What Annapolis Symphony Orchestra does

Annapolis Symphony Orchestra (ASO), legally Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization headquartered at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, 801 Chase Street, Annapolis, Maryland. Founded in 1962 as the Annapolis Civic Orchestra, ASO operates a 69-musician professional, union-represented orchestra (Musicians' Association of Metropolitan Baltimore, Local 40-543) under Artistic Director & Conductor José-Luis Novo, the longest-serving artistic leader in the organization's history. The orchestra delivers its core Signature Series of subscription classical concerts across two venues — Maryland Hall in Annapolis and Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda — supplemented by Holiday Pops, Family Concert Series, and free Pops in the Park community concerts at Downs Park and Quiet Waters Park. Annual Pops in the Park attendance exceeds 7,000.

ASO's revenue is sourced from subscription and single ticket sales (Masterworks $20-$75 single, $100-$325 five-concert subscription with 20% subscriber discounts), individual donations across Education, Artistic, Innovation, and Musician Sponsorship funds, institutional grants (Maryland State Arts Council, Arts Council of Anne Arundel County), corporate sponsorship, and the Annapolis Symphony Academy (ASA) tuition income. ASA is a wholly-owned subsidiary serving 175+ preK-12 students through private instruction and ensembles including the Orion Youth Orchestra and Aries Youth Chamber Orchestra. Community engagement is structural: Adopt-A-School programs place ASO musicians in Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Music Van provides mobile instrument demonstrations, and Concerts for School Children reach thousands of AACPS elementary students annually. SYMPHONY+ is an award-winning on-demand streaming platform extending performance reach beyond physical venues. FASO (Friends of the ASO) operates as a wholly-owned supporting subsidiary driving grassroots fundraising and member events.

Name

Annapolis Symphony Orchestra

Legal name

Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, Inc.

Website

https://annapolissymphony.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit symphony producing classical Signature Series, Pops, and family concerts across Maryland Hall and Strathmore, serving Anne Arundel County audiences and AACPS students while generating revenue through subscriptions, donations, grants, and Academy tuition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Symphony Orchestra and Performing Arts Services

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

akta.pro primary industry

Concerts & Music Festivals (THAJAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music Schools & Conservatory Prep (Pre-College) (EDAMANAE), Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE)

Keywords

• Symphony orchestra concerts
• Music education programs
• Community engagement concerts
• Live orchestral performances
• Classical music subscription series

Headquarters

HQ city

Annapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from single tickets ($20-$75 for Masterworks), subscription packages ($100-$325 for 5-concert series), and student tickets ($10). Signature Series subscribers receive 20% discounts.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations through various giving programs including Education Fund, Artistic Fund, Innovation Fund, Musician Sponsorships, Planned Giving, FASO (Friends of ASO), Play it Forward, and Corporate Support.
3. Government and Foundation Grants: Support from Maryland State Arts Council, Arts Council of Anne Arundel County, and other government/cultural grants.
4. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate support program with various sponsorship levels and benefits.
5. Education Programs: Academy provides music education with some scholarship funding; school concerts serve public schools.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra produces and performs live professional symphonic music through its Signature Series of Masterworks concerts at Maryland Hall and Strathmore, seasonal Holiday Pops performances, and free outdoor Pops in the Park concerts in Anne Arundel County. It also operates the Annapolis Symphony Academy, providing pre-K through high school music instruction serving 175+ students, and delivers community education programs such as Concerts for School Children, Adopt-A-School, and Music Van outreach.

