Society for Chamber Music in Rochester

What Society for Chamber Music in Rochester does

Society for Chamber Music in Rochester (SCMR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 1977 in Rochester, New York, and currently marking its 50th anniversary season. The organization presents five chamber music concerts per season at Beston Hall in the Glazer Music Performance Center at Nazareth University, where it holds an Ensemble-in-Residence partnership. Performers are drawn primarily from the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) and the Eastman School of Music (ESM), with Artistic Directors Juliana Athayde (RPO Concertmaster) and Erik Behr (RPO Principal Oboe) leading programming that spans classical and contemporary chamber works. SCMR also operates an educational outreach program with school concerts and master classes, runs the Salaff String Quartet ambassador program, and hosts annual Young Composer Competitions funded by the Howard Hanson Institute for American Music at ESM.

Revenue is generated through a multi-stream nonprofit model: ticket sales (single tickets at $35, Flex Packs at $100 for three tickets, and Full Series Subscriptions at $150 for all five concerts), tax-deductible donations across tiers from $150 to $6,000+, concert sponsorships at $3,000 per concert, and institutional grants from the New York State Council on the Arts, Monroe County, and the Rochester Area Community Foundation. The organization is governed by a volunteer board of directors and operates with a core team of approximately five including two Artistic Directors, board members, and occasional interns. There are no disclosed financial figures; SCMR does not publish revenue, and ticket pricing as well as student/child free admission reflect its mission-driven, access-oriented GTM. Distribution is direct: online ticket sales through the organization's website, at-door sales at Beston Hall, and outreach performances at schools and community venues. Marketing relies on the organization's website, email newsletters, social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube), and earned media partnerships with WXXI Classical 91.5 FM, Rochester City Newspaper, and Rochester Beacon.

Name

Society for Chamber Music in Rochester

Legal name

Society for Chamber Music in Rochester

Website

https://chambermusicrochester.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Society for Chamber Music in Rochester is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1977 that presents five chamber music concerts per season at Nazareth University, featuring Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and Eastman School of Music musicians for audiences in Rochester, NY.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts (Chamber Music)

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

Keywords

• Chamber music concerts
• Classical music performances
• Music education outreach
• Young composer competitions
• Live chamber music

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochester

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: Revenue from selling tickets to chamber music concerts including single tickets ($35), flex packs ($100 for 3 tickets), and full season subscriptions ($150 for 5 concerts). Students and children receive free admission.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations at various giving levels ($150-$6,000+) support education programs, community outreach, and commissions. The organization is a 501(c)(3) with EIN 22-2200196.
3. Concert Sponsorships: Corporate and individual sponsors underwrite specific concerts at various levels ($3,000 for full concert sponsorship), providing visibility and recognition in exchange.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Society for Chamber Music in Rochester (SCMR) is a nonprofit performing arts organization that presents an annual season of five live chamber music concerts at Beston Hall in the Glazer Music Performance Center at Nazareth University, featuring musicians from the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the Eastman School of Music. Its programming spans great works of all periods and styles, and is supported by education outreach (school concerts, master classes, the Salaff String Quartet ambassador program) and an annual Young Composer Competition funded by the Howard Hanson Institute for American Music.

Product overview

Chamber Music Rochester is a performing arts organization presenting live chamber music concerts and educational programs. The core offering is a season of five concerts featuring musicians from the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and Eastman School of Music, supplemented by educational outreach programs including school concerts, master classes, and the Salaff String Quartet ambassador program. The organization also runs an annual Young Composer Competition for New York State students. Ticket products include Full Series Subscriptions (all 5 concerts), Flex Packs (3 tickets), and Single Tickets, with free admission for students and children. Online broadcasts of concerts are also offered as part of the program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chamber Music Concert Series
• Young Composer Competitions
• School and Community Outreach Program
• Salaff String Quartet Ambassador Program SCMR's in-house ambassador ensemble of four Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra musicians, founded in 2014, that represents the organization at local schools, universities, and senior living facilities through performances and educational engagement.
• Online Concert Broadcasts Virtual streaming and online broadcasts of SCMR live performances, including free streaming of selected concerts and donation-supported replays available after in-person events, distributed via the website and YouTube channel.

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Rochester Philharmonic OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusicians from the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra perform in SCMR concerts. RPO string principals are regular performers on the series. SCMR's Artistic Directors (Juliana Athayde as Concertmaster since 2005, Erik Behr as Principal Oboe since 2007) are RPO members.
• Eastman School of MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESM faculty and students perform in SCMR concerts. ESM provides access to world-class musicians and facilities. Partnership includes hosting interns through Arts Leadership Program.
• Howard Hanson Institute for American MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding from the Hanson Institute for American Music at Eastman School of Music supports the Young Composer Competitions. Winners receive cash prizes and their works are performed on SCMR concerts.
• Nazareth CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCMR is an Ensemble-in-Residence at Nazareth College, performing at Beston Hall in the Glazer Music Performance Center. Partnership includes outreach opportunities with students and faculty. SCMR provides experiences to grow chamber music at the school.
• New York State Council on the ArtsmajorOthersNYSCA provides funding for SCMR's outreach programs that bring chamber music to students in schools and community venues.
• Rochester Area Community FoundationmajorOthersRACF provides funding supporting SCMR's outreach mission and education programs.
• Monroe CountymajorOthersMonroe County provides financial contribution supporting SCMR's mission.
• Rochester Museum and Science Center (RMSC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for virtual reality chamber music concerts at Strasenburgh Planetarium. SCMR performed Celestial Sounds VR experience using Titan 11K Cinematic Camera for 360-degree viewing.
• George Eastman MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric venue for SCMR's first concerts (George Eastman House, 1977-1988) and later outdoor garden concerts. GEM hosted virtual concerts during pandemic.
• WXXI Classical 91.5 FMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRochester's public radio station partnered with SCMR for broadcast concert series and mini-series programming hosted by Julia Figueras.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Friends of Chamber Music (Portland): Portland-based nonprofit chamber music presenter running an annual concert series featuring visiting and local musicians. Comparable subscription-driven model with educational outreach and donor-funded revenue structure.
• Da Camera Society: Los Angeles-based chamber music and jazz presenter offering curated concerts in intimate venues. Comparable nonprofit structure with subscription series, educational programs, and partnerships with local musicians and institutions.
• Mainly Mozart Festival: San Diego-based nonprofit focused on chamber music and orchestral programming, featuring prominent musicians. Comparable model as a chamber music presenter with subscription ticketing and educational outreach components.
• Boston Chamber Music Society: Nonprofit chamber music presenter offering a multi-concert series featuring professional musicians in intimate settings. Highly comparable structure: subscription tickets, educational outreach, and partnerships with Boston-area conservatories and orchestras.
• Seattle Chamber Music Society: Nonprofit chamber music presenter in a similar mid-sized US metro, running a summer festival and winter concert series with subscription ticket models and educational outreach components. Highly comparable scale and operating model.
• Philadelphia Chamber Music Society: Long-standing Philadelphia-based chamber music presenter offering a curated concert series with professional musicians. Closely mirrors SCMR's model of subscription ticket sales, partnerships with local music institutions, and educational programming.
• Charlotte Concerts: Nonprofit chamber music presenter in Charlotte, NC offering a curated concert series. Comparable operating scale to SCMR with similar subscription ticketing, artist partnerships, and community outreach mission.
• La Jolla Music Society: San Diego-area chamber and contemporary music presenter with a multi-concert season model. Similar subscription ticketing, educational programming, and donor-driven revenue structure, though operating in a larger and more affluent market.
• Cincinnati Chamber Music Society: Nonprofit chamber music presenter in Cincinnati offering multi-concert seasons with subscription ticketing. Closely comparable operating scale, structure, and educational outreach programming.

Broad incumbents

• Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: One of the largest and most prestigious chamber music presenters in the US, based in NYC. Comparable as a nonprofit chamber music series, but operates at significantly greater scale with year-round programming and far larger subscriber base, serving as a benchmark rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ChamberMusicNY
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwENYewk6si3XU1jouQnepQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/Society-for-Chamber-Music-in-Rochester-154602657939560
• Instagraminstagram.com/societyforchambermusicroc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chambermusicrochester

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Society for Chamber Music in Rochester