What Winston-Salem Symphony does

The Winston-Salem Symphony (legal entity: Winston-Salem Symphony Association, Inc.) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 1946 on the campus of Salem College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and incorporated as a nonprofit in 1952. The organization employs 75 professional musicians on a per-service basis, fields a 120-voice auditioned volunteer Symphony Chorus, and performs 35-40 mainstage concerts annually across its Classics Series, Pops Series, and family programming at venues including the 1,898-seat R.J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium (primary), Wait Chapel at Wake Forest University, Brendle Recital Hall, and Centenary United Methodist Church. It is governed by a 46-member volunteer Board of Directors and operates with a roughly 20-person administrative team led by President & CEO Amanda Norman (appointed 2025), CFO Donald Bolar, VP of Philanthropy Mandy Vollrath, and VP of Education & Engagement Rachel Watson; Music Director Michelle Merrill (appointed 2023) leads artistic programming.

The organization's revenue model is a hybrid of earned and contributed income across six streams: subscription and single-ticket sales (Classics subscriptions priced $159-$541, Pops $106-$360, Pick 3/4 mini-subs, Chorus 4-packs, and a new $25 Symphony Club student membership), individual donations including planned giving through the 1946 Society, corporate sponsorships (Bell, Davis & Pitt as Season Presenting Sponsor, Wells Fargo among named funders), education program tuition ($275-$390 annually across four youth orchestras, $350/semester for P.L.A.Y. Music with free Title 1 access), and government/foundation grants from the N.C. Arts Council and The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. Distribution runs through a Salesforce-powered online ticketing portal, phone box office, in-person will-call, and direct corporate sponsorship sales.

Beyond mainstage performances, the Symphony runs an integrated education division comprising four youth orchestras (Premiere Strings, Chamber Sinfonia, Youth Philharmonic, Youth Symphony), the El Sistema-inspired P.L.A.Y. Music program at WS/FCS Title 1 schools, the Instrument Petting Zoo outreach program, and the Peter Perret Youth Talent Search competition. It maintains core strategic partnerships with UNCSA (rehearsal space, fellowship program), Wake Forest University (venues, medical school connection), Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (district-wide educational delivery), the LA Phil Partners in Learning network, and the Triad Area Medical Orchestra affiliate ensemble. A free archived streaming service called StagePass Online, accessible via web, mobile, and TV casting devices, extends content reach beyond live attendance. The organization is currently celebrating its 80th anniversary season in 2026-2027.

Name

Winston-Salem Symphony

Legal name

Winston-Salem Symphony Association, Inc.

Website

https://wssymphony.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Winston-Salem Symphony is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1946 that presents 35-40 live orchestral concerts annually in North Carolina's Piedmont Triad, employs 75 per-service musicians, and operates a music education division reaching over 28,000 students through four youth orchestras, P.L.A.Y. Music, and outreach programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Performing Arts (Orchestral Music)

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Music Schools & Conservatory Prep (Pre-College) (EDAMANAE), Music (Instruments, Voice, Music Theory) (EDAAAGAC)

Keywords

• Orchestral performances
• Music education programs
• Youth orchestras
• Live concert series
• Arts nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Winston Salem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from single tickets and subscription packages for classical, pops, and family concerts at Reynolds Auditorium and other venues. Subscribers receive 10-15% discounts.
2. Individual Donations: Charitable contributions from individuals through online donations, pledges, donor-advised funds, qualified charitable distributions from IRAs, and stock donations.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Customized sponsorship packages offering corporate branding, hospitality experiences, and access to diverse audiences for business partners.
4. Education Program Tuition: Fees for Youth Orchestras ($275-$390 per year depending on ensemble) and P.L.A.Y. Music program ($350 per semester, free for Title 1 school students).
5. Planned Giving: Bequests, beneficiary designations, and charitable remainder trusts provide long-term financial support through the 1946 Society legacy giving program.
6. Government and Foundation Grants: Support from N.C. Arts Council, Wells Fargo, and The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County for educational initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Winston-Salem Symphony produces and presents live orchestral concert series (Classics, Pops, and Family programs) featuring 75 professional musicians under Music Director Michelle Merrill, staging 35-40 concerts annually at Reynolds Auditorium, Wait Chapel, and other regional venues. It also operates an extensive music education division including four Youth Orchestras, the El-Sistema-inspired P.L.A.Y. Music K-8 program, the Instrument Petting Zoo, and the Peter Perret Youth Talent Search, supported by an auditioned 120-voice Symphony Chorus and the affiliate Triad Area Medical Orchestra.