Product overview

The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra (ASO) is a nonprofit performing arts organization offering a portfolio of live musical experiences centered around its core symphony concerts. The primary offerings include the Signature Series (main classical performances at Maryland Hall and Strathmore), Holiday Pops, Pops in the Park (free outdoor concerts), and Family Concert Series. Supporting these core products are digital streaming platform Symphony+, the Annapolis Symphony Academy (ASA) providing music education from preschool to high school, and community outreach programs including Adopt-A-School and Music Van. ASA includes the Orion Youth Orchestra and Aries Youth Chamber Orchestra. The organization employs 69 professional, union-represented musicians and extends its impact through the FASO supporter group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Signature Series Main classical orchestral concert series featuring Masterworks performances with guest soloists and world-renowned artists at Maryland Hall in Annapolis and Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda. Available via 5-concert subscriptions ($100-$325), single tickets ($20-$75), and a 20% subscriber discount.
• Holiday Pops Seasonal concert series featuring festive holiday music, Broadway selections, and popular classics performed at Maryland Hall and Severna Park High School.
• Pops in the Park Free outdoor community concerts featuring 70+ professional musicians playing popular classical works, movie music, and patriotic favorites. Held at Downs Park (Pasadena, MD) and Quiet Waters Park (Annapolis, MD), with free admission and parking.
• Family Concert Series Educational and entertaining performances designed for families and children, featuring interactive presentations, multimedia elements, and collaborations with Classical Kids Live! and Ballet Theatre of Maryland. Tickets priced at $10 per person.
• Symphony+ Streaming Platform Award-winning digital streaming platform providing live and on-demand access to ASO concerts for subscribers and remote audiences.
• Annapolis Symphony Academy Music education program serving 175+ students from preschool through high school, providing private instruction, ensemble participation, and performance opportunities led by ASO musicians. Includes the Orion Youth Orchestra directed by Maestro Novo and the Aries Youth Chamber Orchestra.
• Concerts for School Children Annual school-day concerts at Maryland Hall exposing thousands of Anne Arundel County Public Schools elementary students to symphonic music through fun, multimedia presentations. Tickets at $5 per student, teacher, and chaperone.
• Adopt-A-School Program Teams of ASO musicians visit local schools (e.g., Brooklyn Park and Bates Middle School) to provide individual coaching and instruction to instrumental music students.
• Music Van Program Mobile music education program bringing orchestral instruments and demonstrations to schools and community venues throughout Anne Arundel County.
• Orion Youth Orchestra ASA's highest-level youth ensemble, directed by Maestro José-Luis Novo, performing across the region and preparing students for success in music and beyond.
• Chamber Series Four-concert Chamber Series presented on a subscription basis, providing intimate chamber music performances.
• School Field Trip Concerts STEAM-focused educational concerts for school groups held at Maryland Hall, including NASA Goddard collaborations featuring science-integrated musical experiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7,000+ attendees at annual Pops in the Park
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Made PlusminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2025Unique collaboration announced in November 2025 for special programming initiative.
• Maryland Hall for the Creative ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary performance venue partnership. ASO performs Signature Series concerts at Maryland Hall in Annapolis. Venue undergoing construction during 2025-26 season. ASO offices located at 801 Chase Street, Suite 204 in Maryland Hall.
• Music Center at StrathmorecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for select Signature Series performances in Bethesda/North Bethesda. 2025-26 season includes performances at Strathmore for Legends, Echoes of Heritage concerts.
• Arts Council of Anne Arundel CountycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFunding support for Pops in the Park concerts. Co-sponsor of free outdoor community concerts at county parks.
• Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and ParkscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for free Pops in the Park concerts at Downs Park and Quiet Waters Park. County provides park venues and free parking for events.
• Maryland State Arts CouncilcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerState arts council providing funding support for ASO performances and educational programming.
• Ballet Theatre of MarylandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for school and family concerts, combining orchestral music with dance performances.
• Anne Arundel County Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing annual education concerts for thousands of elementary school children. Adopt-A-School program places ASO musicians in schools for coaching.
• Temple Beth Shalom (Arnold, MD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for Cecelia Wyatt Honors Recital and other Academy events.
• Musicians' Association of Metropolitan Baltimore, Local 40-543coreOthersLabor union representing ASO musicians. 3-year collective bargaining agreement effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028. Agreement includes 69 contracted musicians, annual wage increases, and new Principal Keyboard and Second Percussion positions.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: Maryland's other major professional orchestra, also unionized (Local 40-543), and the most direct geographic peer. Comparable in that it is a union regional orchestra serving a Maryland market with subscription, education, and community programming; Executive Director Erica Bondarev Rapach previously worked at BSO.
• National Philharmonic (Strathmore): Professional orchestra sharing ASO's secondary venue (Music Center at Strathmore) and the Maryland classical market. Directly comparable in programming model, venue footprint, and donor/subscription economics in the D.C. metro region.
• Richmond Symphony: Mid-Atlantic regional professional orchestra of similar scale, serving a comparable mid-sized capital-city market with subscription concerts, youth education, and free community events. Closely analogous business model.
• Delaware Symphony Orchestra: Regional Mid-Atlantic professional orchestra of comparable size serving a smaller state capital market. Directly comparable in scale, subscription model, and education-outreach programming.
• Maryland Symphony Orchestra: Another Maryland-based regional professional orchestra (Hagerstown/Western MD), sharing the same state funding ecosystem (Maryland State Arts Council) and comparable subscriber/donation revenue model.
• Baltimore Chamber Orchestra: Smaller Maryland professional ensemble where ASO Concertmaster Netanel Draiblate previously served as concertmaster. Directly comparable in repertoire scope and Mid-Atlantic donor base, though smaller in scale.
• Binghamton Philharmonic: Mid-sized regional professional orchestra where José-Luis Novo previously served as Music Director. Comparable scale, union structure, and education/community programming model.

Regional players

• Charleston Symphony: Mid-sized regional professional orchestra in a comparable coastal/state-capital market. Similar subscription, education, and free Pops-style community programming, though operating in a different geographic region.

Broad incumbents

• Philadelphia Orchestra: Major established professional orchestra in the broader Mid-Atlantic market. Not a direct competitor for ASO's local subscriber base, but anchors the regional classical ecosystem and competes for top-tier guest artists and donor attention.

Others

• Peabody Conservatory / Peabody Preparatory: Premier music education institution in Baltimore, whose preparatory program competes for the same pre-college music students ASO targets via its Academy. Also a historic talent pipeline (Leon Fleisher connection) for ASO musicians.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/annapsymphony
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChdfqdYutq7D9rGoeidRIbA
• Facebookfacebook.com/annapolissymphony
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/annapolis-symphony-orchestra

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Annapolis Symphony Orchestra