Symphonicity - The Symphony Orchestra of Virginia Beach

What Symphonicity - The Symphony Orchestra of Virginia Beach does

Symphonicity is a community symphony orchestra and 501(c)-style nonprofit headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, founded in 1981 as the Virginia Beach Symphony Orchestra and rebranded under its current name in 2017. Its core offering is a season of classical masterworks concerts (five per year) at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, supplemented by pops concerts, an annual Handel's Messiah sing-along, a Lollipop children's concert with Instrument Petting Zoo, dozens of community chamber performances, and a Symphonicity Chorus of 100+ singers. The ensemble is staffed by 200+ auditioned volunteer musicians from varied professional backgrounds (physicians, scientists, clergy, educators, dedicated amateurs, and working professionals) under Music Director and Conductor Daniel W. Boothe (appointed 2017).

The organization's product surface extends beyond performances into educational programming (Young Musician Scholarship Program, Masterclass Series, Senior Regional Symphony Preparatory Day, Virtual Stage video content, podcast) and a career-launching partnership channel featuring artists from the Curtis Institute and Young Concert Artists. Distribution combines the premium 1,308-seat Sandler Center venue, free outdoor concerts at the Virginia Beach oceanfront (King Neptune Park), and a digital livestream subscription that enables remote attendance.

Revenue is generated through a multi-stream model: season subscriptions (with early-bird and loyalty pricing), single-ticket sales, individual donations via Network for Good, corporate sponsorships (e.g., Boothe Investment Group, Virginia Oncology Associates for 2025-2026), and grants from the Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Customer segments are horizontal and community-focused: general public/families, military families (a sizable segment given the Hampton Roads military presence), and students/young musicians. The organization is governed by a board led by President Christopher Sacra, with Nikki Bergman serving as Executive Director.

Name

Symphonicity - The Symphony Orchestra of Virginia Beach

Legal name

Symphonicity

Website

https://symphonicity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Symphonicity is a Virginia Beach-based nonprofit community symphony orchestra of 200+ volunteer musicians that produces five annual masterworks concerts at the Sandler Center, pops concerts, children's and choral programming, music education, and livestreamed performances for the Hampton Roads region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Virginia Beach

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from season subscriptions and single concert tickets for masterworks, pops concerts, and special events including children's concerts and sing-alongs
2. Donations and Grants: Individual donations through Network for Good platform, corporate sponsorships, and grants from Arts and Humanities Commission, Virginia Commission for Arts Support, and National Endowment for the Arts
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Presenting sponsorships for concerts and special events, lobby sponsorships, and season guest artist sponsors offering special access to guest artists and musicians
4. Volunteer Support: Fermata Club volunteers support events in exchange for complimentary tickets and backstage access, reducing operational costs while engaging community members

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Symphonicity is a community symphony orchestra that produces subscription masterworks concerts, pops concerts, children's concerts, chamber music performances, and choral works at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts and other community venues. It complements performances with educational programs including scholarships, masterclasses, a podcast, and Virtual Stage digital content, and supports emerging artists through partnerships with Curtis Institute and Young Concert Artists.

Product overview

Symphonicity operates as a community symphony orchestra offering a portfolio of live performance products and educational programs. Core offerings include five Masterworks Concerts featuring classical symphonic repertoire with multimedia elements at the Sandler Center, multiple Pops Concerts (indoor and outdoor venues), the annual Lollipop Children's Concert with Instrument Petting Zoo, the Handel's Messiah Sing-Along, and Chamber Music Performances throughout the community. The organization also runs a Symphonicity Chorus for major choral works. Educational products include the Young Musician Scholarship Program, Masterclass Series with guest artists, Annual Senior Regional Symphony Preparatory Day, Virtual Stage digital content, and a Podcast. Digital access products include Livestreaming Subscriptions and standard/concert ticketing via season subscriptions or single tickets. The Fermata Club provides volunteer support opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Masterworks Concerts Annual subscription series of five full-orchestra classical symphonic performances with multimedia masterworks staging at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, serving the general public and arts enthusiasts in Hampton Roads.
• Pops Concerts Popular music orchestral performances offered indoors at the Sandler Center and outdoors at Mount Trashmore Park and the Virginia Beach oceanfront as part of the Neptune Festival's Symphony by the Sea series.
• Lollipop Concert for Children & Families Annual children's and family concert featuring multimedia presentations, educational activities, and an Instrument Petting Zoo for hands-on musical exploration; serves students, families, and first-time orchestral attendees.
• Handel's Messiah Sing-Along Annual free-admission community sing-along of Handel's Messiah featuring a community chorus at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, offering broad community participation in a holiday choral tradition.
• Chamber Music Performances Dozens of small ensemble performances each year delivered at community venues including hospitals, nursing homes, senior residences, and partnership events for community outreach.
• Symphonicity Chorus Performances Choral ensemble of more than 100 singers performing major choral works such as Requiem Masses, Brahms' A German Requiem, and Puccini's Missa di Gloria alongside the orchestra from January through March.
• Young Musician Scholarship Program Scholarship program providing qualifying students in grades 5-12 with financial support for one year of private music instruction, in collaboration with local music teachers in the Hampton Roads area.
• Masterclass Series Free masterclasses with nationally and internationally acclaimed guest artists providing instruction and mentorship to local music students and teachers.
• Annual Senior Regional Symphony Preparatory Day Annual preparatory event for high school string players featuring auditions coaching, pointers, and drills led by Symphonicity musicians to prepare students for Regional Orchestra auditions.
• Livestreaming Subscription Digital livestream subscription granting remote access to Symphonicity's masterworks concerts, offered as a $50 standalone annual subscription or a $25 add-on to in-person season tickets.
• Season Tickets (Subscription) Multi-concert season subscription packages covering four Masterworks concerts plus the season finale POPS, offering discounted pricing, priority seating, automatic renewal, exclusive merchandise, and early access to special events such as the Lollipop Children's concert and Messiah sing-along.
• Single Concert Tickets Individual concert admission tickets available for purchase through the Symphonicity website, Sandler Center box office, or in-person, with reduced fees when bought directly from Symphonicity or at the venue.
• Virtual Stage Educational Program Digital educational content platform offering how-to videos, recruiting videos, and instructional content for students and teachers, accessible via YouTube and the Symphonicity Outreach & Education page.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered season sponsor, community partner, core partner, career development partner, regional partner and funding partner.

• Boothe Investment Groupseason sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerSeason Guest Artist Sponsor for 2025-2026, providing support for bringing nationally and internationally acclaimed guest artists to perform with Symphonicity
• Virginia Oncology Associatesseason sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerSeason Lobby Sponsor for 2025-2026, supporting the pre-concert and intermission experience for concert attendees
• Sentara Leigh Hospitalcommunity partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare facility where Symphonicity small ensembles perform to bring music to patients unable to attend concerts in traditional settings
• Virginia Aquariumcommunity partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for musical performances and community engagement events
• Virginia Museum of Contemporary Artcommunity partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for cross-disciplinary arts programming and venue activation during gallery events
• Pembroke Mallcommunity partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for performances including Instrument Petting Zoo at children's events
• Ballet Virginiacore partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual collaboration for up to five Nutcracker performances, combining orchestral music with ballet
• Virginia Beach Choralecore partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular choral collaborations including performances of major choral works
• Virginia African American Cultural Centercommunity partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for culturally relevant programming reflecting the diversity of the Virginia Beach community
• Virginia Japan Societycommunity partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partner for programming celebrating Virginia Beach's sister-city relationship with Japan
• Tidewater Ukrainian Cultural Associationcommunity partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for culturally relevant programming supporting Virginia Beach's diverse cultural community
• Curtis Institute of Music (Curtis on Tour)career development partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing career-launching opportunities for emerging artists who perform with Symphonicity on their path toward major international careers
• Young Concert Artists (New York)career development partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership presenting one or two young artists each season who are on the path toward major international careers
• Three Notch'd Brewingcommunity partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated custom beer 'Bachtoberfest' in 2019 tied to Bach to the Future season, sold throughout stores and tied to symphonic programming
• Virginia Symphony Orchestraregional partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegion's flagship full-time ensemble; Symphonicity coordinates programming to avoid conflicts and maintains collegial relationship
• Arts and Humanities Commissionfunding partnerOthersCitizens of Virginia Beach through a grant by the Arts and Humanities Commission support Symphonicity's community music mission
• Virginia Commission for the Artsfunding partnerOthersState arts commission providing grant support for Symphonicity's programs and performances
• National Endowment for the Artsfunding partnerOthersFederal arts agency providing partial funding support for Symphonicity's inspiring community music mission
• Lynnhaven River Nowcommunity partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization partner for community engagement events and performances
• Sandler Center Foundationcore partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting the $47.5 million Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Symphonicity's primary performance venue

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Richmond Symphony Orchestra: Virginia-based symphony orchestra performing classical and pops concerts with educational programming. Comparable mid-sized regional orchestra model with mixed volunteer/professional musicians and similar donation-driven funding structure.
• Virginia Symphony Orchestra: Region's flagship full-time professional orchestra based in Norfolk/Hampton Roads. Direct competitor for audiences, donors, corporate sponsors, and musician talent in the same geographic market where Symphonicity operates.
• Charlotte Symphony Orchestra: Mid-sized regional symphony orchestra offering masterworks, pops, family, and educational programming. Comparable scale and product mix to Symphonicity, including community engagement and youth education initiatives.

Emerging players

• Virginia Arts Festival: Regional performing arts presenter in Hampton Roads that programs classical music alongside other performing arts. Comparable community-engagement mission and donor base, with overlapping audience for orchestral events.

Regional players

• Hampton Roads Philharmonic: Regional community orchestra also serving the Hampton Roads area. Overlaps with Symphonicity in geographic market and audience demographic of amateur musicians and classical music patrons.
• Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra: Virginia-based regional symphony offering masterworks and pops programming with educational outreach. Comparable mid-sized orchestra model in an adjacent geography within Virginia.

Broad incumbents

• Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: Established regional orchestra with classical, pops, family, and education programming similar to Symphonicity. Operates at much larger scale and serves as a broader incumbent in the orchestral space.
• North Carolina Symphony: Larger state-supported symphony orchestra in the mid-Atlantic/Southeast with a broader geographic footprint and more extensive education programming. Comparable concert product mix but operates at significantly greater scale.
• Kennedy Center: National performing arts institution that programs orchestral concerts and supports arts education. Broader incumbent with overlapping educational mission and national-level donor base relevant to Symphonicity's career-launching artist partnerships.

Others

• League of American Orchestras: National service organization supporting U.S. orchestras through advocacy, research, and grant programs. Ecosystem peer that influences funding flows (including NEA-related grants) and best practices relevant to Symphonicity's operations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/strikingly
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLuSboyNe8usHUMj9cLukS0MF8iLbAiHVL
• Facebookfacebook.com/strikingly
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/symphonicity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles28 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 Symphonicity - The Symphony Orchestra of Virginia Beach