Symphoria

What Symphoria does

Symphoria (legally The Syracuse Orchestra) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 1943 as the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and rebranded in 2024 to reflect its broader regional role. Headquartered at 709 James Street in Syracuse, New York, it operates as a musician-led network of orchestras serving Central New York through a portfolio of concert series — Masterworks, Pops, Casual, Candlelight, Kids, Special Events, and a free outdoor Summer Concert Series staged across seven communities including Herkimer, Auburn, Oswego, Hamilton, Clayton, and Fayetteville.

The organization monetizes through three primary revenue streams: subscription and single-ticket sales (FlexPacks offering up to 10 customizable concerts, and Syracuse Unlimited full-season memberships), individual and corporate donations, and corporate sponsorships. Ticket distribution runs through a Salesforce-based online ticketing platform, phone sales at (315) 299-5598, and partner venue box offices such as the Clayton Opera House. Underlying technology is limited to standard CRM and transaction processing rather than proprietary or AI-driven systems.

Beyond performances, the orchestra operates community and educational programs including Syracuse Youth Orchestras, School Programs, Tenacity In Tune, and Healing Harmonies, building multi-generational audience pipelines. Funding is supplemented by public-sector grants from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), the County of Onondaga, and the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, with grant administration handled by CNY Arts. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors chaired by Mary Ann Tyszko.

Name

Symphoria

Legal name

The Syracuse Orchestra

Website

https://experiencesymphoria.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1943

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Symphoria (The Syracuse Orchestra) is a Syracuse-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, musician-led regional orchestra founded in 1943 that presents multiple concert series and educational programs to Central New York audiences, funded by ticket sales, donations, and public-sector grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Syracuse

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from single tickets and subscription packages (FlexPacks, Unlimited memberships) for concert performances including Masterworks, Pops, Casual, Candlelight, and Special Events series.
2. Donations and Contributions: Charitable contributions from individual donors, corporate sponsors, and corporate membership programs. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
3. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship programs supporting the orchestra's operations and community programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Symphoria (The Syracuse Orchestra) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit symphony orchestra that produces and presents live orchestral concerts and music education programs across Central New York. Its core offering is a season of live performances spanning multiple concert series (classical Masterworks, Pops, Casual, Candlelight, Kids, Special Events, and a free Summer Concert Series), sold through subscriptions, FlexPacks, and single tickets. The organization also delivers educational and community programs including Syracuse Youth Orchestras, School Programs, Tenacity In Tune, and Healing Harmonies.

Product overview

The Syracuse Orchestra operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization offering live orchestral concerts and educational programs. The core product portfolio consists of multiple concert series (Masterworks, Pops, Casual, Candlelight, Kids, Special Events, and seasonal Summer Concert Series) featuring classical symphonic performances, Broadway repertoire, and movie scores. The organization supplements performances with subscription offerings including FlexPacks (customizable 10-concert packages) and Syracuse Unlimited (unlimited season access). Community engagement is delivered through Syracuse Youth Orchestras, School Programs, Tenacity In Tune, and Healing Harmonies initiatives. The portfolio also includes gift certificates and corporate membership sponsorships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Syracuse Youth Orchestras: Youth orchestra programs for young musicians in the Syracuse area.
• Community Engagement

Products and services

• Masterworks
• Pops Popular music concert series featuring Broadway tunes, movie scores, and contemporary works performed by the full orchestra for general audiences.
• Casual Concerts Relaxed, informal concert experience designed for accessible and approachable orchestral music enjoyment for patrons seeking a less formal setting.
• Candlelight Concerts Atmospheric concert series featuring performances enhanced by candlelit ambiance for an immersive concert experience.
• Kids Concerts Family-friendly orchestral concerts designed specifically for children and young audiences to introduce them to symphonic music.
• Special Events Concerts Special themed concerts and unique orchestral experiences outside the regular series, such as the Jurassic Park in Concert film-with-live-orchestra presentation.
• Summer Concert Series Free outdoor concerts held across various locations in and around Syracuse during July, featuring community performances in Herkimer, Auburn, Oswego, Hamilton, Clayton, and Fayetteville.
• Syracuse Youth Orchestras
• School Programs Music education initiatives delivered directly to schools in the Syracuse area, providing students with exposure to orchestral music and performance.
• FlexPacks Flexible subscription allowing patrons to choose up to 10 concerts across all Concert Series while receiving subscriber pricing and benefits including waived ticket fees, billed annually.
• Syracuse Unlimited Membership Unlimited attendance subscription offering access to all concerts throughout the season for a single annual fee.
• Gift Certificates Gift cards redeemable for concert tickets and subscriptions, available for purchase as gifts to friends and family.

Named customers3 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

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CNY ArtscoreOthersAdministers grants from New York State Council on the Arts and County of Onondaga for The Syracuse Orchestra.
• Syracuse University Oratorio SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative performance partnership for concerts such as 'All Mozart' featuring joint performances with Syracuse Orchestra musicians.
• Clayton Opera HouseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional venue partner hosting Summer Concert Series performances with independent ticket sales through their box office system.
• I LOVE NEW YORKminorOthersI LOVE NEW YORK is a registered trademark and service mark of the New York State Department of Economic Development; used with permission for tourism promotion.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• New York Philharmonic: New York State's flagship orchestra and one of the oldest in the U.S. Provides relevant geographic and structural comparison for a New York nonprofit orchestra, although at vastly greater scale than Symphoria.
• Boston Symphony Orchestra: Major U.S. orchestra operating Tanglewood and Symphony Hall. Comparable in nonprofit governance and donor-supported model, but at much greater scale and with broader geographic reach than Symphoria.
• Cleveland Orchestra: One of the 'Big Five' U.S. orchestras with extensive national touring, recording, and broadcasting. Not a direct competitor but a relevant benchmark for programming quality, education programming, and donor-supported nonprofit operations at the highest tier.
• Nashville Symphony: Larger U.S. regional symphony with a more developed education and community engagement footprint and a dedicated concert hall. Comparable operating model at greater scale, useful for understanding what growth trajectories look like for regional orchestras.

Direct peers

• Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra: New York State regional orchestra of comparable size to Symphoria, offering a similar mix of classical, pops, and education programming across a single upstate region. Most directly comparable in geography, scale, and nonprofit operating model.
• Hartford Symphony Orchestra: Mid-size Northeast U.S. regional orchestra with a comparable masterworks/pops/family concert mix, education programming, and donor-supported nonprofit structure. Useful peer for benchmarking subscription and community engagement economics.
• Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra: Another New York State regional orchestra with a comparable subscription, ticketing, and donor-supported operating model. Similar audience demographics, education programs, and pop/classical programming balance make it a strong peer.
• Albany Symphony Orchestra: Regional symphony serving the Albany, NY area with parallel Masterworks/Pops programming, youth orchestra programs, and community engagement. Closely comparable in mission and scale within New York State.

Others

• CNY Arts: Regional arts council that administers NYSCA and Onondaga County grants to Symphoria. Not a competitor, but a key ecosystem partner and indirect stakeholder in Symphoria's funding and community programming strategy.

Emerging players

• Orpheus Chamber Orchestra: New York City-based conductorless chamber orchestra. Smaller and more specialized than Symphoria, but relevant peer in the regional/Northeast orchestral ecosystem and in the nonprofit ensemble operating model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCssAO1N4sY5gpOsH1Q6gLeA
• Facebookfacebook.com/THESYRACUSEORCHESTRA
• Instagraminstagram.com/thesyracuseorchestra
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/symphoria

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Symphoria