What Conspirare does

Conspirare is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit choral organization founded in 1991 in Austin, Texas, operating as a GRAMMY Award-winning professional choir and music education entity. Its core product is live choral performance delivered through three ensembles: the professional chamber choir A Company of Voices, the auditioned Conspirare Symphonic Choir of professional and volunteer musicians, and the Conspirare Artist Citizen Choral Collective, formed in Fall 2023 to engage local educators and singers. The organization also produces a catalog of 14 commercial recordings and 20 self-produced live albums, with signature works such as Considering Matthew Shepard (premiered 2016, performed by hundreds of choirs globally) and the upcoming Piedra de sol release. Core technology is artistic rather than software-based: vocal performance, commissioning of new works through programs like the Joel Brauer Fund for New Music (2021) and Hear Me Out (2022, 15 commissioned composers), recording production, and streaming distribution.

Conspirare serves four distinct audiences: general arts audiences attending concerts in Central Texas and beyond, community participants in free Big Sing events and Music in Schools outreach to low-income middle and high schools, choir organizations worldwide licensing and performing Considering Matthew Shepard, and philanthropic supporters including 832 individual donors and 200+ Hella Circle monthly givers. The revenue model is a nonprofit hybrid: ticket sales cover only ~10% of production costs, with the remainder funded through individual donations, recurring monthly giving ($10-$200 tiers), planned giving via Hella's Angels, corporate sponsorships (notably H-E-B and The Stillwater Foundation), and federal/state grants from the NEA and Texas Arts Council. Albums are priced at $20, and distribution spans the Long Center box office, the Conspirare website, global streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube), and PBS broadcast specials.

The organization has accumulated significant institutional recognition including 12 GRAMMY nominations, a 2014 GRAMMY win for Best Choral Performance, and additional awards from the Edison (Netherlands), German record critics, Texas Cultural Trust, Chorus America, and the Austin Arts Hall of Fame. Its 2027 ACDA National Conference headline slot and the $300K+ already pledged toward the 2026-2027 season indicate an organization with forward momentum despite its small staff footprint of approximately 9-14 professional employees and 14 board members.

Name

Conspirare

Legal name

Conspirare

Website

https://conspirare.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Conspirare is a GRAMMY Award-winning nonprofit professional choral organization founded in 1991 in Austin, Texas, operating three ensembles and producing live concerts, commercial recordings, community Big Sing events, and Music in Schools education programs for Central Texas audiences and a global streaming base.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts - Choral Music

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Record Production and Distribution (51225)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

Keywords

• Choral music performance
• Nonprofit performing arts
• Music education programs
• Choral recordings
• Community singing events

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Concert Ticket Sales: Primary revenue source from live performance tickets sold through the Long Center box office, with ticket prices covering just 10% of the cost to produce Conspirare's transformative music.
2. Album Sales: Sales of commercial recordings including CD and digital albums priced at $20.00, including catalog albums and Grammy-nominated releases.
3. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individual donors supporting nonprofit performing arts and music education mission.
4. Hella Circle Monthly Giving Program: Recurring monthly donations from committed supporters at various giving levels (Pianissmo $10, Piano $25, Mezzo Piano $50, Mezzo Forte $100, Forte $200).
5. Planned Giving: Bequests, IRA gifts, and Donor-Advised Fund grants through Hella's Angels planned giving society.
6. Corporate Sponsorships: Support from corporate sponsors including H-E-B, The Stillwater Foundation, and other organizations listed as season sponsors and supporters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Conspirare is a GRAMMY Award-winning nonprofit performing arts organization that presents live professional choral concerts, produces commercial and live album recordings, commissions new choral works, and delivers community music education programs. The organization operates a professional chamber choir ("A Company of Voices"), the auditioned Conspirare Symphonic Choir, and the Conspirare Artist Citizen Choral Collective, reaching audiences in Central Texas, nationally, and internationally through ticketed performances, streaming platforms, and PBS broadcasts.

