Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra

What Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra does

The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra (legal entity: The Williamsburg Music Association, Tax ID 52-1342360) is a 501(c)-equivalent nonprofit professional symphony orchestra founded in 1984 in Williamsburg, Virginia, now in its 41st season. It fields 60+ professional musicians — many graduates of Juilliard and Peabody — led by Music Director Michael Butterman (appointed 2022) and Executive Director Alana Carithers (appointed November 2025). The core product is the Masterworks subscription concert series performed at the Williamsburg Community Chapel, supplemented by specialty concerts (Holiday Pops at the Kimball Theatre, Cabaret & Cocktails at the Williamsburg Lodge) and a bonus performance series. A livestream channel delivers concerts globally via TV or digital devices.

Revenue is generated across five streams: ticket sales (adults $40, children $20 for Holiday Pops; $70–$115 for Cabaret & Cocktails; structured Masterworks subscription renewals May 11–June 15), individual donations (Annual Fund, Friends of the Symphony, Own Your Own Orchestra part-sponsorship), corporate sponsorships (VCU Health, Anderson, Two Friends of Music, Mullins Family Living Trust among named partners), government and foundation grants (Virginia Commission for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Williamsburg Area Arts Commission, York County Arts Commission), and an endowment funded by bequests and charitable trusts. Ticket revenue covers less than half of production costs; the remainder is funded by contributed income.

Beyond performance, the orchestra operates an extensive education portfolio: 25 free instrumental coaching classes per season in WJCC schools (Grades 5-12), Peter & the Wolf elementary performances, lesson plans, virtual field trips, an instrument-loaning program (Instruments for Kids), and the affiliated Williamsburg Youth Orchestra (WYO). Distribution is direct-to-consumer via Tix.com and on-site box offices; livestream extends reach globally. Governance is provided by a 24+ member Board of Trustees chaired by Jon E. Krapfl.

Name

Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra

Legal name

Williamsburg Music Association

Website

https://williamsburgsymphony.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra is a nonprofit professional symphony in Williamsburg, Virginia, presenting Masterworks concerts, specialty performances, and livestreams with 60+ Juilliard- and Peabody-trained musicians, funded by ticket sales, donations, corporate sponsors, and arts grants while running extensive K-12 music education programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Orchestral Music Performances

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Concerts & Music Festivals (THAJAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Orchestral music performances
• Symphony concerts
• Classical music education
• Youth orchestra programs
• Live concert streaming

Headquarters

HQ city

Williamsburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Ticket revenue covers less than half of The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra's production costs. The organization sells season subscriptions, single tickets, and specialty concert tickets through Tix.com.
2. Individual Donations: Annual Fund gifts for operations, acknowledgment gifts for special occasions, honorariums, thank-you gifts, and memorial donations. Friends of the Symphony are recognized in every concert program with special benefits.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate partners gain recognition, support community quality of life, and achieve marketing objectives through concert sponsorship, logo identification in advertising and programs, in-theatre signage, and client entertainment packages.
4. Government & Foundation Grants: Support from granting agencies including Virginia Commission for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Williamsburg Area Arts Commission, and York County Arts Commission.
5. Endowment Giving: Bequests, beneficiary designations for retirement plan assets, pledges, charitable trusts, and coin collections support the endowment fund held in perpetuity.
6. Own Your Own Orchestra: Patrons can 'own' parts of the symphony for a season by sponsoring items. Names are listed in concert programs with 100% tax-deductible gifts supporting the 2025-2026 concert year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra is a nonprofit arts organization that produces and presents live orchestral concerts, including a Masterworks subscription series and specialty performances. It also delivers livestreamed digital concerts and runs music education programs such as lesson plans, virtual field trips, masterclasses, the Williamsburg Youth Orchestra, instrument loans for kids, and Peter & the Wolf performances for schools and families.

Product overview

The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra offers a portfolio of live orchestral performance products centered around its core Masterworks concert series at the Williamsburg Community Chapel and specialty concerts at venues including the Kimball Theatre and Williamsburg Lodge. The orchestra's offerings span in-person attendance, livestream digital access, and extensive educational outreach through Lesson Plans, Virtual Field Trips, Masterclasses, Instrumental Coaching, the Williamsburg Youth Orchestra (WYO), Instruments for Kids program, and Peter & the Wolf educational performances. The organization serves the Williamsburg community and wider audiences through diverse programming from classical symphonic works to holiday pops, Broadway tributes, and special collaborations like Rick Steves' Europe: A Symphonic Journey.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Masterworks Concert Series

Quantifiable outcome

• 25 free instrumental coaching classes offered in area schools each season
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• VCU HealthmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor with logo displayed on WSO sponsors page; healthcare partner providing concert sponsorship.
• AndersonmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor displayed on WSO sponsors page.
• Williamsburg Youth Orchestra (WYO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated youth orchestra program with separate governance (Jason Chen, President). Side-by-side performances with main orchestra (May 2, 2027 concert). WSO extends educational reach through this affiliate.
• League of American OrchestrasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association membership providing industry resources, networking, and professional development for orchestras.
• Greater Williamsburg Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional chamber membership supporting business community connections and regional economic vitality.
• Williamsburg Community ChapelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary venue for Masterworks concert series. Fully ADA-compliant facility with free parking. Long-term partnership providing performance space.
• Colonial Williamsburg FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides Kimball Theatre venue for specialty concerts including Holiday Pops during Colonial Williamsburg's Grand Illumination events.
• WJCC School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWilliamsburg/James City County schools partner for educational outreach including Peter and the Wolf performances and instrumental coaching programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Charlotte Symphony Orchestra: Mid-sized Southeast metropolitan professional orchestra with comparable Masterworks/pops split and education programming. A broader regional peer with similar repertoire strategy at larger scale.
• Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: Larger Mid-Atlantic professional orchestra with broader programming and education programs. Comparable as a more established incumbent in the broader regional orchestral market WSO operates in.
• North Carolina Symphony: Larger Southeast U.S. state-based professional orchestra with statewide touring, residencies, and education initiatives. Comparable as a broader regional incumbent with similar classical programming.

Direct peers

• Richmond Symphony: Virginia-based regional professional symphony orchestra of comparable scale, performing classical masterworks and pops concerts with educational outreach. Closely comparable as another Virginia orchestra of similar size serving a mid-sized metro area.
• Roanoke Symphony Orchestra: Regional Virginia symphony orchestra of similar professional size and structure, with subscription series and education programming. Directly comparable regional orchestra with similar budget and audience profile.
• Virginia Symphony Orchestra: Hampton Roads-based regional professional symphony orchestra in the same Virginia footprint, presenting Masterworks and specialty concerts with education programs. Highly comparable as a same-state peer competing for regional donors and tourism audiences.
• Charlottesville Symphony: University-affiliated regional symphony in central Virginia offering classical concerts and educational outreach. Comparable Virginia peer in scale and programming mix.

Others

• League of American Orchestras: National membership association of professional, volunteer, and youth orchestras. WSO is a member; the league is an industry infrastructure peer providing benchmarking, advocacy, and best practices across the U.S. orchestral sector.
• Colonial Williamsburg Foundation: Historic-site operator and venue partner of WSO, providing Kimball Theatre for specialty concerts. Adjacent ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor — relevant for understanding WSO's distribution and tourism integration.

Regional players

• Hampton Roads Philharmonic: Community orchestra based in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. Comparable as a regional orchestral ensemble in the same state, though operating at smaller scale and different funding model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/results?search_query=williamsburg+symphony+orchestra
• Facebookfacebook.com/WilliamsburgSymphonyOrchestra
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/williamsburg-symphony-orchestra

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra