Auburn Symphony
Auburn Symphony Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit symphony in Auburn, Washington, serving South King County through full orchestra concerts, chamber and summer series, and K-12 education programs via Carnegie Hall's Link Up partnership, reaching 4,500+ community members annually.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersAuburn, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Auburn Symphony does
Auburn Symphony Orchestra is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit orchestra (Tax ID 91-1719873) founded in the mid-1990s and entering its 30th Season in 2026-27, headquartered in Auburn, Washington and serving the South King County region. The organization produces live orchestral performances — Full Symphony Orchestra concerts with 60-85 musicians, an intimate Chamber Series, and an outdoor Summer Series — across multiple venues including the Auburn Performing Arts Center (900 seats), Federal Way PAEC (700 seats), Postmark Center for the Arts, and community parks. Programming blends classical masterworks with contemporary commissions and crossover repertoire such as Max Richter's Four Seasons Recomposed, Mozart's Jupiter Symphony, Stravinsky's Petrushka, Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2, Joe Hisaishi's Studio Ghibli works, and Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade.
The orchestra runs three education programs: the Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute Link Up partnership (reaching all Auburn School District and Muckleshoot Tribal School fourth graders), Rhythm & Rhymes (in partnership with King County Library System), and Art Inspires Art (with Interurban Center for the Arts). The organization reaches more than 4,500 community members annually across performances and educational programming.
The business model combines earned revenue (single tickets at $30.98-$51.63, Pick 2/Pick 4 season subscriptions offering up to $60 in savings, $5 TeenTix day-of-show tickets, merchandise via Bonfire) with contributed revenue from individual donations (tiered from $25 stickers up to $5,000 principal chair sponsorships and a planned-giving Legacy Circle), corporate sponsorships (Leavitt Group Northwest, Poe Construction, Propel Insurance, Timberland Bank, Wesley Homes, and others), and institutional grants (NEA, Washington State Arts Commission, 4Culture, ArtsFund, Murdock Grant, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe). Ticketing and donations are processed through GetCueBox, with the City of Auburn providing venue subsidy at the Auburn PAC. The organization operates with a lean administrative staff of 1-10 employees and a variable ensemble of contracted musicians, and is governed by a Board of Directors under Music Director Wesley Schulz (only the second in the orchestra's history, renewed through 2028) and Executive Director Rachel Perry.
Auburn Symphony firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Auburn Symphony
- Legal name
- Auburn Symphony Orchestra
- Website
- https://auburnsymphony.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Auburn Symphony Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit symphony in Auburn, Washington, serving South King County through full orchestra concerts, chamber and summer series, and K-12 education programs via Carnegie Hall's Link Up partnership, reaching 4,500+ community members annually.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Auburn Symphony industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Symphony Orchestra / Live Performing Arts
- NAICS
- Musical Groups and Artists (711130)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC)
Keywords
Where Auburn Symphony is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Auburn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Auburn Symphony business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue from single tickets and season subscriptions to orchestral concerts. Includes full-priced tickets, student/family discounts, and TeenTix $5 day-of-show tickets for teenagers 13-19.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Season sponsorships from local businesses and organizations including City of Auburn, 4Culture, ArtsFund, Washington State Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, and various corporate sponsors.
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals through annual fund, monthly giving, and one-time contributions. Donation tiers include ASO sticker ($25), crewneck sweatshirt ($100), lapel pin ($250), ceramic mug ($500), exclusive dress rehearsal access ($1,000), musician chair sponsorship ($2,500), and principal musician chair sponsorship ($5,000).
- Planned Giving: Legacy Circle program for donors who have included Auburn Symphony in their will or estate plans.
- Grant Funding: Government and foundation grants including Murdock Grant, ArtsFund, 4Culture, Washington State Arts Commission, and National Endowment for the Arts.
- Fundraising Events: Special events like Mimosas & Melodies brunch to support year-round programs.
- Merchandise Sales: Online store sales including limited edition merchandise such as 'It Stands Alone' t-shirts (25% of net sales donated to Mount Rainier National Park).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Zone 1 seating - premium seats at Federal Way PAEC |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Zone 2 seating - standard seats at Federal Way PAEC |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Zone 3 seating - value seats at Federal Way PAEC |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | TeenTix - discounted tickets for teenagers |
| Subscription | Annual | Pick 2 Subscription - minimum 2 concerts |
| Subscription | Annual | Pick 4 Subscription - minimum 4 concerts |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels11 records
Auburn Symphony product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Auburn Symphony Orchestra produces live orchestral and chamber music performances across multiple venues in South King County, Washington, fielding ensembles of 60-85 musicians for mainstage concerts and 3-6 musicians for chamber series. The orchestra supplements performance programming with three community education programs — Link Up (Carnegie Hall partnership), Rhythm & Rhymes, and Art Inspires Art — serving K-12 students and families.