Product overview

Conspirare is a GRAMMY Award-winning nonprofit performing arts and music education organization offering professional choral performances, album recordings, and community music education programs. The organization operates under three main ensembles: the professional chamber choir (A Company of Voices), the Conspirare Symphonic Choir (volunteer ensemble), and the Conspirare Artist Citizen Choral Collective (educator-focused choir). Core offerings include live concert performances, commercial and live album recordings (including Grammy-winning releases), signature programs such as the annual Conspirare Christmas and the Considering Matthew Shepard oratorio, and community outreach through Big Sing events and Music in Schools education programs. The organization also supports new music through The Joel Brauer Fund for New Music, commissioning works from contemporary composers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Choral Performances (A Company of Voices) Live concerts by Conspirare's professional chamber choir of singers assembled from across the country, delivering transformational musical experiences through inspired performances. Performances are ticketed events primarily held in Austin venues.
• Album Recordings Commercial and self-produced live album recordings, totaling 14 commercial albums and 20 self-produced live albums, available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube and for purchase through the Conspirare website at $20 each. Includes Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated titles.
• Considering Matthew Shepard A concert-length oratorio composed by Craig Hella Johnson addressing the murder of Matthew Shepard. Performed by Conspirare and licensed to hundreds of choirs worldwide, with artistic and technical assistance provided through a partnership with the Matthew Shepard Foundation.
• Conspirare Symphonic Choir An auditioned chorus of 100+ professional and volunteer musicians with significant choral experience, performing great choral masterworks with orchestra and new works for voices and instruments.
• Conspirare Artist Citizen Choral Collective A choir gathering local educators and singers to co-create choral culture through exploring music and vocal sounds, community involvement, engaging rehearsals, and high-level performance.
• Conspirare Christmas An annual signature holiday concert program curated by Craig Hella Johnson featuring distinctive repertoire, guest artists, and arrangements combining classical, contemporary, traditional, and popular styles.
• Big Sing Community Events Free community singing events held quarterly at public spaces such as libraries, schools, and museums, conducted by Craig Hella Johnson. Open to everyone regardless of singing ability.
• Music in Schools Educational program bringing professional singers to choir teachers and students at low-income middle and high schools through master classes and free performances, supporting music education in underserved schools.
• The Joel Brauer Fund for New Music A fund dedicated to commissioning new choral works by leading and upcoming composers, including Jocelyn Hagen, Alex Berko, and Mark Buller, positioning Conspirare at the forefront of premiering contemporary choral music.
• Piedra de sol Album A 70-minute continuous musical setting of Nobel Laureate Octavio Paz's epic poem "Piedra de sol," composed by Joby Talbot with marimba accompaniment by Tom Burritt, released as a Conspirare album.
• advena: liturgies for a broken world Album featuring world premieres of choral music composed by Mark Buller with librettist Leah Lax, including 'Mass in Exile' and 'Requiem for the Light.'
• Robert Kyr Earth Vigil An environmental oratorio by Robert Kyr for two principal soloists, chorus, and seven instrumentalists, released as a Conspirare recording.
• House of Belonging

Quantifiable outcome

• 7,000+ people experience concerts and free community events annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• H-E-BflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeason Sponsor providing major financial support for Conspirare's annual concert season
• Matthew Shepard FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration on Considering Matthew Shepard, providing artistic and technical assistance to choirs worldwide performing the anti-hate work
• Miró QuartetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on recording House of Belonging, performing new works by Sharon Nova and Alex Berko
• KMFAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustin classical music radio station partner
• Austin SymphonycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on performances including Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, Carmina Burana with Ballet Austin, and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9
• KLRU/PBSChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPBS partner producing documentaries including Considering Matthew Shepard special and A Company of Voices: Conspirare in Concert
• American Choral Directors AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConspirare to headline 2027 ACDA National Conference with Soul Sing concert performance

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Apollo5: American professional vocal quintet that tours, records, and commissions new choral works; directly comparable to Conspirare as a small professional vocal ensemble with a similar nonprofit operating profile.
• Chanticleer: San Francisco-based Grammy-winning professional male vocal ensemble with a nonprofit structure, an extensive touring and recording catalog, and a similar scale and artistic profile to Conspirare.
• Los Angeles Master Chorale: LA-based Grammy-nominated professional choir with a long recording history and active commissioning program, comparable in mission and repertoire strategy though larger in budget and staff than Conspirare.
• The Sixteen: UK-based Grammy-nominated professional choir that tours, records prolifically, and commissions new choral works; comparable to Conspirare in artistic scope and choral repertoire focus, though UK-based.
• Cantus: Minnesota-based professional male vocal ensemble that tours nationally, produces recordings, and commissions new works; comparable to Conspirare in ensemble size, nonprofit funding model, and concert-driven revenue mix.
• The Crossing: Philadelphia-based Grammy-winning professional chamber choir that commissions and premieres new choral works and releases recordings, closely matching Conspirare's small-ensemble, new-music-focused nonprofit model.
• Stile Antico: UK-based Grammy-nominated professional vocal ensemble known for its recordings and concert tours of choral repertoire; comparable to Conspirare in ensemble profile, repertoire focus, and recording-driven identity, though UK-based.
• Roomful of Teeth: Massachusetts-based Grammy-winning vocal ensemble that commissions new vocal works from leading composers and tours internationally, directly comparable to Conspirare's commissioning-driven repertoire strategy and recording output.
• Skylark Vocal Ensemble: Boston-based professional vocal ensemble that performs, records, and commissions new choral works, closely matching Conspirare's small-ensemble, new-mission-focused operating model.
• VOCES8: International professional vocal ensemble with a strong recording catalog and an active educational outreach program (the VOCES8 Foundation), comparable to Conspirare's combined concert, recording, and Music-in-Schools community model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWBZyeDFzGGupDpo7P_LRpw
• Facebookfacebook.com/Conspirare
• Xx.com/conspiraretweet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/conspirare

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Conspirare