Arizona Musicfest

What Arizona Musicfest does

Arizona Musicfest is a Scottsdale, Arizona-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization founded in 1990 that presents a seasonal concert series (October through April) of 50+ performances featuring nationally recognized artists in classical, jazz, Broadway, pops, rock, and holiday programming. Its signature asset is the Festival Orchestra, a week-long residency ensemble of musicians drawn from the Chicago Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Boston Symphony, conducted by Music Director Robert Moody. The organization layers this on a diversified program portfolio including Music Alive! (350+ lifelong learning events annually, 5,000+ participants), Club Musicfest and Pizza-cato Chamber Music intimate concert series, the Young Musicians Program (competitions, masterclasses, and $260,000+ in college scholarships awarded since 2012), and the newly launched 2025 Musicfest Theatricals division producing fully-staged Broadway concert productions such as Man of La Mancha at the Herberger Theater Center.

The underlying operating model is event-driven, leveraging North Scottsdale venue partners (Highlands Church, La Casa de Cristo, Pinnacle Presbyterian) and co-production relationships to stage programming on a cost-leveraged basis, with distribution through an in-house box office, Salesforce-powered donation portal, and Etix ticketing platform. Revenue is generated across four streams: ticket sales ($39-$79 per ticket with group and subscription discounts), individual giving through Circles of Giving ($1,000+) and Community of Support tiers, corporate sponsorships (Mariner Wealth Advisors, Northern Trust, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, and others), and planned giving via the Saguaro Circle program managed through the Arizona Community Foundation. The organization operates on a $6M+ annual budget, holds a $10M unrestricted endowment, and has produced 10 consecutive years of operating surpluses, with 439% ticket revenue growth and 295% philanthropy growth over the trailing 10 years under CEO Allan E. Naplan, who joined in 2013.

Name

Arizona Musicfest

Legal name

Arizona Musicfest

Website

https://azmusicfest.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Arizona Musicfest is a Scottsdale, Arizona-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 that presents a seasonal October-April concert series of 50+ performances featuring a Festival Orchestra drawn from America's top orchestras, a Music Alive! lifelong learning program, a Young Musicians scholarship initiative, and a newly launched Musicfest Theatricals Broadway production division serving 50,000+ annual attendees in the Phoenix metro.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Live Concert Programming

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Festival Organizers & Promoters (MPAGAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL)

Keywords

• Live concert performances
• Classical music programming
• Performing arts education
• Youth music scholarships
• Nonprofit arts organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Scottsdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from ticket sales for concert performances, theatrical productions, and intimate concert events. Ticket prices range from approximately $39 to $79 or more depending on the artist and performance. Service fees of $6-7.50 per ticket apply.
2. Individual Giving / Donations: Annual Fund donations from individuals through Circles of Giving ($1,000+) and Community of Support (under $1,000) programs. Donors receive benefits including early ticket access, waived service fees, and recognition.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partnership program allowing businesses to sponsor concerts, educational programs, and community initiatives in exchange for brand visibility, signage, and promotional benefits.
4. Planned Giving / Legacy Gifts: Saguaro Circle planned giving program accepting bequests, charitable bequests, IRA charitable rollovers, and beneficiary designations. Contributions support the Arizona Musicfest Endowment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Arizona Musicfest presents a 50+ performance annual concert season (October through April) featuring nationally recognized classical, jazz, Broadway, pop and holiday artists at three North Scottsdale venues, anchored by a week-long Festival Orchestra residency. The organization complements concerts with Musicfest Theatricals fully staged Broadway productions, Music Alive! lifelong learning events (350+ annually), Young Musicians competitions and scholarships, Festival Chorus performances, and donor engagement programs. Ticket sales, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and endowment returns fund operations serving 50,000+ attendees yearly.

