Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra
The Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra is a community-based nonprofit professional orchestra founded in 1918 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, serving local audiences and students through live classical performances, a youth orchestra, a community chorus, and music education programs, funded by ticket sales and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1918
- HeadquartersSheboygan, Wisconsin, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra does
The Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is a community-based professional nonprofit symphony orchestra headquartered in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, founded in 1918 and currently operating in its 108th season (2026-2027). It is Wisconsin's longest continually active orchestra. The organization's core product is live orchestral music performances across classical, contemporary, film, and popular arrangements, delivered at the 1,100+ seat Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts and through secondary venue partnerships with the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, The Black Pig (chamber music), and Holy Name Catholic Church (choral works).
SSO operates three principal ensembles: the main symphony orchestra, the Sheboygan Symphony Youth Orchestra (a partnership with the Sheboygan Area School District dating to the 1980s), and the Sheboygan Symphony Chorus (founded 1994, 80+ community voices). The organization also delivers music education programming, including an Annual Children's Concert serving all fourth-graders in Sheboygan County (42,000+ students reached over 27 years), Guest Artist Masterclasses, and Music Mondays for Littles (ages 0-5, in partnership with the Above and Beyond Children's Museum).
Revenue derives 35% from ticket sales (available via Weill Center box office, online, phone, and mail) and 65% from individual donations, corporate sponsorships (e.g., Sargento, Wisconsin Public Service, Baird), and foundation grants. The 13-person administrative staff is supported by a volunteer network and a Board of Directors led by President David Hein. Distribution leverages venue partnerships, an active multi-platform social media presence, and community cross-promotion; corporate sponsorship includes advertising in season program booklets reaching ~6,000 audience members per season.
Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra
- Legal name
- Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra
- Website
- https://sheboygansymphony.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1918
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra is a community-based nonprofit professional orchestra founded in 1918 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, serving local audiences and students through live classical performances, a youth orchestra, a community chorus, and music education programs, funded by ticket sales and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra industry classification
Industry- NAICS
- Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Performing Arts Companies (7111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE)
Keywords
Where Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sheboygan, Wisconsin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Ticket sales represent 35% of the Symphony's revenue. Tickets available online, by phone, mail, and in-person through the Weill Center Box Office.
- Individual Donations: Tax-deductible contributions from individuals including matching gifts, gifts of stock, honorariums and memorials, and legacy/bequest giving. Represents majority of non-ticket revenue.
- Corporate & Foundation Giving: Performance sponsorships, advertising in program booklets (reaching 6,000 audience members per season), matching gifts from employers.
- Volunteer Support: Volunteers assist with phone calls, ushering, mailings, and youth orchestra support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | General admission tickets for performances |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Program booklet advertising |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Performance sponsorships |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra is a community-based professional orchestra that delivers live orchestral performances of classical, contemporary, film, and popular music across multiple venues, anchored by the Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts. It also operates a youth orchestra (Sinfonia and Concert Orchestra), an 80+ voice community Chorus, and music education programs including Children's Concerts, Guest Artist Masterclasses, and Music Mondays for Littles.
Product overview
The Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra is a community-based professional ensemble offering a portfolio of musical products: the main Symphony Orchestra providing full-season concert performances; the Sheboygan Symphony Youth Orchestra (encompassing Sinfonia and Concert Orchestra for younger musicians); the Sheboygan Symphony Chorus of over 80 community voices; and music education programs including Annual Children’s Concerts, Guest Artist Masterclasses, and Music Mondays for Littles. The organization also presents the Chamber Music at the Loft series for intimate chamber performances. Founded in 1918, it is Wisconsin’s longest continually active orchestra.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Sheboygan Symphony Youth Orchestra: Youth orchestra program inspiring musicians of tomorrow, including Sinfonia for younger students and Concert Orchestra for advanced players.
- Sheboygan Symphony Chorus
Quantifiable outcome
- 42,000+ students educated over 27 years
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra
Customer profileSegments4 records
Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Lakeland CollegeminorLakeland College (now Lakeland University) provided the foundation for the Sheboygan Symphony Chorus when Professor Janet L. Herrick formed the ensemble in 1994 during her tenure as Music Professor. The chorus grew into an independent 80+ voice community choir.
- Sheboygan Area School DistrictcorePartnership formed in the early 1980s to create the Sheboygan Area Youth Symphony. The school district collaborates on student recruitment, facilities, and educational programming. This partnership has enabled music education access for thousands of local students over four decades.
- Above and Beyond Children's MuseumminorSSO partners with the Above and Beyond Children's Museum (ABCM) to offer Music Mondays for Littles, a music readiness program for children ages 0-5 years. The program is held at ABCM and provides early childhood music education through interactive musical experiences.
- Carnegie HallcoreCarnegie Hall designed the Link Up educational program. SSO partners with Carnegie Hall to present Link Up concerts at the Weill Center for regional fourth-grade students, introducing them to orchestral music and how music moves.