Product overview
Auburn Symphony Orchestra is a nonprofit symphony orchestra offering a portfolio of live orchestral and chamber music performances across multiple venues in the Auburn/Federal Way area. The organization operates three core concert series: Full Symphony Orchestra Concerts featuring 60-85 musicians performing classical and contemporary repertoire; Chamber Series intimate performances with 3-6 musicians in small venues; and Summer Series outdoor concerts in local parks and gardens. The orchestra supplements its performance offerings with three education programs—Link Up (Carnegie Hall partnership for fourth graders), Rhythm & Rhymes (children's musical story time), and Art Inspires Art (art lessons inspired by concert repertoire). Revenue streams include ticket sales, season subscriptions (Pick 2/Pick 4 packages), merchandise through Bonfire, corporate sponsorships, individual donations, and fundraising events.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Full Symphony Orchestra Concerts Mainstage orchestral performances featuring 60-85 musicians performing classical and contemporary repertoire at Auburn Performing Arts Center and Federal Way Performing Arts and Event Center. The 2026-27 Season includes Max Richter's Four Seasons Recomposed, Mozart's Jupiter Symphony, Stravinsky's Petrushka, Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2, Joe Hisaishi's Studio Ghibli music, and Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade.
- Chamber Series Intimate chamber music concerts featuring small ensembles of 3-6 musicians in settings including St. Matthew San Mateo Episcopal Church and Postmark Center for the Arts. Programs include works by Brahms, Haydn, Monti, Debussy, Fauré, and Bax performed by Auburn Symphony musicians and guest artists.
- Summer Series Outdoor concerts held at venues including Soos Creek Botanical Garden, Les Gove Park, and Mary Olson Farm, featuring relaxed summer concerts with string quartet performances in garden settings often combined with community events like farmers markets.
- Link Up Program A Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute partnership bringing orchestral music education to fourth-grade students in Auburn School District and Muckleshoot Tribal School, including curriculum guides, professional development for teachers, and a culminating interactive concert where students perform along with the orchestra.
- Rhythm & Rhymes A free musical story time program for children in partnership with King County Library System, featuring Auburn Symphony musicians who demonstrate their instruments while an Auburn Librarian reads storybooks aloud. Participants receive books to take home, exploring themes like rhythm, dance, and how music evokes emotion.
- Art Inspires Art Free art and music lessons for pre-K through elementary students inspired by ASO repertoire, in partnership with the Interurban Center for the Arts. Teaching artists demonstrate step-by-step art projects using household materials, with videos featuring Auburn Symphony musicians discussing the music and its stories.
- Season Subscriptions Pick 2 or Pick 4 subscription packages allowing patrons to customize their concert experience with savings up to $60, with subscribers able to build personalized seasons around themed combinations such as Violin Lovers, Epic Stories, Pops & Holiday Favorites, or Classics & Show-Stoppers.
- Fundraising Events Special events including Mimosas & Melodies brunch fundraisers supporting year-round programs, along with the annual GiveBIG campaign offering donor incentives ranging from stickers to musician-chair sponsorships.
- Corporate Sponsorship Program Partnership opportunities for businesses to support the symphony's 2024-25 Season with tiered sponsorship levels and recognition at performances and on marketing materials.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50% of surveyed Link Up students expressed interest in joining band or orchestra
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Auburn Symphony
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Auburn Symphony technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Auburn Symphony partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- City of Auburn WashingtonflagshipPrimary municipal partner providing venue subsidy and community support. ASO performs free community concerts in partnership with the City.
- Muckleshoot Indian TribecoreTribal partner providing sponsorship support for ASO programming.
- Carnegie Hall Weill Music InstituteflagshipPartnership for Link Up program bringing orchestral music education to fourth graders in Auburn School District and Muckleshoot Tribal School.
- Auburn School DistrictflagshipEducational partner for Link Up program reaching all fourth grade music classes. School district provides venue and student access for culminating concert.
- Muckleshoot Tribal SchoolcoreEducational partner participating in Link Up program alongside Auburn School District.
