society for new music

What society for new music does

Society for New Music is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization founded in 1971 by Neva Pilgrim in Syracuse, New York and now headquartered in Manlius, New York. It is the oldest new music organization in New York State outside of New York City and the only organization in Central New York solely dedicated to new music, living composers, and emerging artists. The organization commissions, presents, and promotes contemporary classical music through live concerts, silent-film performances with newly commissioned live scores, an annual composition competition, a summer composer intensive, and studio recordings distributed through Innova Recordings.

Its core programmatic portfolio consists of six anchor offerings: Vision of Sound (an annual concert series fusing contemporary music, dance, and digital media), Silent Film with New Music (an annual silent-film screening series with commissioned live scores, now produced with LeMoyne College), New Music Readings (an annual collaboration with the Binghamton University (SUNY) Composition Program for graduate and advanced undergraduate student premieres), Composer's Sandbox (a summer intensive at Hobart & William Smith Colleges), the Brian M. Israel/Sam Pellman Competition (an annual NYS-state composer prize), and a catalog of commissioned recordings. Performances are delivered at multiple regional venues including OCC Recital Hall, the W. Carroll Coyne Center for the Performing Arts, Pink Rock Culture Co-op, and partner college campuses.

The business model is a nonprofit hybrid of three revenue streams: transaction-based ticket sales and a $50 annual season subscription, individual donations organized into structured tiers (Mezzo piano $50 through Fortississimo $1,000), and grants and institutional fundraising from foundations such as NYSCA, the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, CNY Arts, and Onondaga County. The organization is governed by an Executive Committee and Board of Directors; following Neva Pilgrim's death in January 2024, Andrea Scheibel serves as Executive Director, Natalie Draper as Artistic Director, and Paul Leary as President. There is no app, no proprietary software, and no disclosed AI/ML capability — the technology surface is limited to a WordPress-based website and standard social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube).

Name

society for new music

Legal name

Society for New Music

Website

https://societyfornewmusic.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Society for New Music is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 that commissions, presents, and promotes contemporary classical music in Central New York through concerts, silent-film performances, competitions, and recordings, serving living composers, emerging artists, and regional audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts — Contemporary Music

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music Production & Composition (Songwriting, Recording, DJing) (EDAMAAAF), Music (Instruments, Voice, Music Theory) (EDAAAGAC)

Keywords

• Contemporary music concerts
• New music performances
• Composer commissions
• Live music events
• Music composition competitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Manlius

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from individual concert tickets and season subscriptions purchased by audience members attending performances.
2. Donations and Contributions: Individual donations from supporters at various contribution levels, including designated donor tiers (Mezzo piano through Fortississimo).
3. Grants and Fundraising: Support from grants, fundraisers, and community contributions. The organization is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization supported by grants, fundraisers, and contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Society for New Music commissions, presents, and promotes contemporary music through live concerts, silent film screenings with newly commissioned live scores, composition competitions, composer training programs, and recordings. It serves as a platform for living composers to premiere new works and for emerging artists to perform contemporary repertoire in Central New York.

Product overview

Society for New Music is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and the only organization in Central New York solely dedicated to new music, living composers, and emerging artists. Founded in 1971 by Neva Pilgrim, it offers a portfolio of programs including: Vision of Sound (annual concert series fusing contemporary music, dance, and digital media); Silent Film with New Music (annual silent film screenings with live commissioned scores); New Music Readings (collaboration with Binghamton University for student compositions); Composer's Sandbox (summer intensive at Hobart & William Smith Colleges); Recordings (available through Innova Recordings); Israel/Pellman Prize (annual composition competition for NYS composers); and Season Subscriptions for concert access. The organization commissions new works each season and serves as the oldest new music organization in New York State outside of New York City.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vision of Sound: Annual concert series started in 2005 that fuses contemporary music, dance, and digital media
• Silent Film with New Music
• Brian M. Israel/Sam Pellman Competition
• Composer’s Sandbox
• New Music Readings

