving support from ticket sales, grants, donations, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

The Frederick Symphony Orchestra is a semi-professional community orchestra offering a unified portfolio of musical programs and services. The core offering consists of five annual masterworks concert programs and two spotlight chamber music concerts featuring classical, contemporary, and popular musical works. Supporting these performances are educational outreach programs including the Young Artist Competition for aspiring young musicians, the FSO Camerata summer residency with free community concerts, the Side-by-Side Mentoring Program pairing students with professional musicians, Symphony Storytime at public libraries, Kids Go Classic narrated chamber concerts, and Music Makers Jr. early childhood music classes. The orchestra also provides live-stream broadcasts via YouTube for virtual audience engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Masterworks Concert Programs Annual five-concert masterworks series featuring classical masterworks, contemporary compositions, and pop concerts for Frederick-area audiences.
• Spotlight Chamber Music Concerts Two annual chamber music concerts featuring smaller ensembles performing works by composers such as Britten, Shostakovich, and Bach.
• Young Artist Competition Annual competition for advanced middle and high school-aged instrumentalists in Frederick County, with winners performing during the FSO concert season.
• FSO Camerata Summer residency program performing free concerts in diverse Frederick-area venues to extend the Symphony's programming and enrich the community's musical culture.
• Side-by-Side Mentoring Program Program for qualified high school musicians (16 years and younger) to attend rehearsals and perform in concerts, receiving mentorship from established adult musicians in their section.
• Symphony Storytime Library program at Frederick County Public Libraries where children experience books read aloud with live music performed by FSO members, followed by a musical instrument petting zoo with Music & Arts.
• Kids Go Classic Concerts Narrated concert series by FSO's Chamber Ensembles featuring classical excerpts, serving as an introduction to classical music for young people.
• Music Makers Jr. Free classes engaging preschoolers and elementary students through songs, instruments, movement, and imaginative play, introducing early music concepts.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and flagship.

• Maryland State Arts CouncilmajorOthersState arts council providing grant funding (approximately 13% of operating expenses) as part of the orchestra's funding model supporting FSO's mission to bring classical music to the Frederick community.
• Frederick Arts CouncilmajorOthersLocal arts council providing grant support and community sponsorship for the Frederick Symphony Orchestra's cultural programming.
• Frederick County Public LibrariescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to increase and enhance free music education through the Symphony Storytime program, which brings live music performances and instrument demonstrations to library locations.
• Music & ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the instrument 'petting zoo' component following Symphony Storytime performances, providing hands-on music education opportunities for children.
• FirstEnergy FoundationflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum Circle sponsor providing significant financial support to the orchestra as a major corporate foundation partner.
• Ausherman Family FoundationflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum Circle sponsor providing significant financial support as a major foundation partner for the orchestra.
• Frederick Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSO is in residence at Frederick Community College. The orchestra rehearses Thursday evenings at FCC (7:30-9:45 PM) and performs at the Jack B. Kussmaul Theater. Qualified musicians may receive college credit.
• Hood CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerformance venue partner hosting FSO concerts at Brodbeck Hall for spotlight chamber music concerts.
• PNCmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Circle corporate sponsor providing financial support to the orchestra.
• Frederick Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe FSO is a community orchestra in residence at Frederick Community College, performing at various venues and providing college credit opportunities for participating musicians.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Delaware Symphony Orchestra: Mid-Atlantic community symphony similar in size, program mix (masterworks plus pops), and reliance on ticket sales, grants, and donations. Same regional competitive set.
• National Philharmonic: Montgomery County, MD-based professional orchestra with comparable classical and pops programming, and similar reliance on corporate sponsors and educational outreach. Strong geographic adjacency to Frederick.
• Richmond Symphony: Virginia-based regional orchestra with larger scale but comparable semi-professional roster and educational partnership programs. Same funding ecosystem (state arts council, corporate sponsors, individual donors).
• Maryland Symphony Orchestra: Regional symphony serving Hagerstown-Western Maryland with semi-professional roster and educational outreach programming. Same state, similar scale, and overlapping funder pools (Maryland State Arts Council).
• Fairfax Symphony Orchestra: Virginia-based community symphony where Glenn Quader previously served as Associate/Resident Conductor. Comparable in semi-professional roster mix, regional catchment, and reliance on donated income.
• Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra: Pennsylvania regional symphony with similar mixed professional/community musician model and educational outreach programs such as Young Person's Concerts. Comparable mission and catchment dynamics.
• Lancaster Symphony Orchestra: Pennsylvania regional community symphony of comparable size and semi-professional roster. Closely matches FSO on concert count, education program mix, and donor-dependence profile.
• Annapolis Symphony Orchestra: Maryland-based regional community symphony with similar classical-plus-pops programming model and comparable institutional partnerships with local colleges. Direct geographic peer within Maryland.
• Piedmont Symphony Orchestra: Regional community symphony orchestra in the Carolinas where Glenn Quader serves concurrently as Music Director, making artistic leadership directly comparable to FSO. Closest analog in musician roster, programming scale, and conductor profile.

Broad incumbents

• Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: Maryland's largest professional orchestra, serving as the state's flagship and a broader incumbent against which community orchestras like FSO compete for donors, audiences, and musician talent. Provides reference point for FSO's positioning within the Maryland orchestral ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FredSymphOrch

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Frederick Symphony Orchestra