The Knights
The Knights is a Brooklyn-based non-profit chamber orchestra collective founded by Colin and Eric Jacobsen, performing at Carnegie Hall and internationally. The ensemble delivers live concerts, GRAMMY-nominated recordings, the multi-year Rhapsody commissioning project, and educational programming.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Knights does
The Knights is a Brooklyn-based non-profit chamber orchestra collective founded by brothers Colin and Eric Jacobsen. The ensemble is structured as a flexible, member-led artistic collective with a variable-size chamber orchestra performing repertoire spanning baroque, classical, contemporary, jazz, and world music influences. Headcount is 1-10 employees (administrative core), with musicians organized as a collective rather than a traditional employed orchestra.
The organization's product portfolio centers on live concert performances anchored by a multi-year Carnegie Hall residency at Zankel Hall, plus performances at Caramoor, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MetLiveArts), Clark Art Institute, Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park, and international venues including a seven-city Germany tour. Secondary products include commercial recordings (the GRAMMY-nominated Zodiac Suite album with Aaron Diehl on Mack Avenue, Heirloom with Gabriel Kahane on Nonesuch), the multi-year Rhapsody commissioning project tied to the Gershwin centennial, educational programs for families, and an Innovation Fund. Leadership includes Co-Founders/Artistic Directors Colin Jacobsen (violin) and Eric Jacobsen (conductor), Executive Director Bridget Mundy, Board Chair Paul Sekhri, and Board Vice Chair Graham Parker.
The revenue model is a non-profit charitable mix: concert ticket sales (Carnegie Hall subscription packages, individual tickets, MetLiveArts tickets starting at $35), a tiered donor and sponsorship program (Founders Circle, Patron Program, Sponsor a Musician), annual benefit galas (2026 "A Musical Feast" raised over $300,000), foundation and government grants (NEA, NYSCA, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Howard Gilman Foundation), and recording royalties. Distribution is event-driven, relying on venue partnerships, WQXR radio broadcasts, and earned media in The New York Times, The Guardian, Gramophone, NPR, and Forbes. The operating geography spans New York, the broader U.S. Northeast, Massachusetts, and touring in Germany and France.
The Knights firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Knights
- Legal name
- The Knights
- Website
- https://theknightsnyc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Knights is a Brooklyn-based non-profit chamber orchestra collective founded by Colin and Eric Jacobsen, performing at Carnegie Hall and internationally. The ensemble delivers live concerts, GRAMMY-nominated recordings, the multi-year Rhapsody commissioning project, and educational programming.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Knights industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Chamber Orchestra Performances
- NAICS
- Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Performing Arts Companies (7111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)
Keywords
Where The Knights is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Knights business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Concert Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual concert tickets and subscription packages to performances at Carnegie Hall and other venues
- Annual Benefit Fundraising: Annual benefit events that raise funds to support the organization's mission; 2026 benefit raised over $300,000
- Recording Sales: Album releases including Grammy-nominated Zodiac Suite and Heirloom, available through record labels Mack Avenue and Nonesuch
- Sponsorship and Donor Programs: Support from individual donors, corporate sponsors, and foundations including Founders Circle members and various sponsorship tiers
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Individual concert tickets |
| Subscription | Annual | Subscription packages |
| One time/ perpetual license | Annual | Annual Benefit tickets |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
The Knights product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Knights is a Brooklyn-based chamber orchestra collective that performs live orchestral concerts at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Caramoor, and the Met, alongside commercial album recordings and music education programming. Its flexible ensemble performs a genre-defying repertoire spanning baroque, classical, contemporary, jazz, and world music influences, with collaborative guest artists and a member-led artistic structure.
Product overview
The Knights is a Brooklyn-based chamber orchestra collective offering live concert performances, album recordings, and educational programming. The ensemble operates under a flexible model with variable ensemble size and adventurous repertoire spanning Baroque to contemporary works. Core offerings include their Carnegie Hall residency series, the multi-year Rhapsody Project commissioning initiative, educational programs for families, and commercial recordings released on labels including Nonesuch and Mack Avenue. The organization generates revenue through ticket sales, album releases, and charitable donations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Live Concert Performances
Quantifiable outcome
- GRAMMY nomination for Zodiac Suite album
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Knights
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Knights technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Knights partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Carnegie HallcoreMulti-year residency partnership featuring The Knights in three-concert series at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall for 2026-27 season. Partnership includes collaborative programming with guest artists and represents a flagship relationship for the ensemble.
- Brooklyn RidercoreCollaboration with string quartet Brooklyn Rider for February 2027 Carnegie Hall performance featuring New York premiere of Nico Muhly's new work for string quartet and orchestra.
