Classical Uprising

What Classical Uprising does

Classical Uprising is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization headquartered in Portland, Maine, formed in 2020 through the merger of Oratorio Chorale (a symphonic chorus that has operated for five decades and presents 16 concerts annually between September and May) and Portland Bach Experience (an annual June classical music festival). The organization operates three core programs—Oratorio Chorale, Portland Bach Experience, and Horizon Voices (a K-12 performance-based youth choir program)—and produces a portfolio of touring productions including Growing Up Maine (engaged 200 young voices from 29 languages), Growing Up [Your Town], Mozart Requiem Renewal (a 21st-century reimagining of Mozart's unfinished Requiem), Musical Chairs, Thanks in Variations (a self-directed GPS-based audio installation), and The [uncertain] Four Seasons (an algorithmic climate composition).

The organization serves a diversified audience spanning traditional classical music enthusiasts, K-12 students and families, municipalities and community organizations, universities, and touring venues across more than 14 international locations. Its revenue model is hybrid: ticket sales and season subscriptions fund Maine-based performances; tax-deductible donations and 50+ corporate sponsors and foundation funders (including Brann and Isaacson, Onion Foundation, Maine Arts Commission, and Maine Humanities Council) support general operations; flexible exhibition rental fees monetize Thanks in Variations installations; and multi-year community residency contracts monetize Growing Up [Your Town] and other touring productions. A 6-person staff supports programming across all of these activities.

Technology plays a distinctive role in two productions. Thanks in Variations uses GPS and geofence-based audio delivery via the Echoes app to stage 27 separately recorded voices in geoshaped configurations without live performers, available for rental to museums, galleries, and community spaces. The [uncertain] Four Seasons is an algorithmic re-composition of Vivaldi's Four Seasons developed with creative agencies AKQA and Jung von Matt, composer Hugh Crosthwaite, and climate science inputs from the Monash Climate Change Communications Research Hub; a geospatial climate modeling algorithm maps 2050 climate projections into Vivaldi's original score to generate location-specific versions depicting climate change impacts, and the work has been adopted by 14+ international orchestras. The organization's competitive position is anchored in community relationships built over five decades, a deep library of original productions, and the artistic leadership of Dr. Emily Isaacson (2018 Maine Artist of the Year, three-time American Prize winner).

Name

Classical Uprising

Legal name

Classical Uprising

Website

https://classicaluprising.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Portland, Maine-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit Classical Uprising was formed in 2020 by merging Oratorio Chorale and Portland Bach Experience to produce immersive classical concerts, K-12 choral education, and touring productions for communities, universities, and global venues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Concerts & Music Festivals (THAJAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Programs (Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theater) (EDAJAJAE), Virtual Concerts & Music Festivals (Livestreamed Performances) (MPAGAOAD)

Keywords

• Classical music performances
• Community choral programs
• Youth music education
• Immersive arts experiences
• Nonprofit performing arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

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. Donations and Contributions: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization accepting tax-deductible donations. Supports general operations and can be designated to specific programs.
2. Ticket Sales: Revenue from concerts and events, including season subscriptions and individual performance tickets.
3. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors supporting the 2025-2026 season, including Brann and Isaacson, Gideon Asen, HM Payson, Bath Savings, and others.
4. Exhibition Rental: Flexible rental fees for traveling exhibits like Thanks in Variations, commensurate with host organization's budget.
5. Community Residency Fees: Fees for bringing Growing Up [Your Town] programs to communities, with scalable packages and optional grant-writing support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Classical Uprising produces and presents immersive classical music concerts, festivals, educational choral programs, and touring community-based performances for individual audiences, families, and institutional hosts. Revenue is generated primarily through ticket sales, tax-deductible donations, corporate sponsorships, and flexible rental/residency fees for touring productions and sound installations.

Product overview

Classical Uprising is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization formed in 2020 as a merger between Oratorio Chorale and Portland Bach Experience. The organization offers a portfolio of programs spanning: (1) core performing ensembles including Oratorio Chorale (fifth-decade symphonic chorus with 16 annual concerts) and Portland Bach Experience (annual June festival); (2) youth education via Horizon Voices (K-12 choir program); and (3) innovative productions including Growing Up Maine and Growing Up [Your Town] (community storytelling through music), The [uncertain] Four Seasons (climate-focused algorithmic composition), Mozart Requiem Renewal (contemporary reimagining of Mozart's Requiem), Musical Chairs (immersive string orchestra game), and Thanks in Variations (GPS-enabled sound installation).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Oratorio Chorale: A symphonic chorus committed to advancing choral music through performances, collaborations, educational programs, and community outreach. Presents five programs, 16 concerts a year, between September and May.
• Portland Bach Experience
• Horizon Voices