Product overview

The Winston-Salem Symphony is a nonprofit performing arts organization offering live orchestral concerts, educational programs, and streaming content. The core offering is live symphony performances (Classical, Pops, and Family concerts) at regional venues, supplemented by an extensive education division comprising Youth Orchestras (four ensembles), P.L.A.Y. Music (El-Sistema-inspired K-8 program), Instrument Petting Zoo, and Youth Talent Search competition. Additional offerings include the 120-voice Symphony Chorus, Triad Area Medical Orchestra affiliate ensemble, Symphony Club student membership, and StagePass free streaming archive. The symphony is celebrating its 80th anniversary in the 2026-27 season.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Triad Area Medical Orchestra (TAMO): All-volunteer ensemble of local health professionals performing twice annually, celebrating its 10th anniversary season in 2025.
• Symphony Club
• StagePass Online
• WSS Youth Orchestras
• P.L.A.Y. Music

Products and services

• Symphony Performances (Classics, Pops, and Family Concerts) Live orchestral performances featuring classical masterworks, pops concerts, and family-friendly programming performed by 75 professional musicians at Reynolds Auditorium, Wait Chapel, Brendle Recital Hall, and other regional venues, serving the Winston-Salem and Piedmont Triad community.
• Season Subscriptions Subscription packages offering discounted access to the Classics and Pops concert series with tiered pricing from $84.10 to $541.21, providing priority seating and 10-15% savings versus single ticket purchases.
• Symphony Chorus

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 28,000 student encounters annually through education programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Triad Area Medical Orchestra (TAMO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Affiliate ensemble of the Winston-Salem Symphony since 2022; all-volunteer ensemble of local health professionals celebrating 10th anniversary in 2025-2026 season.
• N.C. Arts CouncilcoreOthersState arts agency providing operational and educational funding support for the Symphony's programs and initiatives.
• The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth CountycoreOthersLocal arts funding organization supporting Symphony's educational initiatives and community programs.
• Wells FargocoreOthersCorporate sponsor supporting educational initiatives and programs made possible with funding by Wells Fargo.
• Winston-Salem and Forsyth County SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary education partner for in-school ensembles, young people's concerts, P.L.A.Y. Music program, and student transportation to concert venues.
• University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides rehearsal and performance space for Youth Symphony; collaborative opportunities with UNCSA School of Music; WSS/UNCSA Fellowship Program for musicians.
• Wake Forest UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Wait Chapel and Brendle Recital Hall as performance venues; collaboration on chorus and orchestral programs including connection to Wake Forest School of Medicine.
• Bell, Davis & PittsupportingOthersSeason Presenting Sponsor and legal advisor; provides estate planning guide for planned giving supporters.
• Shallow Ford FoundationsupportingOthersSponsor of free summer chamber music concerts in Lewisville at Mary Alice Warren Community Center.
• LA Phil Partners in LearningsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational program supporting P.L.A.Y. Music through grant funding and curriculum development resources.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Richmond Symphony: Mid-sized regional symphony with comparable orchestra size, education programs, and subscription model; useful peer for capital campaign and endowment benchmarking.
• Charlotte Symphony Orchestra: Another North Carolina-based regional symphony orchestra with comparable scale, education programs, and subscription model. Closest in-state comparable given similar market size and organizational structure.
• Greensboro Symphony Orchestra: Piedmont Triad neighbor symphony orchestra serving the same regional market with overlapping patron bases, education programs, and corporate sponsorship competition.
• Asheville Symphony Orchestra: Another North Carolina regional symphony of similar scale, operating an education program and subscription-based concert series; serves as a peer for benchmarking programming and fundraising strategies.
• Charleston Symphony Orchestra: Southeast regional symphony with comparable organizational structure, education programming, and patron base dynamics in a mid-sized American city.
• Louisville Orchestra: Mid-sized American symphony orchestra with comparable per-service musician model, education programs, and subscription structure; useful peer for understanding union/labor cost dynamics.

Broad incumbents

• Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: Major Southeastern symphony operating at significantly larger scale but serving as the regional benchmark for programming, recording initiatives, and talent recruitment (the current Music Director was previously at Detroit Symphony).
• Nashville Symphony: Larger Southeastern symphony with extensive education programs and own concert hall (Schermerhorn); operates at a higher budget scale but in similar regional dynamics and donor market.
• North Carolina Symphony: The state's flagship orchestra, significantly larger and statewide in scope; competes for statewide arts funding, donor attention, and touring audience, but operates a much broader geographic and budget footprint.
• Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra: Larger symphony with extensive youth orchestra programming; notable because the Education Programs Manager was previously at RPO, providing direct insight into operational practices.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@wssymphony
• Facebookfacebook.com/wssymphony
• Instagraminstagram.com/wssymphony
• TikToktiktok.com/@wssymphony
• Xx.com/wssymphony
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/winston-salem-symphony

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Winston-Salem Symphony