Macomb Symphony Orchestra

What Macomb Symphony Orchestra does

The Macomb Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional symphony orchestra founded in 1974 and headquartered in Clinton Township, Michigan. The organization performs at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts and serves Macomb County through a portfolio of programs anchored by a subscription concert series (currently scheduling through 2027, including Sibelius Symphony No. 2, Handel Messiah, and Verdi Requiem), a free summer chamber series at Lake St. Clair Metropark, bi-annual youth concerts at $3 per student, the Adagio Memory Cafe for individuals with dementia, an Artists in Residence program for emerging vocalists and pianists, and a YouTube-based Learning Video Channel. Recent initiatives include the May 2026 world premiere of Norah Duncan IV's JOURNEY: From Slavery to Freedom cantata and a March 2027 WILD SYMPHONY youth engagement concert. Revenue is generated across four streams: ticket sales, corporate sponsorships (season sponsorships $60,000-$150,000/year, concert underwriting $15,000-$20,000), program book advertising ($250-$2,000 per placement), and chamber ensemble hire fees for private events. With six paid administrative employees and a professional orchestra ensemble performing at multiple venues, the MSO operates as a mid-sized regional community orchestra.

Musically, the orchestra is led by Music Director Andrew Neer, who holds a DMA in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Michigan and concurrently directs the Oakland Choral Society, Orchestra Sono, and Warren Symphony Orchestra. The organization draws on a distributed talent network including Assistant Conductor Alfonso Keller-Casielles, Cover Conductor Charlotte Darr, Director of Orchestra Personnel Sherri Marttila, and Librarian Martha Farmer. Its repertoire ranges from Baroque choral masterworks to contemporary commissions, film scores (Star Wars, Schindler's List), and world premieres. The orchestra collaborates with three regional choral ensembles (Oakland Choral Society, Metropolitan Detroit Chorale, Detroit Choral Society) and is supported by funding from the Kresge Foundation, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, CultureSource, and Shelby Community Foundation, among others. In fall 2025, the MSO entered Advancing Macomb's Nonprofit Accelerator program for capacity building in board development, fundraising, and operational planning. Ticket sales cover less than 5% of operating expenses, making the organization structurally dependent on contributed income.

Name

Macomb Symphony Orchestra

Legal name

Macomb Symphony Orchestra

Website

https://macombsymphony.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Macomb Symphony Orchestra is a nonprofit professional symphony orchestra founded in 1974 in Clinton Township, Michigan, performing subscription concerts, youth programs, chamber music, and educational outreach for the Macomb County community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Clinton Township, MI

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual concert tickets and subscriptions for main season performances, youth concerts, and summer park events. Youth engagement concerts priced at $3.00 per attendee.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate partners and foundations provide financial support through various sponsorship tiers including season sponsorships ($60,000-$150,000/year), concert underwriting ($15,000-20,000/concert), section partnerships ($4,000-$20,000/season), soloist sponsorships ($3,000), and chair partnerships ($1,750-$2,500/season).
3. Chamber Ensemble Hire: Chamber music ensembles including string quartets, brass quintets, woodwind quintets, and solo harp/flute-piano duos available for hire at weddings, business functions, and in-school assemblies.
4. Program Advertising: Sale of advertising space in concert program books including full page back cover ($2,000), inside covers ($1,200), general full page ($1,000), and smaller ad placements ranging from $250-$750.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Macomb Symphony Orchestra is a professional classical symphony orchestra founded in 1974 that performs live orchestral and choral concerts at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts in Clinton Township, Michigan. Its core offerings include a subscription concert series featuring classical masterworks and film scores, free outdoor summer chamber concerts, youth engagement concerts for K-12 students, dementia-accessible Adagio Memory Cafe concerts, and an Artists in Residence program supporting emerging professional musicians.

Product overview

The Macomb Symphony Orchestra is a professional classical orchestra based at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts in Clinton Township, Michigan, founded in 1974. The organization operates as a unified portfolio of live musical performance offerings centered on its Subscription Concert Series, which features orchestral masterworks and choral collaborations. This core product is supplemented by the Summer Chamber Series (free outdoor park concerts with various ensembles), Youth Concerts (educational performances for K-12 at $3/ticket), Adagio Memory Cafe (dementia-accessible concerts), Cafe Concerts (intimate indoor chamber performances), and an Artists in Residence program supporting emerging vocalists and pianists. Supporting services include Musicians for Hire (chamber ensemble rentals for events), a Learning Video Channel (educational content on musical appreciation), the Macomb Symphony Guild (volunteer support), Video Archive (recorded performances on YouTube), and advertising/sponsorship opportunities. The orchestra's repertoire spans classical symphonies, Baroque choral works (Handel's Messiah, Verdi Requiem), contemporary compositions (including world premieres of works like Norah Duncan IV's JOURNEY: From Slavery to Freedom), film music (Star Wars, Schindler's List), and pops programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Subscription Concert Series Professional orchestral concerts performed at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts featuring classical symphonies, choral masterworks, and thematic programs throughout the season for general audiences and families.
• Summer Chamber Series Free outdoor park concerts featuring MSO chamber ensembles including Brass Quintet, Woodwind Quintet, String Quartet, and Dixieland 7 at Lake St. Clair Metropark and other community venues for general public audiences.
• Youth Concerts Educational concerts for students in grades 1-12 held at Macomb Center for the Performing Arts, featuring introductions to composers, instruments, and orchestral repertoire at $3.00 per student ticket.
• Adagio Memory Cafe Special concert series designed for individuals with dementia and their caregivers, providing accessible musical experiences in a supportive environment.
• Cafe Concerts Intimate indoor chamber music performances at local venues, complementing the outdoor summer series for general audiences seeking smaller-scale classical experiences.
• Musicians for Hire (Chamber Ensembles) Rental services offering String Quartet, Brass Quintet, Woodwind Quintet, Solo Harp, Flute and Harp Duo, and Solo Piano for weddings, business functions, and in-school assemblies on a contract basis.
• Artists in Residence (AIR) Program Resident artist program featuring emerging vocalists and pianists who perform with the orchestra and participate in community engagement activities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50th Anniversary Season celebrated 2024-2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Community Foundation for Southeast MichiganminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2026Funder supporting the premiere performance of Norah Duncan IV's Journey: From Slavery to Freedom cantata
• Advancing MacombcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Advancing Macomb is a nonprofit strengthening Macomb County through connecting community challenges with high-impact solutions. The MSO is participating in Advancing Macomb's Nonprofit Accelerator program (fall 2025 cohort), receiving mentorship, board development, fundraising, financial planning, marketing, technology, and leadership training.
• Advancing MacombcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation providing operational support and capacity building resources for Macomb County nonprofits
• Wilson Fine ViolinsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing violin-related products and services
• Chemical BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional banking corporate partner
• Target StoresminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational retail chain supporting local arts organizations
• Consumer EnergyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMichigan utility company supporting community arts programming
• Oakland Choral SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative choral ensemble partnering on major choral-orchestral works including Handel Messiah, Verdi Requiem, and Duncan's Journey: From Slavery to Freedom
• Metropolitan Detroit ChoralecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChoral ensemble collaborating on major choral works including Verdi Requiem
• Detroit Choral SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChoral ensemble collaborating on Norah Duncan IV's Journey: From Slavery to Freedom premiere

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Orchestra Sono: Community orchestra also led by Music Director Andrew Neer, sharing artistic direction with MSO. Operates a similar professional-ensemble model in the Michigan region and is a direct peer in both repertoire and artistic leadership.
• Oakland Symphony: Regional professional symphony serving Oakland County, Michigan, with overlapping personnel (MSO Director of Orchestra Personnel Sherri Marttila also performs there). Closely comparable in scale, repertoire mix, and metropolitan Detroit footprint.
• Warren Symphony Orchestra: Community-based professional symphony orchestra serving Warren, Michigan, sharing Music Director Andrew Neer with MSO. Operates a similar subscription concert and community engagement model in the adjacent Macomb-county-adjacent market, making it the closest direct peer.
• Flint Symphony Orchestra: Community symphony orchestra serving Flint, Michigan with a multi-concert subscription season and youth education programs. Closely mirrors MSO in scale, mission, and reliance on corporate and community support.
• Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra: Community-based symphony orchestra serving southwestern Michigan with subscription concerts and educational outreach. Similar organizational scale and repertoire profile to MSO.
• Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra: Professional community symphony orchestra serving the Ann Arbor, Michigan region. Comparable subscription-season format, educational outreach, and pops programming to MSO, and a natural benchmark among mid-size Michigan orchestras.
• Lansing Symphony Orchestra: Regional professional orchestra serving Lansing and mid-Michigan. Operates a comparable masterworks subscription season and youth concert programming, making it a structurally similar mid-size Michigan orchestra peer.

Regional players

• Toledo Symphony Orchestra: Regional symphony orchestra in Toledo, Ohio serving a comparable mid-size metropolitan market. Closely comparable business model but operates in a different geographic territory, so it competes indirectly rather than head-to-head with MSO.

Broad incumbents

• Cleveland Orchestra: One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, based in Cleveland. Provides the broader industry reference point for the Great Lakes orchestral market and a benchmark for artistic quality and fundraising scale that MSO and its peers operate beneath.
• Detroit Symphony Orchestra: One of the leading American orchestras, based in Detroit and substantially larger than MSO. Competes for the same regional donor and audience pool and sets the artistic benchmark against which MSO programs, but serves a far broader portfolio of activity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/macombsymphony
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@macombsymphony
• Facebookfacebook.com/macombsymphony
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/macombsymphony
• Instagraminstagram.com/macombsymphony

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Macomb Symphony Orchestra