Product overview

Arizona Musicfest is a nonprofit arts organization offering a diversified portfolio of live music experiences and educational programs. The core offerings center on the Concert Season (50+ performances Oct-Apr) and the Festival Orchestra (week-long symphonic residency with musicians from America's top orchestras). These are complemented by Music Alive!, a lifelong learning platform encompassing seminars, lectures, music-making classes, Club Musicfest intimate evening concerts, and Pizza-cato Chamber Music daytime performances. The Young Musicians Program provides competitions, concerts, masterclasses, and college scholarships for aspiring artists. Musicfest Theatricals produces fully-staged Broadway musical concert experiences. The Festival Chorus performs American choral repertoire. Donor engagement programs include Circles of Giving and Saguaro Circle planned giving. Together, these products serve audiences exceeding 50,000 annually while advancing music education and youth development across the Scottsdale/Phoenix community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Musicfest Theatricals: Fully-staged theatrical concert productions of Broadway musicals featuring guest Broadway artists together with top musical theater performers from the Phoenix market
• Music Alive!
• Festival Orchestra
• Club Musicfest
• Pizza-cato Chamber Music
• Young Musicians Program

Products and services

• Concert Season Annual 50+ performance concert season (October through April) showcasing distinguished artists across classical, jazz, Broadway, rock, pops and holiday music genres for individual ticket-buying patrons in the Scottsdale/Phoenix metro.
• Festival Orchestra Week-long residency ensemble featuring musicians from the Chicago Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Boston Symphony performing five distinct symphonic programs under Music Director Robert Moody for concert attendees.
• Music Alive! Lifelong learning and creative aging music-making series featuring over 350 events annually—seminars, lectures, music-making sessions, intimate concerts, and educational programs—for adults and seniors in the Scottsdale/Phoenix community.
• Musicfest Theatricals Fully-staged theatrical concert productions of Broadway musicals featuring guest Broadway artists together with top Phoenix market musical theater talent, presented with a 17-piece orchestra, staging, costumes, and scenic elements.
• Young Musicians Program Youth development initiative including competitions with cash prizes, concert series at the Musical Instrument Museum, masterclasses with nationally acclaimed artists, and college scholarships exceeding $260,000 since 2012 for aspiring young musicians in Arizona.
• Festival Chorus Auditioned choral ensemble performing American choral repertoire, with annual concerts celebrating the great American choral tradition including folk songs, spirituals, and contemporary favorites for concert attendees.
• Club Musicfest Intimate evening concerts featuring local jazz musicians, musical theater performers, and Valley artists with wine and cheese happy hour at Musicfest headquarters in North Scottsdale.
• Pizza-cato Chamber Music Daytime lunchtime chamber music performances by Valley classical musicians with pizza and non-alcoholic beverages included, presented at Musicfest headquarters.
• Circles of Giving Leadership annual giving program at $1,000+ providing donors complimentary tickets, concert sponsorship recognition, behind-the-scenes artist experiences, early ticket buying, priority seating, and waived service fees.
• Saguaro Circle Planned Giving Planned giving recognition program for donors designating Arizona Musicfest as a beneficiary of their estate plans, accepting bequests, beneficiary designations, and IRA charitable rollovers supporting the Arizona Musicfest Endowment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50,000 attendees annually
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Mariner Wealth AdvisorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing financial services sponsorship and community investment in Arizona Musicfest programming.
• 1834 (DoONB)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner representing a financial institution providing community sponsorship support.
• Northern TrustminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing wealth management and financial services sponsorship.
• SacksTierneyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner (law firm) providing community sponsorship and support.
• Carefree SmileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing dental/healthcare services sponsorship.
• Riverton PianominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing piano services and performance support.
• Experience ScottsdaleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation and government partner supporting tourism and visitor promotion for Scottsdale area.
• Scottsdale ArtsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment arts organization providing local arts funding and cultural programming support.
• ONMediaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner handling advertising sales for Arizona Musicfest's concert season program book.
• Images ArizonaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner providing marketing and promotional support.
• Herberger Theater CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for Musicfest Theatricals presentations including Man of La Mancha. Provides venue, production support, and collaborative presentation arrangement with Concord Theatricals/Tams-Witmark.
• Highlands ChurchcoreOthersPrimary performance venue in North Scottsdale for Arizona Musicfest concert programming.
• La Casa de Cristo ChurchcoreOthersPerformance venue for Festival Orchestra and select concerts, providing sanctuary space for classical music programming.
• Pinnacle Presbyterian ChurchcoreOthersPerformance venue for Festival Chorus and select concert events.
• Central Sound at Eight/Arizona PBSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroadcast partner recording Festival Orchestra concerts and producing broadcasts heard on KBAQ-FM 89.5 and Eight-Classical digital TV channel 8.4.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/azmusicfest
• Facebookfacebook.com/azmusicfest
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arizona-musicfest

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Arizona Musicfest