- Emanuel AxflagshipFeatured pianist performing Mozart concertos No. 17 and 25 in October 2026 Carnegie Hall concert.
- Conrad TaoflagshipCollaborating pianist for summer 2026 festival performance at Caramoor featuring Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue.
- Caramoor Center for Music and The ArtscoreSummer festival partnership hosting The Knights' 'This Music is Your Music: America at 250' program and regular performances.
- The Metropolitan Museum of ArtcoreMetLiveArts series presenting The Knights with pipa virtuoso Wu Man performing Lou Harrison's concerto.
- Clark Art InstitutecoreAnnual summer concert series at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, MA, including outdoor performances and family concerts.
- Naumburg Orchestral ConcertscorePartnership for free annual outdoor concert at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park.
- Martynas Levickisflagship2026 Germany Tour collaboration with accordionist Martynas Levickis across seven German venues.
- WQXRcoreRadio partnership for live broadcasts of performances including Naumburg concerts and collaborative family concert series GatherNYC.
- Nonesuch RecordscoreRecord label partnership releasing Gabriel Kahane's 'Heirloom' album featuring The Knights.
- Mack Avenue RecordscoreRecord label partnership for Grammy-nominated 'Zodiac Suite' album with Aaron Diehl.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
The Knights competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Orpheus Chamber Orchestra: NYC-based conductor-less chamber orchestra founded in 1972 with rotating leadership among musicians—directly analogous to The Knights' conductor-less, member-led artistic model. Both organizations perform at premier venues and emphasize collaborative, innovative programming.
- Academy of St Martin in the Fields: Renowned British chamber orchestra known for flexible ensemble size and cross-genre programming. Comparable to The Knights in its chamber orchestra format, international touring profile, and recording output with major labels.
- A Far Cry: Self-conducted chamber orchestra based in Boston with a membership of string players who rotate leadership roles—mirrors The Knights' conductor-less ethos and adventurous cross-genre programming approach.
- International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE): NYC-based contemporary music ensemble performing new works and cross-genre collaborations with living composers. Comparable to The Knights in its focus on contemporary programming, flexible instrumentation, and genre-defying repertoire.
- American Composers Orchestra: NYC-based orchestra dedicated to performing works by American composers, with a focus on commissioning and presenting contemporary American music. Directly comparable to The Knights' commissioning-driven, contemporary-focused programming model.
Emerging players
- Decoda Ensemble: NYC-based chamber ensemble affiliated with Carnegie Hall's Ensemble Connect program, performing innovative chamber music programming. Comparable to The Knights in chamber ensemble format and Carnegie Hall performance access.
- Ensemble Signal: NYC-based contemporary music ensemble led by conductor Brad Lubman, performing new works and cross-genre collaborations. Comparable to The Knights in its focus on contemporary programming and flexible chamber instrumentation.
- Alarm Will Sound: Chamber ensemble of contemporary classical musicians performing works that cross genre boundaries, with recordings on labels including Nonesuch. Directly comparable to The Knights' cross-genre programming and recording partnerships with major labels.
Broad incumbents
- Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: Established NYC chamber music presenting organization with broader programming across multiple ensemble formats. Overlaps with The Knights in NYC classical performance market but operates at significantly larger scale with broader artistic scope.
- Trinity Wall Street's NOVUS NY: Contemporary music initiative of Trinity Church Wall Street featuring a chamber orchestra performing new and跨界 works at Trinity Church venues. Comparable to The Knights in its NYC chamber orchestra focus on contemporary and跨界 programming.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Knights social profiles
Digital presenceThe Knights financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Knights leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
The Knights funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Knights M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Knights
What does The Knights do?
The Knights is a Brooklyn-based chamber orchestra collective that performs live orchestral concerts at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Caramoor, and the Met, alongside commercial album recordings and music education programming. Its flexible ensemble performs a genre-defying repertoire spanning baroque, classical, contemporary, jazz, and world music influences, with collaborative guest artists and a member-led artistic structure.
Is The Knights a public or private company?
The Knights is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Knights founded?
The Knights was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Knights based?
The Knights is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Knights make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Concert Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are annual Benefit Fundraising, recording Sales and sponsorship and Donor Programs.
Who are The Knights's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, A Far Cry, International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) and American Composers Orchestra. Emerging players are Decoda Ensemble, Ensemble Signal and Alarm Will Sound. Broad incumbents are Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and Trinity Wall Street's NOVUS NY.
Does The Knights have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Knights.
What industry is The Knights in?
The Knights's product category is Chamber Orchestra Performances. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMANAC, Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir). Its NAICS code is 711130.