Products and services

• Vision of Sound Annual concert series fusing contemporary music, dance, and digital media, featuring new works by regional composers paired with original choreography by regional dance artists. Designed for audiences interested in innovative, interdisciplinary musical experiences.
• Silent Film with New Music Annual screening series featuring silent films with newly commissioned live scores performed by musicians. Produced in collaboration with LeMoyne College. Targets audiences interested in the intersection of classic cinema and contemporary live music.
• New Music Readings Annual collaboration with Binghamton University (SUNY) Composition Program showcasing works by graduate and advanced undergraduate composition students, with world premieres performed by professional musicians. Designed for emerging composers.
• Composer's Sandbox Summer intensive program at Hobart & William Smith Colleges where emerging composers study with renowned faculty, culminating in professional performances and recordings of student compositions.
• Recordings Commissioned recordings available through Innova Recordings. Society for New Music commissions at least one new work each season and has produced multiple recordings, twice winning the Syracuse-Area Music Award (SAMMY).
• Israel/Pellman Prize Competition Annual composition competition encouraging promising New York State composers with cash prizes of $1,000 (Israel/Pellman prize) and $750 (NYS Federation of Music Clubs prize). Prize-winning compositions are performed by Society for New Music.
• Commissions New work commissions produced each season, with multiple commissioned recordings created. Twice winning the Syracuse-Area Music Award (SAMMY). Supports living composers and contributes to the contemporary music repertoire.
• Season Subscription Season subscription ($50) providing access to all concerts during the 2026-2027 season including Silent Film Performance, Sticks Keys Bows, Vision of Sound concerts, All-Electronic Music concert, and Israel/Pellman Prize Winners performance.
• Society for New Music Fundraiser Celebration Free fundraising event celebrating Neva Pilgrim's legacy (founder, 55 years) and introducing the new Executive Committee, featuring a taste of the upcoming season. Held at the home of a board member in Manlius, NY.
• All-Electronic Music Concert First-ever all-electronic music concert featuring exclusively electronic works by local New York composers, scheduled for March 26, 2027 at Pink Rock Culture Co-op.

Quantifiable outcome

• Commissioned at least one new work each season and produced multiple recordings, twice winning the Syracuse-Area Music Award (SAMMY)

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LeMoyne CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeMoyne College serves as a producing partner for the Silent Film with New Music initiative, collaborating with SNM to present classic silent films with newly commissioned live musical scores performed during screenings.
• Binghamton University (SUNY)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBinghamton University's Composition Program partners with SNM for the annual New Music Readings, providing opportunities for graduate and advanced undergraduate composition students to have their works premiered by professional musicians.
• Hobart & William Smith CollegesminorOthersHobart & William Smith Colleges serves as a venue for Vision of Sound concerts and hosts the Composer's Sandbox summer intensive program for emerging composers.
• Innova RecordingsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInnova Recordings serves as the distribution channel for SNM's recordings, with Society for New Music recordings available for purchase through Innova's platform.
• Syracuse International Film FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Silent Film with New Music initiative began as a collaboration with the Syracuse International Film Festival before transitioning to LeMoyne College as the current producing partner.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Syracuse Stage: Regional professional theater company producing live performances at Syracuse University. Comparable as a Central New York nonprofit performing arts presenter serving overlapping audiences and competing for donor dollars.
• Symphoria: Syracuse-based professional orchestra presenting symphonic concerts across Central New York. Comparable as a regional Central NY performing arts presenter that competes for the same audience and donor base as SNM.

Direct peers

• New Music USA: National nonprofit advocating for and funding new music through grants and programs. Comparable mission of supporting living composers and new-music creation, with a broader funding and advocacy mandate than SNM.
• Eighth Blackbird: Grammy-winning contemporary-music sextet that commissions, performs, and tours new works nationally and internationally. Comparable as a new-music ensemble with strong commissioning and educational programming.
• American Composers Forum: National nonprofit that supports composers and new music through commissions, readings, and community programs. Comparable to SNM as a mission-aligned new-music presenting and composer-services organization, scaled nationally rather than regionally.
• loadbang: New-music ensemble commissioning and performing works by living composers across diverse formations. Comparable as a contemporary-music performing and commissioning outfit operating at a similar nonprofit scale.
• Wet Ink Music: NYC-based new-music collective that commissions, premieres, and tours contemporary works. Comparable mission and operational profile: small ensemble-driven organization commissioning and presenting living composers.
• Bang on a Can: NYC-based nonprofit presenting and producing contemporary music, including the Marathon festival and touring ensembles. Directly comparable as a new-music presenting organization with composer-development programs and innovative programming.
• Contemporaneous: New York-based ensemble and presenter dedicated to contemporary music, with a composer-in-residence model and live programming. Comparable as a contemporary-music presenter commissioning and premiering new works for live audiences.

Others

• Innova Recordings: Record label run by the American Composers Forum that distributes new-music recordings, including SNM's catalog. Comparable as an ecosystem partner that distributes new-music recordings to consumers and institutions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCCAyWMUZuTEHom9Nfxlg-lA
• Facebookfacebook.com/SocietyForNewMusic
• Instagraminstagram.com/societyfornewmusic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/society-for-new-music

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 society for new music