- Interurban Center for the ArtscoreArt education partner for Art Inspires Art program, providing teaching artists who demonstrate art projects inspired by music.
- King County Library System (KCLS)corePartnership for Rhythm & Rhymes program - free musical story time featuring Auburn Symphony musician and Auburn Librarian reading storybooks.
- Explore AuburnminorLocal tourism partner providing promotional support.
- Green River CollegeminorEducational institution partner sponsoring 2024-25 season.
- Soos Creek Botanical Garden and Heritage CentercoreIn-kind sponsor and venue partner for outdoor 'Strings in the Garden' summer concerts.
- Classical KING FM 98.1minorIn-kind sponsor - listener-supported classical music radio station in Pacific Northwest.
- KNKX Public RadiominorIn-kind sponsor - regional public radio partner providing coverage and promotional support.
- Seattle Pro MusicacoreArts partner for 'A Sea Symphony' collaboration performance.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Auburn Symphony competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Seattle Opera: Established Seattle performing arts institution with comparable subscription, donor, and education programs. Larger scale and endowment but overlapping donor pool and audience in the Seattle metro.
- Oregon Symphony: Larger Pacific Northwest regional orchestra with multi-series programming and education initiatives. Comparable education pipeline model but materially larger scale and budget.
- Seattle Symphony Orchestra: Dominant professional orchestra in the Seattle metro with much larger subscription base, endowment, and venue (Benaroya Hall). Sets the regional programming and pricing benchmark that Auburn Symphony competes against.
Direct peers
- Spokane Symphony Orchestra: Regional symphony serving the Inland Northwest with analogous mix of full orchestra, chamber, and education programming. Similar size, governance, and community-anchored nonprofit model.
- Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestras: Eastside Seattle-metro ensemble focused on youth orchestral training and concert performance. Compares on chamber-orchestra format and K-12 education orientation, though more youth-development focused.
- Yakima Symphony Orchestra: Smaller regional Washington State symphony serving a similar sized community. Comparable ticket, donation, and grant revenue mix and community-mission orientation.
- Seattle Pro Musica: Seattle-based choral ensemble with which Auburn Symphony has a documented collaboration on 'A Sea Symphony.' Comparable nonprofit regional performing-arts structure and audience-development approach.
- Northwest Sinfonietta: Pacific Northwest chamber orchestra performing classical repertoire with similar regional venue footprint. Comparable scale and chamber-orchestra economics to Auburn Symphony's chamber series.
- Tacoma Symphony Orchestra: Regional symphony serving the South Puget Sound area with comparable full-orchestra, chamber, and education programming. Closest geographic and scale analog to Auburn Symphony within the broader Seattle-Tacoma metro.
Others
- Pacific Northwest Ballet: Major Seattle-based performing arts nonprofit with parallel funding model (ticket, donation, corporate sponsorship, grants) and education programming. Indirect comparator for nonprofit performing-arts economics in the same metro.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Auburn Symphony social profiles
Digital presenceAuburn Symphony compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Auburn Symphony financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Auburn Symphony leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Auburn Symphony funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Auburn Symphony M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Auburn Symphony
What does Auburn Symphony do?
Auburn Symphony Orchestra produces live orchestral and chamber music performances across multiple venues in South King County, Washington, fielding ensembles of 60-85 musicians for mainstage concerts and 3-6 musicians for chamber series. The orchestra supplements performance programming with three community education programs — Link Up (Carnegie Hall partnership), Rhythm & Rhymes, and Art Inspires Art — serving K-12 students and families.
Is Auburn Symphony a public or private company?
Auburn Symphony is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Auburn Symphony founded?
Auburn Symphony was founded in 1996. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Auburn Symphony based?
Auburn Symphony is headquartered in Auburn, United States, in the North America region.
How does Auburn Symphony make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships, individual Donations, planned Giving, grant Funding, fundraising Events and merchandise Sales.
Who are Auburn Symphony's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Seattle Opera, Oregon Symphony and Seattle Symphony Orchestra. Direct peers are Spokane Symphony Orchestra, Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestras, Yakima Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Pro Musica, Northwest Sinfonietta and Tacoma Symphony Orchestra. Pacific Northwest Ballet is listed as an others.
Does Auburn Symphony have an API?
No public API is recorded for Auburn Symphony.
What industry is Auburn Symphony in?
Auburn Symphony's product category is Symphony Orchestra / Live Performing Arts. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGALAC, Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues). Its NAICS code is 711130 and its SIC code is 7900.