Volti

What Volti does

Volti is a San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) non-profit professional vocal ensemble founded in 1979 by Robert Geary (originally as The San Francisco Chamber Singers, renamed Volti in 2003-04). The organization is dedicated exclusively to the discovery, creation, and performance of new vocal music, with each season featuring multiple newly commissioned works by contemporary — predominantly American — composers. The core product is a 16-20 voice professional chamber choir, complemented by the expandable Volti Chorale (up to 40 singers) for larger performances and collaborations. Supporting programs include the Choral Arts Laboratory (an annual commissioning/residency program for composers under 35, currently on hiatus) and the Choral Institute (intensive weekend training for high school choral groups at $325 per student). The ensemble's roster of professional singers is also available for hire on private events, recordings, score readings, and collaborative projects.

Volti's business model is a hybrid of earned and contributed revenue typical of mid-sized performing arts non-profits. Earned revenue streams include ticket sales (which cover less than half of production costs), ensemble hire services, and Choral Institute tuition. Contributed revenue comes from individual donations (structured in $50/$100/$250/$500 tiers named Adagio through Presto), program sponsorships, and a broad base of foundation and government grants — including the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Aaron Copland Fund for Music, San Francisco Grants for the Arts, San Francisco Arts Commission, and California Arts Council, among more than a dozen other funders. Distribution is venue-based across Bay Area locations (Herbst Theater, Grace Cathedral, Noe Valley Ministry, First Church of Christ Scientist Berkeley, St. Paul's Episcopal Church Walnut Creek) plus occasional engagements with regional partners (Festival Napa Valley, Cal Performances, Seattle Symphony). Marketing relies on the organization website, email newsletter, YouTube, Spotify/Apple Music distribution, and earned press coverage in outlets such as the San Francisco Chronicle and San Francisco Classical Voice.

The organization has commissioned more than 120 new works, is the only vocal ensemble to win the ASCAP/Chorus America Award for Adventurous Programming seven times, and in 2023 received Chorus America's highest honor (the Margaret Hillis Award for Excellence) as well as the Michael Korn Founders Award for founding Artistic Director Robert Geary. Strategic partners include Kronos Quartet, Del Sol Quartet, Left Coast Chamber Ensemble, ODC/Dance, the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, Bard Music West, and Oakland Ballet. Operations are led by Artistic Director Robert Geary (founder, 45+ years), Executive Director Genevieve Graves, and Resident Composer Mark Winges (with the ensemble since 1990). There is no proprietary technology platform; competitive position rests on artistic reputation, commissioned repertoire, and institutional relationships rather than technological capability.

Name

Volti

Legal name

Volti

Website

https://voltisf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Volti is a San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) professional vocal ensemble of 16-20 singers dedicated exclusively to commissioning and performing new vocal music by contemporary American composers, serving Bay Area audiences and collaborating partners since 1979.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Choral Performance / New Vocal Music

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Musical Groups and Artists (711130)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Professional chamber choir
• Contemporary vocal music
• Choral commissioning programs
• Vocal arts education
• Ensemble performance services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

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. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue from concert ticket sales, though prices cover less than half of production costs
2. Individual Donations: One-time, weekly, monthly donations from individual supporters at various tiers ($50 Adagio, $100 Moderato, $250 Allegro, $500 Presto)
3. Program Sponsorship: Corporate or individual sponsorships of specific concert programs with benefits including VIP tickets, composer meetings, and program acknowledgment
4. Foundation and Government Grants: Support from foundations including SF Grants for the Arts, SF Arts Commission, CA Arts Council, Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, and others
5. Choral Institute Tuition: Education program tuition at $325 per student for intensive weekend training
6. Ensemble Hire: Professional singers and Volti Chorale available for hire for new music projects, recordings, score readings, and live performances

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Volti is a 16-20 voice professional chamber choir dedicated to the discovery, creation, and performance of new vocal music by living composers, particularly American composers. Each season includes multiple newly commissioned world premieres, with the ensemble also offering a 40-voice Volti Chorale for larger-scale performances, hire services for collaborative projects, and educational programs for composers and high school singers.

Product overview

Volti is a professional vocal ensemble organization offering live choral performances, education programs, and musician hire services. The core offering is the 16-20 voice Volti main ensemble performing new vocal music and commissioned works, complemented by the Volti Chorale (extended 40-voice ensemble) for larger performances. Supporting programs include the Choral Arts Laboratory composer residency (currently paused) and the Choral Institute education program for high school choirs. The organization also offers its professional singers for hire on collaborative projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Volti Chorale: An extended ensemble of professional singers, complementing Volti's regular roster of 16 voices to meet the needs of diverse performance projects. Flexible and adaptable, the Volti Chorale can expand to include up to 40 singers.
• Choral Arts Laboratory
• Choral Institute

