VA &NC symphony and opera orchestras

What VA &NC symphony and opera orchestras does

The La Crosse Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is a non-profit professional symphony orchestra headquartered in La Crosse, Wisconsin, operating continuously under the current entity since 1941 with roots dating to 1898. The organization presents a subscription concert season of professional orchestral performances at venues including the Viterbo Fine Arts Center and Cappella Performing Arts Center, complemented by an education portfolio (Richard Record Rising Stars competition, Symphony for Youth, String Scholarships, BGC Violin Lessons/Play it Forward, and the Emplify Health Fellowship) serving youth musicians in western Wisconsin. The ensemble contracts approximately 70 professional musicians under Music Director Alexander Platt (appointed 2010), with a roster drawn from institutions including Juilliard, UW-Madison, and Yale. LSO distributes broadcasts through Wisconsin Public Radio and, as of the 2026-2027 season, PBS Wisconsin, and markets through its own website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and email newsletter via Constant Contact.

LSO monetizes through a multi-stream revenue model: (1) ticketed concert subscriptions and single-ticket sales via the Ovations (OvationTix) platform, with season packages priced at $147 (upper balcony) to $276 (main floor/lower balcony) per person; (2) tiered corporate sponsorships (season, concert, chamber, conductor, education, and naming sponsors) with named partners including Gundersen Health System, First Supply, TrustPoint, Gerhards, and DBS Group; (3) donor development across general giving, planned/legacy giving, and the active ENCORE Capital Campaign; (4) nominal fees and scholarships for education programs (e.g., $150/semester String Scholarships); and (5) fundraising events (Valentine Ball, Staycation Auction) and merchandise (30 for $30 Coupon Booklet, 125th Anniversary Giclée prints). Customer segments are local concert audiences, youth/students in education programs, regional corporate sponsors, and major/legacy donors, with no single revenue stream appearing to dominate.

Name

VA &NC symphony and opera orchestras

Legal name

La Crosse Symphony Orchestra

Website

https://lacrossesymphony.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1898

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The La Crosse Symphony Orchestra is a non-profit professional symphony orchestra based in La Crosse, Wisconsin, presenting subscription concerts, guest artist performances, and youth music education programs to the western Wisconsin region through a contracted roster of approximately 70 musicians.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Orchestral Music

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Concerts & Music Festivals (THAJAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Virtual Concerts & Music Festivals (Livestreamed Performances) (MPAGAOAD)

Keywords

• Orchestral music performances
• Music education programs
• Symphony concerts
• Youth music education
• Arts nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

La Crosse

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Concert Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual concert tickets and season subscriptions purchased through the Ovations ticketing platform. Season packages include main floor/lower balcony seating at $276 per person and upper balcony at $147 per person.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Multiple corporate sponsors support the orchestra at various levels including season sponsors, concert sponsors, chamber concert sponsors, pre-concert sponsors, cookie sponsors, conductor sponsors, education program sponsors, and naming sponsors.
3. Donations and Contributions: Donations from patrons including direct contributions, legacy/planned giving, and special campaigns like the Capital Campaign for the ENCORE project.
4. Merchandise and Publications: Sale of merchandise including the 30 for $30 Coupon Booklet and commemorative items like the 125th anniversary Giclée print for $125.
5. Education Programs: Revenue from education programs including string scholarships ($150 per semester for two semesters), Symphony for Youth virtual content sales, and Rising Stars competition participation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The La Crosse Symphony Orchestra presents live professional orchestral concerts in La Crosse and western Wisconsin, featuring classical repertoire and themed programs by a contracted ensemble of 70 musicians. The organization also delivers music education programs for youth (Rising Stars competition, Symphony for Youth, String Scholarships, BGC Violin Lessons, Play it Forward) and operates ancillary fundraising offerings such as the Valentine Ball gala and an online Marketplace for merchandise.

Product overview

La Crosse Symphony Orchestra is a regional symphony that offers orchestral music performances and music education programs. The organization provides live concert performances featuring classical repertoire performed by professional musicians, along with education initiatives including youth concerto competitions, string scholarships, and school programs. The main product is the concert season featuring orchestral performances at venues including Viterbo Fine Arts Center and Cappella Performing Arts Center. Additional offerings include the Marketplace (merchandise), special events like the Valentine Ball and Capital Campaign fundraising initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Orchestral Concert Season Live symphony performances featuring classical orchestral repertoire performed by 70 contracted professional musicians, including subscription concerts, guest artist performances, and special themed programs held at Viterbo Fine Arts Center and Cappella Performing Arts Center.
• Symphony for Youth Educational concert series designed for students featuring instructional videos on orchestral instruments and performances tailored for youth audiences, including virtual content options.
• Richard Record Rising Stars Competition Annual concerto competition for young musicians offering performance opportunities with the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra and monetary prizes totaling over $6,000.
• String Scholarships Scholarship program providing up to $150 per semester for two semesters for string instrument lessons with LSO musicians for eligible students.
• Play it Forward / BGC Violin Lessons After-school violin instruction program at Boys and Girls Clubs providing string education to youth in the community, led by LSO musicians.
• Emplify Health Fellowship Program Fellowship program providing professional development opportunities for emerging musicians, sponsored by Gundersen Health System / Emplify Health.
• Valentine Ball Annual fundraising gala featuring elegant entertainment, dining, and community celebration as a major LSO fundraiser.
• LSO Marketplace Online store offering merchandise including the 30 for $30 Coupon Booklet (containing 30 coupons for local La Crosse businesses) and commemorative 125th anniversary Giclée prints for $125.

Quantifiable outcome

• Staycation Auction 2021 raised over $10,000 enabling full musician roster return

Named customers4 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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Viterbo UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor venue partner hosting LSO concerts at Viterbo Fine Arts Center. Viterbo provides the primary performance venue and collaborates on concert experiences, including in-person and livestream options during the pandemic period.
• Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia broadcast partner that airs LSO Rising Stars program and interviews with Music Director Alexander Platt. Partnership extends LSO reach to statewide Wisconsin audience through radio and digital streaming.
• River City GalleryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity arts collaboration for First Friday Art Walk events in Downtown La Crosse, featuring LSO musician performances in a casual gallery setting.
• Gundersen Health SystemcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor education program sponsor - Emplify Fellowship Sponsor, supporting music education initiatives and fellowship programs.
• TrustPointcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerConcert sponsor and program supporter providing Cookie Sponsor and Conductor Sponsor support for LSO programs.
• First SupplycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSeason sponsor and major education program sponsor supporting LSO operations and education initiatives.
• GerhardscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSeason sponsor and major education program sponsor for the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra.
• DBS GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor providing support for LSO programs and operations.
• YWCA La Crosse Covid-19 Relief FundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFund that sponsored the Meet the Musician video series during the pandemic, making virtual content available to families.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Civic Orchestra of Chicago: Training orchestra affiliated with the Chicago Symphony providing performance experience for emerging professional musicians. Comparable as a training-to-professional orchestral pathway (LSO Assistant Principal Cellist is an associate member).

Broad incumbents

• Minnesota Orchestra: Major regional professional orchestra in the upper Midwest presenting subscription seasons, education programs, and community concerts. Comparable as a full-size professional symphony in the same geographic region with parallel programming categories.
• Chicago Symphony Orchestra: One of the largest and most prestigious American orchestras. Comparable as a major professional orchestra in the upper Midwest, though at a vastly larger scale with broader reach; relevant benchmark for programming and education program design.
• Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra: Larger Wisconsin-based professional symphony with full-size orchestra and major venue operations. Comparable as a Wisconsin orchestral peer but at significantly greater scale; LSO musicians (Wes Luke) have performed with MSO, indicating ecosystem overlap.

Direct peers

• Eau Claire Symphony Orchestra: Regional professional symphony based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Closely comparable as a small Wisconsin symphony serving a similar-sized western Wisconsin community with subscription concerts and youth education programming.
• Madison Symphony Orchestra: Larger Wisconsin-based regional professional symphony orchestra presenting multi-concert seasons and extensive education programs. Directly comparable as another Wisconsin symphony with overlapping musician pool (Wes Luke is a member) and similar classical orchestral programming model.
• Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra: Wisconsin-based regional professional chamber orchestra performing concerts in Madison. Comparable as a Wisconsin professional orchestral organization with overlapping musicians (Wes Luke member) and similar subscription-based ticketing model.
• Dubuque Symphony Orchestra: Regional professional symphony serving Dubuque, Iowa and tri-state area. Comparable as a small-to-mid-size regional symphony in the upper Midwest with similar classical programming, education outreach, and donor-dependent funding model.

Regional players

• La Crosse Jazz Orchestra: Local jazz ensemble in La Crosse with shared musicians from the LSO roster (Karyn Quinn, Mark Lakmann). Comparable as a local La Crosse-based performing arts organization sharing audience and musician ecosystem.
• La Crosse Concert Band: Community concert band based in La Crosse, Wisconsin with shared musician roster (LSO trombonist Mark Lakmann performs with both). Comparable as a local performing ensemble in the same La Crosse market targeting similar community audiences.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCv1J8ZNOQLxOZ7PCGE2slfg?
• Facebookfacebook.com/Lacrossesymphony
• Instagraminstagram.com/lacrossesymphonyorchestra

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 VA &NC symphony and opera orchestras