Products and services

• Oratorio Chorale A symphonic chorus committed to advancing choral music through performances, collaborations, educational programs, and community outreach. Now in its fifth decade, it presents five programs and 16 concerts annually between September and May, with a Young Artist Program inaugurated in 2015 for talented high school singers.
• Portland Bach Experience An immersive classical music initiative offering interactive educational programs and intimate concerts at an annual June festival, bringing award-winning artists to Maine to share productions that cultivate resilience and connection.
• Horizon Voices A performance-based K-12 youth choir program that develops vocal technique, musicianship, communication, and public speaking skills through choral singing.
• Growing Up Maine A collaborative musical work exploring what it means to belong through community storytelling, music, movement, and collaborative performance featuring 200 young voices from 29 languages.
• Growing Up [Your Town] A community residency and touring production that helps communities celebrate their unique voice through music, movement, and collaborative storytelling, co-creating performances with local educators and community choirs.
• Mozart Requiem Renewal A reimagining of Mozart's unfinished Requiem that uses every note Mozart penned, replacing his students' work with new 21st-century material, presented as a touring collaboration.
• The [uncertain] Four Seasons An algorithmic re-composition of Vivaldi's Four Seasons using geospatial climate modeling for 2050 to depict climate change impacts. The geolocation-specific algorithm maps geographic variations into Vivaldi's original score, creating customized performances for specific locations.
• Musical Chairs A tournament-style game accompanied by a string orchestra, available in both Kid Musical Chairs (family immersive event) and Adult Musical Chairs (interactive evening), where losing players become part of the band.
• Thanks in Variations An immersive, self-directed sound installation (with no live performers) using GPS and geofence technologies via the Echoes app. Based on Johannes Ockeghem's 15th-century 'Deo Gratias,' it features 27 separately recorded voices strategically staged in geoshapes and is available for rental to museums, galleries, and community spaces.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200 young voices from 29 languages engaged in community music project
• +2 more outcomes

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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, major and minor.

• AKQAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022Global creative agency that initiated The [uncertain] Four Seasons project, an algorithmic re-composition of Vivaldi's Four Seasons using climate data.
• Jung von MattcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022Creative agency collaborator on The [uncertain] Four Seasons global initiative bringing climate-focused algorithmic music to U.S. audiences.
• Oratorio ChoralecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Symphonic chorus now in its fifth decade; merged into Classical Uprising in 2020. Presents 5 programs and 16 concerts annually.
• Portland Bach ExperiencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Annual June classical music festival; merged into Classical Uprising in 2020. Known for immersive, accessible programming.
• Sydney Symphony OrchestraflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Original presenting orchestra for The [uncertain] Four Seasons algorithmic composition project. Part of global network of 14+ orchestras adapting the work.
• Reiche Community School (Portland, Maine)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary community partner for Growing Up Maine project. School with families from 22+ nations and 29 languages. Students served as librettists and performers for community music project.
• Monash Climate Change Communications Research HubcoreTechnology or IntegrationAcademic partner providing climate science data and research for algorithmic composition project mapping climate projections into music.
• Onion FoundationmajorOthersMajor nonprofit funder supporting Classical Uprising programs through grants.
• Maine Arts CommissionmajorOthersState arts agency providing grant support; receives funding from National Endowment for the Arts.
• Maine Humanities CouncilminorOthersHumanities nonprofit partner for community engagement and educational programming.
• Morton KellyminorOthersLocal foundation providing project funding support.
• Composer Hugh CrosthwaitecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerComposer who developed the algorithmic composition for The [uncertain] Four Seasons using climate modeling data.
• Violinist Jesse IronscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-artistic director of GRAMMY-nominated ensemble A Far Cry; soloist and collaborator on The [uncertain] Four Seasons touring productions.
• Composer Judd GreensteincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcclaimed composer who created original score for Growing Up Maine; founder of New Amsterdam Records and Ecstatic Music Festival.
• Composer Don Mitchell (Darlingside)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSongwriter and multi-instrumentalist from indie-folk band Darlingside; contributed new musical material to Mozart Requiem Renewal.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• A Far Cry: GRAMMY-nominated Boston-based conductorless chamber ensemble with a reputation for innovative programming and collaborations with living composers. Direct comparable as an agile, artist-led classical ensemble partnering on Classical Uprising's [uncertain] Four Seasons touring productions.
• Apollo's Fire: Cleveland-based Baroque orchestra with a strong national touring presence and educational programming, including youth initiatives. Comparable in combining period and classical performance with touring, residencies, and community/educational programming.
• Silkroad Ensemble: GRAMMY-winning artist collective founded by Yo-Yo Ma that produces cross-cultural, socially-engaged chamber music programming. Directly comparable to Classical Uprising's mission of reimagining classical music for diverse 21st-century audiences through commissioned collaborations and community engagement.
• Kronos Quartet: Long-running string quartet known for commissioning contemporary classical works, cross-genre experimentation, and global touring. Comparable to Classical Uprising in its willingness to reinterpret the classical canon (e.g., Vivaldi via algorithmic recomposition) and develop novel presentation formats.
• Roomful of Teeth: GRAMMY-winning vocal ensemble dedicated to expanding the palette of choral singing through commissioning and cross-genre collaboration. Comparable in its emphasis on commissioning living composers and reimagining what choral/classical performance can be.
• Handel and Haydn Society: America's oldest continuously performing arts organization, presenting choral and orchestral classical programming in Boston with a strong education and community engagement mission. Comparable in combining choral heritage, education programming, and commitment to accessibility.

Broad incumbents

• Carnegie Hall: Premier classical music presenting organization with national education programs, commissioned works, and the linked Carnegie Hall National Youth Orchestra. Comparable for combining classical performance presentation, youth music education, and commissioning activity at scale.
• Boston Lyric Opera: Major regional opera company producing fully staged classical works with substantial community engagement and education programming. Comparable in producing large-scale classical choral/orchestral works while running active education and community programs.
• LA Philharmonic: One of the largest U.S. orchestras with extensive education programs (including Youth Orchestra LA), commissioned works, and community initiatives. Comparable in operating both a symphonic chorus tradition and robust K-12/community education programming, though at much larger scale.

Emerging players

• National Sawdust: Brooklyn-based nonprofit venue and incubator for contemporary classical and cross-genre music, supporting composer commissions and emerging artists. Comparable as a small, innovative classical nonprofit developing new presentation models and commissioning programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/classical-uprising

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Classical Uprising