Products and services

• Volti Main Ensemble (16-20 voice professional choir) A 16-20 voice professional chamber choir dedicated to the discovery, creation, and performance of new vocal music by living composers, particularly American composers. Each season includes multiple newly commissioned works. Performances are held at Bay Area venues including Herbst Theater, Grace Cathedral, and other regional locations.
• Volti Chorale (extended 40-voice ensemble) An extended ensemble of professional singers that complements Volti's regular roster, expandable to 40 singers for large-scale performances and collaborative endeavors.
• Choral Institute education program An intensive, content-rich training and performance program for high school choral groups and their directors, held at CYO Camp in Occidental, California, with instruction from Volti's singing faculty. Tuition is $325 per student with sliding scale available for larger choirs of 40+.
• Ensemble Hire / Performance Booking Services Volti's roster of professional musicians is available for hire, ranging from small vocal ensembles to the full 40-voice Volti Chorale, collaborating on new music projects, recordings, score readings, and live performances.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45+ year track record as a leader in new vocal music
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kronos QuartetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerformed Terry Riley's 'Sun Rings' for Cal Performances in 2016 and recorded at Skywalker Sound on Grammy-nominated album named one of the best 100 albums of 2019 by Ted Gioia. Ongoing collaboration in new music presentations.
• Del Sol QuartetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremiered the 'Angel Island Oratorio' with Del Sol String Quartet, a bilingual oratorio for string quartet and chamber chorus by Chinese-born American composer Huang Ruo.
• Left Coast Chamber EnsemblecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration including commissioning and premiering works for small groups of instrumentalists plus chamber chorus. Multiple joint projects including 'Sound Stories' concerts.
• ODC/DancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple collaborations on Joby Talbot's 'Path of Miracles' - hour-long exploration of Camino Santiago pilgrimage with choreography by KT Nelson. Sold-out performances at Grace Cathedral and Presidio Theatre.
• San Francisco Chamber OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPast collaborator on various new music projects and performances.
• Festival Napa ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerformed at Festival Napa Valley in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2024. Performed 'Vocal Fantastique' featuring music from Mozart to contemporary composers.
• Bard Music WestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerformed at first two Bard Music West festivals in 2017 and 2018, 'The World of Gyorgy Ligeti' and 'The World of Henry Cowell'.
• Philharmonia Orchestra, LondonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMentioned as collaborator with conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen and Philharmonia Orchestra, London.
• UC Davis SymphonyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEight Volti singers performed Luciano Berio's 'Sinfonia for Eight Voices and Orchestra' with UC Davis Symphony under Maestro Christian Baldini.
• Skywalker SoundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecorded Terry Riley's 'Sun Rings' with Kronos Quartet at Skywalker Sound on Grammy-nominated album.
• Cal PerformancescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented Terry Riley's 'Sun Rings' with Kronos Quartet and California premiere of John Luther Adams's 'Become Desert' with expanded 32-singer ensemble.
• San Francisco Contemporary Music PlayersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Richard Festinger's 'Worlds Apart' world premiere in 2024, with conductor Eric Dudley.
• Seattle SymphonyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerformed John Luther Adams's 'Become Desert' with Seattle Symphony at CAL Performances in 2018.
• Piedmont East Bay Children's ChoirminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Robert Geary, ongoing collaborative projects including co-commissioning works for professional chamber choir and children's choir.
• San Francisco Choral SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRobert Geary serves as Artistic Director. Joint presentation of David Lang's 'battle hymns' West Coast premiere in 2013.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE): Large new-music ensemble commissioning dozens of works annually. Comparable in new-music commissioning scale, though ICE is primarily instrumental and operates on a broader touring model.
• Chanticleer: San Francisco-based professional vocal ensemble and multiple Grammy winner. Direct peer to Volti as a leading U.S. chamber choir with a comparable national touring profile, though Chanticleer's repertoire spans Renaissance to contemporary rather than focusing exclusively on new music.
• Kronos Quartet: Long-standing Volti collaborator and the most prominent new-music chamber ensemble globally. Direct peer in the new-music commissioning/performance space with comparable Bay Area presence and Grammy-recognized recordings.
• Bang on a Can: New-music presenting and commissioning organization running multiple ensembles. Comparable in its dedication to contemporary composition, with overlapping educational programming (e.g., Marfa festivals) and commissioning-first philosophy.
• The Crossing: Philadelphia-based professional chamber choir that commissions and performs exclusively new vocal music. Highly direct peer — multiple Grammy winner with a comparable commissioning-first mission and similar ensemble size.
• Los Angeles Master Chorale: Professional choir commissioning significant new choral works each season. Direct peer in the professional choral commissioning space, with comparable artist-collaboration programming but a larger ensemble and broader repertoire.
• Roomful of Teeth: Vocal ensemble dedicated to exploring new vocal techniques through commissioning living composers. Grammy-winning direct peer with a comparable small-ensemble, new-music-only artistic mission and similar education/residency programming.
• San Francisco Contemporary Music Players: Bay Area new-music ensemble and Volti collaborator (Richard Festinger 'Worlds Apart' 2024). Direct regional peer sharing a new-music commissioning mission and overlapping artistic ecosystem.
• Eighth Blackbird: Grammy-winning contemporary music ensemble that commissions and performs works by living composers. Comparable as a small ensemble with a new-music-only mission, though instrumental rather than vocal.

Broad incumbents

• San Francisco Symphony: Larger Bay Area performing arts institution and Volti collaborator (Seattle Symphony CAL Performances co-presentation). Broad incumbent in the same regional arts ecosystem with overlapping commissioning activity, but at a substantially larger scale and broader repertoire.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjJGrsT-ehH-YdCDNlV9v9A
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/volti

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Volti