Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra

What Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra does

The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra (WSO) is a non-profit regional symphony orchestra founded in 1969 and based at 951 Old Salem Road, Greensburg, Pennsylvania, currently in its 58th season (2026-2027). It presents a portfolio of live classical and pops performances — a main subscription concert series at the Palace Theatre, the annual Nutcracker Ballet co-produced with Texture Contemporary Ballet (featuring more than 120 dancers), the "Summer with the Symphony" outdoor series, and a Summer Chamber Music Series at Unity Chapel in Latrobe — alongside a youth and adult education pillar operated through the Academy of Music and the Westmoreland Youth Symphony Orchestra (WYSO, founded 1981). The organization also produces original multimedia content, most notably "The Unlikely Union: A Storytelling Symphony of America," co-developed with Professor Greg Jackson of the History That Doesn't Suck podcast and broadcast nationally on PBS and locally on WQED Pittsburgh beginning January 2026.

WSO's core technology and production capability centers on professional symphonic performance combined with a tiered youth orchestra ladder (Philharmonic for high schoolers, Philharmonia for middle schoolers, String Ensemble for elementary, Wind Symphony, plus a Summer Philharmonic community orchestra and Summer Music Institute). It distributes through the Palace Theatre as primary venue, Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center, Unity Chapel, and PBS/WQED digital streaming. Strategic partners include PBS/WQED, the Westmoreland Cultural Trust, Seton Hill University, Texture Contemporary Ballet, Pittsburgh Opera, Carnegie Museum of Art, and Go Laurel Highlands.

WSO's business model is a hybrid non-profit revenue mix: ticket sales ($18-$63 per classical concert, $5 student rush), season subscriptions (starting at $64), Academy of Music tuition and private lessons, corporate concert sponsorships (Covington Investment Advisors, Morgan Stanley, LECOM, Elliott Group, among others), donations, and fundraising events (Art of Music Gala $125/ticket, Autumn Rhapsody Gala, Hat Luncheon, Classics on the Rocks). Customer segments span general concert attendees, youth musicians and their families, corporate sponsors, and independent music educators. The organization is governed by a volunteer board (current president Michael Matteo, 18th president) and led by Artistic Director Daniel Meyer and Executive Director Michael Rozell, with a small core staff supplemented by per-service musicians. In January 2022 WSO absorbed the Friday Evening Music Club (founded 1946), extending its recital and scholarship programming.

Name

Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra

Legal name

Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra

Website

https://westmorelandsymphony.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra is a non-profit regional symphony orchestra in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, in its 58th season, presenting classical concerts, the Nutcracker Ballet, chamber and summer series, and the Academy of Music youth education programs, with growing national reach via PBS distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Symphony Orchestra and Performing Arts

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Music Schools & Conservatory Prep (Pre-College) (EDAMANAE), Performance Coaching & Competition Preparation (Auditions, Recitals) (EDAMANAL), Private Music Lessons (Instrumental) (EDAMANAA)

Keywords

• Classical symphonic concerts
• Youth orchestra education
• Music education programs
• Chamber music series
• Nutcracker ballet productions

Headquarters

HQ city

Greensburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 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 concert tickets ($18-$63 range), season subscriptions, and student rush tickets ($5). Nutcracker performances include multiple showtimes.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, concert sponsorships, gala events including Art of Music Gala and Autumn Rhapsody Gala, Hat Luncheon special events.
3. Academy of Music Programs: Revenue from youth orchestra program (WYSO Philharmonic, Philharmonia, String Ensemble, Wind Symphony), summer programs (Summer Philharmonic, Summer Wind Ensemble, Summer Strings), private lessons, and Young Artist Solo & Ensemble Festival.
4. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships from various businesses including Covington Investment Advisors, Morgan Stanley, LECOM, Elliott Group, and others displayed on website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra is a non-profit regional symphony orchestra that produces and presents live classical symphonic concerts, ballet productions (Nutcracker), chamber music series, and multimedia orchestral works. It also runs the Academy of Music, a structured youth music education program featuring youth orchestras (WYSO), private lessons, summer institutes, and competitions, supported by ticket sales, subscriptions, donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising galas.

Product overview

Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra (WSO) is a regional symphony orchestra presenting a portfolio of live concert performances and music education programs. The core offering is classical symphonic concert performances at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, currently in its 58th season. Supporting products include the Nutcracker Ballet, Summer with the Symphony outdoor series, and the Summer Chamber Music Series featuring chamber ensembles. The Academy of Music provides youth orchestral education through multiple ensembles: WYSO Philharmonic (high school), Philharmonia (middle school), String Ensemble (elementary), Wind Symphony, Summer Philharmonic, Summer Music Institute, Young Artist Solo & Ensemble Festival, and Private Lessons. The WSO also streams content on PBS including 'The Unlikely Union' multimedia production. Special events include the Art of Music Gala and Hat Luncheon. Subscriptions and sponsorship packages support organizational funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Westmoreland Youth Symphony Orchestra (WYSO): Youth orchestra program offering Philharmonic, Philharmonia, String Ensemble, and Summer ensembles for young musicians.
• Academy of Music
• WSO Chamber Singers

Products and services

• Classical Concert Performances Main symphonic concert series featuring classical music performances held at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. The 58th season includes classical symphonic programs, soloist performances, and orchestral repertoire for general audiences and families.
• Summer with the Symphony Annual outdoor summer concert series featuring patriotic favorites and classic orchestral repertoire, often tied to holidays and special commemorations.
• Nutcracker Ballet Annual holiday production featuring the full WSO orchestra accompanying the Texture Ballet School and Texture Contemporary Ballet dancers performing the classic Tchaikovsky ballet, with multiple showtimes for family audiences.
• The Unlikely Union: A Storytelling Symphony of America Groundbreaking multimedia production combining historical storytelling by Professor Greg Jackson (History That Doesn't Suck podcast) with original music performed by the WSO, celebrating America's 250th anniversary and streamed nationally on PBS.
• Summer Chamber Music Series Concert series featuring world-class chamber ensembles including Beo String Quartet, Windfluence, Pittsburgh Chamber Brass, and Chatham Baroque at Unity Chapel in Latrobe.
• WYSO Philharmonic Flagship youth orchestra ensemble of the Academy of Music for high school musicians, conducted by Adam Gillespie and performing alongside the WSO at the Palace Theatre.
• WYSO Philharmonia Middle school youth orchestra ensemble created in 2015 for students who have progressed beyond beginning levels, conducted by Jorie Butler-Geyer.
• WYSO String Ensemble Elementary school youth orchestra ensemble for beginning string players, founded in 2013 and led by Sarah Ferrell.
• WYSO Wind Symphony Wind ensemble program for wind, brass, and percussion players within the Academy of Music youth orchestra program.
• Summer Philharmonic 65-member community orchestra comprised of area music teachers, WYSO alumni, and adults, held annually each summer at Seton Hill University.
• Summer Music Institute One-week summer camp for band, orchestra, vocal and piano students from grades 6-12 held at the Seton Hill Performing Arts Center.
• Young Artist Solo & Ensemble Festival Annual competition event for young musicians with cash prizes and performance opportunities at Seton Hill University.
• Private Music Lessons Private music instruction for string players offered through the Academy of Music, taught by professional musicians.
• Young People's Concert School-time concerts designed for elementary-age children featuring orchestral music, produced annually since 1975.
• Friday Evening Music Club Concerts and Scholarships Merged entity presenting monthly recital series, salon series, and awarding yearly music scholarships to area high school seniors pursuing music studies.
• WSO Season Subscriptions and Tickets Subscription packages and individual ticket sales providing advance seat access and pricing for the full 58th concert season at the Palace Theatre.