- John Michael Kohler Arts CentercoreCollaboration to present chamber orchestra performances in the Matrix space at JMKAC. The 'All American' concert features 13 SSO musicians performing American composers including Copland's Appalachian Spring, creating an intimate chamber music experience in a non-traditional venue.
- Stefanie H. Weill Center for Performing ArtscorePrimary performance venue for SSO. The historic Weill Center (opened 1928, renovated 2001) seats over 1,100 attendees with acoustically tuned theatre and beautifully appointed stage. SSO performs main season concerts and Children's Concerts at this venue.
- The Black PigminorChamber music venue partner hosting 'Chamber Music at the Loft' series in the Berkshire Loft. Events pair SSO chamber ensembles with food/beverage experiences (Bourbon & Bites, Wine & Swine, Island Vibes), creating an accessible casual music experience.
- Holy Name Catholic ChurchminorPerformance venue for the Sheboygan Symphony Chorus's 'Passion' concert. The architectural and spiritual beauty of the church provides an ideal setting for choral works like the Bob Chilcott Passion setting.
- SargentominorCorporate sponsor of the Annual Children's Concerts. Sargento provides funding that enables SSO to offer educational concert experiences introducing orchestral music to fourth-grade students in Sheboygan County.
- Wisconsin Public ServiceminorCorporate sponsor of the Annual Children's Concerts, supporting music education programs for Sheboygan County fourth graders.
- Garton Family FoundationminorFoundation sponsor of the Annual Children's Concerts supporting music education initiatives.
- Heid MusicminorSponsor of the Music Mondays for Littles program at Above and Beyond Children's Museum, supporting early childhood music education for ages 0-5.
- Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center (Medical Staff)minorSponsor of the Music Mondays for Littles program, supporting early childhood music education and parent-child bonding through musical interaction.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Green Bay Symphony Orchestra: Wisconsin community-based professional orchestra of comparable size and budget profile, offering mainstage classical concerts and education outreach in another mid-size Wisconsin city. Closest peer in scale and operating model.
- Fort Wayne Philharmonic: Mid-size U.S. community orchestra of comparable scale and budget, offering a mainstage season, youth orchestra, and education programs in a non-top-tier market. Strong structural analog for SSO operating model.
- Wisconsin Philharmonic: Wisconsin-based regional orchestra providing classical concert seasons and youth education initiatives. Similar operating scale and Midwest community orchestra structure to SSO.
- Fox Valley Symphony: Community orchestra serving the Appleton/Fox Valley region of Wisconsin with a multi-concert season and youth education programs. Comparable mid-size Wisconsin market and donation-driven revenue mix.
- Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra: Wisconsin's flagship professional symphony orchestra based ~50 miles south of Sheboygan, offering a multi-concert classical season plus education programs. Closest large-market peer with overlapping donor, audience, and corporate sponsor pools.
- Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra: Wisconsin community orchestra in a similarly-sized lakeside city, offering classical programming plus youth and education programs. Directly comparable peer by market size, geography, and nonprofit structure.
- Madison Symphony Orchestra: Another Wisconsin-based regional professional orchestra offering classical season programming, youth orchestra, and choral collaborations (Madison Symphony Chorus). Directly comparable structure and programming model.
- Lansing Symphony Orchestra: Mid-size Midwest community orchestra providing classical season concerts plus youth and education programming in a state-capital market. Comparable size, donor base, and nonprofit structure.
Others
- John Michael Kohler Arts Center: Sheboygan-based multidisciplinary arts venue that hosts SSO chamber performances. Adjacent ecosystem participant and venue partner, not a direct performing arts competitor.
- Carnegie Hall (Link Up program): National partner and education content provider rather than a competitor; SSO is one of hundreds of orchestras that licenses the Link Up program. Relevant as an ecosystem enabler and brand association rather than a comparable service offering.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra social profiles
Digital presenceSheboygan Symphony Orchestra financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra 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 Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra
What does Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra do?
The Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra is a community-based professional orchestra that delivers live orchestral performances of classical, contemporary, film, and popular music across multiple venues, anchored by the Stefanie H. Weill Center for the Performing Arts. It also operates a youth orchestra (Sinfonia and Concert Orchestra), an 80+ voice community Chorus, and music education programs including Children's Concerts, Guest Artist Masterclasses, and Music Mondays for Littles.
Is Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra a public or private company?
Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra founded?
Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1918. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra based?
Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra is headquartered in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are individual Donations, corporate & Foundation Giving and volunteer Support.
Who are Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Green Bay Symphony Orchestra, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Wisconsin Philharmonic, Fox Valley Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra, Madison Symphony Orchestra and Lansing Symphony Orchestra. Others are John Michael Kohler Arts Center and Carnegie Hall (Link Up program).
Does Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra.
What industry is Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra in?
Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMANAC, Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir), with a secondary code of EDAMAAAE, Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal). Its NAICS code is 711130.