What D-Composed does

D-Composed is a Chicago-based Black chamber music collective operating as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (legal name D-Composed Gives, EIN 83-2961654) that celebrates Black culture and creativity through live string quartet performances featuring works of Black composers from the 1700s to the present. Founded in 2018 and led by Founder/Executive Director Kori Coleman and Artistic Director Danielle Taylor with approximately 10 employees, the organization runs a portfolio of programmed experiences including Black Composers 101 (introductory series), Family Edition and Musical Story Time (youth/family), D-Composition (poetry and music), D-Compressed and Listening Hours (music and meditation), and thematic concert series co-created with named cultural partners.

The core deliverable is live chamber music performance; the "technology" layer is the curated repertoire of Black composers, themed programming frameworks aligned to specific audience personas, and supporting digital content (20+ curated Spotify playlists under "The Sounds of Black Composers" and the Music Inclusion Hub resource). Distribution is community-led, taking performances out of concert halls into libraries, galleries, gardens, schools, and museums, alongside ticketed appearances at established venues (Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf, Harris Theater, Chicago Symphony Center, Chicago Opera Theater, MCA Chicago, Rebuild Foundation's The Land School).

The business model is donation-dependent: approximately 90% of programs are free and open to the public, with revenue derived from individual and institutional charitable contributions, targeted program support (commissions, self-care days, operations), foundation grants (Chicago Community Trust, DCASE, Breakout Foundation, United States Artists), and limited ticket sales (e.g., $5 tickets for Harris Theater's Kids Meet the Music). Marketing relies on earned media, organic social, curated digital content, and institutional venue partnerships, with audience growth driven by grassroots word-of-mouth within Chicago's Black community.

Name

D-Composed

Legal name

D-Composed Gives

Website

https://dcomposed.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

D-Composed is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) Black chamber music collective that performs string quartet programs of Black composers in community venues, cultural institutions, and via curated digital playlists, serving classical-music newcomers, families, and wellness and literary audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chamber Music Performance and Cultural Programming

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130)

akta.pro primary industry

Arranging & Orchestration (MPAIAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Songwriting & Composition (Topliners, Co-writers, Camps) (MPAIABAA), Music Production & Composition (Songwriting, Recording, DJing) (EDAMAAAF)

Keywords

• Chamber music performances
• Black composers repertoire
• Community music programming
• Cultural music education
• Classical music curation

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 83-2961654, operating as D-Composed Gives), the organization relies heavily on charitable donations from individuals and institutional supporters. 90% of programs are free and open to the public, funded through donor support.
2. Ticket Sales: Some programs generate revenue through ticket sales, such as $5 tickets for Harris Theater's Kids Meet the Music program. Premium events at venues like Chicago Symphony Center also have ticket sales.
3. Programming Support: Targeted donations for specific programs including Programming Support, New Commissions/Collaborations, Self-Care Days for musicians, and General Operations support including staff compensation and infrastructure.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

D-Composed is a Chicago-based Black chamber music collective that delivers live string quartet performances featuring works of Black composers across accessible community venues. The organization offers a portfolio of curated programs (Black Composers 101, Family Edition, Musical Story Time, D-Composition, D-Compressed, Listening Hours) and digital content including themed Spotify playlists, with approximately 90% of programming offered free to the public.

Product overview

D-Composed is a Chicago-based Black chamber music collective that celebrates Black culture and creativity through the music of Black composers. The organization offers a portfolio of programs including Black Composers 101 (introductory series), Family Edition (youth and family programming), Musical Story Time (children's programming), D-Composition (poetry and music collaborations), D-Compressed (music and meditation experiences), and Listening Hours (sound journey experiences). Core programming centers on live string quartet performances featuring works of Black composers, performed in accessible community spaces. The collective also produces curated Spotify playlists under 'The Sounds of Black Composers' brand. Programs are delivered through partnerships with cultural institutions, libraries, schools, and community venues, with approximately 90% of programs offered free to the public.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Black Composers 101 An introductory program series providing the perfect introduction to Black composers spanning decades from as early as the 1700s to the present day, guaranteeing attendees learn about at least 5 Black composers. Targeted at classical music novices.
• Family Edition An entry point for the music of Black composers for youth and their families, designed for children ages 4-11 and their families to experience classical music in an accessible, welcoming environment.
• Musical Story Time A program for toddler-age children featuring a Black composer's original composition paired with a children's book, combining storytelling with live music performance.
• D-Composition A program that amplifies the voices of poets and literary greats with the music of Black composers, pairing spoken word with string quartet performances.
• D-Compressed A music and meditation experience providing a space for healing and reflection for the community, combining live string quartet performances with sound bowls and mindfulness practices.
• Listening Hours A sound journey meditation and listening experience featuring poetry, sound bowls, and string quartet performances playing music by Black composers.
• String Quartet Performances Live chamber music performances by a string quartet featuring the works of Black composers, performed at various venues including libraries, galleries, schools, museums, and gardens.
• The Sounds of Black Composers Playlists Spotify playlists curated by D-Composed featuring Black composers across various themes including Black Women Composers, Black Film Scores, LGBTQ Icons, Sounds of Chi, and more, for discovery and education.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of programs are free and open to the public
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• TUCCA (São Paulo, Brazil)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2024Host organization for D-Composed's international debut performance at Sala São Paulo for Black Consciousness Day. TUCCA supports research and care for children and adolescents with cancer; concert series raises funds for these efforts.
• Goodman TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 100 Free Acts of Theater series bringing D-Composed performances to Chicago Public Library branches (Woodson Regional Library, Budlong Woods Branch). The collaboration provides free musical listening experiences celebrating Black artists in library spaces.
• The Nap Ministry (Tricia Hersey)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual collaboration presenting 'Freedom Lullabies,' a Juneteenth immersive rest experience combining D-Composed string quartet performances with revolutionary texts read by Tricia Hersey. The partnership creates space for collective rest as resistance and liberation for the African diaspora.
• Poetry FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 'Love Is…' program exploring love through poetry and music of Black composers at The Land School. Combines D-Composed string quartet performances with Chicago poets and archival home movie footage from South Side Home Movie Project.
• Silkroad EnsembleflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for 'Sanctuary: A D-Compressed Gathering' bringing together D-Composed's wellness programming with Silkroad's renowned chamber music programming.
• Rebuild FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership providing venue access at The Land School (7200 S Dorchester) for D-Composed events. Rebuild Foundation supports the creative programming and community engagement at the South Side venue.
• Chicago Opera TheatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerD-Composed ensemble members serve as chamber orchestra for 'She Who Dared' production by composer Jasmine Barnes and librettist Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton, telling the story of women who helped desegregate the Montgomery bus system.
• Obama Presidential CenterflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for BLK Metropolis: Apocalypse presentation at EXPO Chicago, with the work commissioned in partnership with the Obama Presidential Center.
• South Side Home Movie ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration using archival home movie footage from South Side residents (1940s-1990s) paired with music of Black composers. Featured in D-Composition programs and educational content.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Catalyst Quartet: Black and Latinx string quartet known for curating and performing works by composers of color, with strong educational programming. Directly comparable as a chamber ensemble with an explicit DEI repertoire mission.
• Gateways Music Festival: Organization connecting and celebrating classical musicians of African descent. Existing partner of D-Composed; comparable as a Black classical music platform with festival, commissions, and community programming.
• Imani Winds: Black/African-American chamber wind ensemble performing classical music with a focus on works by composers of color and educational outreach. Closely comparable as a Black chamber music collective with curated programming and community engagement mission.
• Harlem Quartet: Black string quartet formed at the Sphinx Organization with a mission to engage new audiences through classical music. Directly comparable as a Black chamber ensemble with curatorial and education programming.
• Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra: Chicago-based Black chamber orchestra with a mission to spotlight Black composers and musicians. Directly comparable geographically and mission-wise as a chamber music ensemble amplifying Black composers.

Broad incumbents

• Sphinx Organization: National nonprofit advancing diversity in classical music through artist development, the Sphinx Competition, and the Sphinx Connect network. Comparable as a larger, established DEI-focused classical music organization that supports many of the same artists as D-Composed.
• Silkroad Ensemble: Renowned chamber music collective founded by Yo-Yo Ma with a mission rooted in cross-cultural collaboration. Existing D-Composed partner; comparable as an established chamber music collective with mission-driven programming.
• Kronos Quartet: Pioneering chamber string quartet known for commissioning new works and pushing boundaries of classical music programming. Comparable as a chamber ensemble with a deep curation practice and educational/community programming.

Emerging players

• ETHEL (string quartet): American string quartet known for genre-crossing performances and collaborative projects with living composers. Comparable as a contemporary chamber ensemble with a curatorial and community-facing approach to programming.

Regional players

• Chicago Sinfonietta: Chicago-based orchestra with a long-standing mission to make classical music accessible and reflective of the city's diverse population. Comparable as a Chicago-anchored DEI classical music organization, but at the orchestra scale rather than chamber quartet.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/dcomposedchicago
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DComposedChicago
• Instagraminstagram.com/dcomposedchicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/d-composed

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 D-Composed