Quantifiable outcome

• Performing with WSO provides memorable experiences that shape young musicians' careers
• +1 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PBS / WQEDcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 January 2026Groundbreaking collaboration to produce and broadcast 'The Unlikely Union: A Storytelling Symphony of America' celebrating America's 250th anniversary. Premiered at Palace Theatre January 17, 2026, now streaming nationally on PBS and broadcast locally on WQED Pittsburgh.
• History That Doesn't Suck Podcast / Professor Greg JacksoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Collaboration with Professor Greg Jackson, creator of acclaimed podcast History That Doesn't Suck, for The Unlikely Union multimedia production combining storytelling with orchestral music.
• Lincoln Highway Heritage CorridorminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Rhythm of the Road concert sponsored through DCNR mini-grant program at Lincoln Highway Experience museum.
• Friday Evening Music Club (FEMC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1946Merger completed January 2022; FEMC founded 1946 presented monthly recitals and awards yearly music scholarship. Many FEMC members were integral to WSO founding. Christopher Bartley joined WSO board as Vice President.
• Palace Theatre / Westmoreland Cultural TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary performance venue partnership for symphonic concerts; historic theater provides premium concert experience for audiences.
• Seton Hill UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for WYSO Philharmonic and Summer Philharmonic performances at Performing Arts Center; hosts youth orchestra rehearsals and concerts.
• Texture Contemporary Ballet / Texture Ballet SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual collaboration for Nutcracker Ballet performances featuring over 120 dancers; Alan Obuzon founded Texture in 2011, named Dance Magazine 'Top 25 to Watch' 2013.
• Laurel BalletminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing annual collaboration for Nutcracker Ballet performances.
• Go Laurel HighlandsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTourism partnership for regional promotion of concerts and cultural events to visitors.
• Carnegie Museum of ArtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Opening Night 2020 featuring Charles 'Teenie' Harris photographs paired with George Walker's 'Lyric for Strings'.
• Pittsburgh OperacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular collaboration featuring resident artists as soloists in performances including Carmina Burana, Fauré Requiem, and Home for the Holidays concerts.
• Charles F. and Mary Esther Sawyer Music Fund / Latrobe Presbyterian ChurchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUnderwriter for Summer Chamber Music Series at Unity Chapel; proceeds benefit WYSO youth orchestra program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Erie Philharmonic: A regional symphony orchestra of comparable scale based in Erie, Pennsylvania. Closely matches WSO's structure of classical season performances, youth education programs, pops concerts, and community engagement in a similar-sized Pennsylvania market.
• Akron Symphony Orchestra: Mid-size regional symphony in northeastern Ohio offering classical concerts, youth orchestra programs, and educational initiatives. Directly comparable to WSO in scale, programming structure, and reliance on ticket sales plus community donations.
• Texture Contemporary Ballet: Annual Nutcracker co-producer with WSO, contributing 120+ dancers to the holiday collaboration. Compares to WSO as a regional performing arts organization reliant on local partnerships, ticket revenue, and donated performance space.
• Lancaster Symphony Orchestra: Pennsylvania-based regional symphony of similar size, presenting a classical season, youth programs, and special events. Shares WSO's nonprofit structure, reliance on community support, and educational programming mission.
• West Virginia Symphony Orchestra: Regional symphony serving West Virginia with a comparable classical season, educational outreach, and pops programming. Similar scale and mission to WSO, making it a closely comparable peer for budget, programming mix, and operational structure.
• Canton Symphony Orchestra: Regional symphony in Ohio offering a masterworks season, youth orchestra, and educational outreach. Operates at a comparable scale to WSO with similar revenue mix from tickets, donations, and tuition-based youth programs.
• Pittsburgh Opera: Strategic partner that places resident artists with WSO for choral-orchestral works including Carmina Burana and Fauré Requiem. Operates as a comparable regional performing arts non-profit in the same Pittsburgh media market with similar funding dynamics.

Broad incumbents

• Charlotte Symphony Orchestra: Larger regional symphony with comparable programming pillars (classical season, youth orchestra, community engagement) but operates at materially larger budget and subscriber scale. Useful benchmark for the upper bound of regional orchestra scale.
• Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra: The major regional symphony serving the same Pittsburgh metropolitan area as WSO. Directly comparable as a classical symphonic concert presenter and education provider, but operates at substantially larger scale, budget, and subscriber base, making it the dominant competitor in WSO's core market.

Emerging players

• Curtis Institute of Music: Premier conservatory that produces professional musicians who may join regional orchestras including WSO. Comparable through its music education mission and alumni pipeline into regional orchestras, though operating at a different scale and mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wstmrlndsymphny
• Facebookfacebook.com/WestmorelandSymphonyOrchestra
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/westmoreland-symphony-orchestra

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra