The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay

What The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay does

The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay (legal entity: Choral Masterworks Festival, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit choral organization founded in 1979 by Dr. Robert Summer and incorporated in Florida in 1988. It operates as a 150-voice auditioned volunteer chorus supported by a small professional staff (1-10 employees, including an Artistic Director, Associate Conductor, Principal Accompanist, Executive Director, and Operations Coordinator). The organization performs 20-25 concerts annually and reaches approximately 25,000 people each year through traditional performances, educational programs, and community engagement activities.

The organization's core product is its concert performance series, which includes collaborations with The Florida Orchestra (as Principal Chorus since 1986), self-produced concerts, holiday programs, and summer events. The product surface extends to educational offerings (Going to the Show reaching ~2,000 K-12 students, in-school music education presentations, and a Florida Music Education Standards-aligned video series) and community engagement programs (Summer Chorus and Big Sing events). Technology infrastructure is minimal — a Squarespace-hosted website serves as the primary digital touchpoint, with email newsletter and social media as supporting channels. No proprietary technology, mobile app, or API is evident.

The revenue model is a diversified non-profit mix: ticket sales from concerts, annual singer dues ($250/year), individual donations (one-time and recurring at $5-$50+ tiers), corporate sponsorships (Tampa Bay Times, Raymond James, Publix, Hough Family Foundation, etc.), and grants from arts foundations and government bodies (Florida Cultural Alliance, Hillsborough County). Pricing signals indicate a community-oriented model with scholarship provisions for students and financially constrained singers. The organization is anchored by Artist in Residence status at the University of South Florida School of Music, which provides free office space and an educational platform. Strategic primary customer segments include Tampa Bay community audience members, experienced choral singers, K-12 students in two counties, and corporate sponsors.

Name

The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay

Legal name

Choral Masterworks Festival, Inc.

Website

https://masterchorale.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating a 150-voice auditioned volunteer chorus that performs 20-25 concerts annually and reaches ~25,000 people. It serves Tampa Bay audiences as Principal Chorus of The Florida Orchestra and delivers music education programs to K-12 students across Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Choral Music

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Session Musicians & Vocalists (MPAIAHAC)

Keywords

• Choral performance services
• Choral music education
• Community music outreach
• Orchestral collaborations
• Nonprofit performing arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Tampa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from concert performances including self-produced shows and collaborations with The Florida Orchestra
2. Member Dues: Volunteer singers pay annual dues of $250 to participate; scholarships available for students and those with financial need
3. Donations and Philanthropy: Individual donations through online platform with options for one-time, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual contributions. Riser campaign for named sponsorship opportunities.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Support from corporate sponsors including Tampa Bay Times, Baysource, Hough Family Foundation, Florida Cultural Alliance, Hillsborough County, Beaux-Arts Group, Raymond James, and others
5. Grants: Funding from arts foundations and government arts councils including Florida Cultural Alliance and Hillsborough County

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay is a 150-voice auditioned volunteer chorus that produces 20–25 choral concerts per year, including flagship collaborations as Principal Chorus of The Florida Orchestra on major choral-orchestral works. It supplements its concert programming with music education programs (Going to the Show, In-School Music Education, a free Music Education Video Series) and community singing events (Summer Chorus, Big Sing) serving approximately 25,000 people annually. The organization is supported by ticket sales, singer dues, donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay is a single unified offering—an auditioned 150-voice volunteer chorus that serves approximately 25,000 people annually through concert performances, educational programs, and community engagement. The core product is the concert performance series (20-25 concerts per year), supplemented by educational offerings including 'Going to the Show,' In-School Music Education, and a Music Education Video Series, as well as community programs like Summer Chorus and Big Sing events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Concert Performances The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay performs 20-25 concerts annually, including traditional concerts, outreach activities, and collaborations with The Florida Orchestra, featuring major choral-orchestral works from the classical repertoire. Concerts are for the Tampa Bay community audience and include flagship collaborations such as Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 and Handel's Messiah.
• Going to the Show An educational program reaching nearly 2,000 students from Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, combining concert experiences at historic venues with instruction in musical skills, terminology, and concert etiquette. Sponsored by Publix Supermarkets Charities.
• In-School Music Education The Outreach & Education Ensemble visits elementary schools in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties with presentations covering music theory fundamentals, vocal pedagogy, and interactive exercises. Designed for K-12 students in public schools.
• Summer Chorus A non-auditioned summer chorus program held in Tampa and St. Petersburg, rehearsing on Tuesday evenings in July and culminating in a short, informal performance. Open to community members seeking a fun, low-commitment singing opportunity.
• Music Education Video Series Free pre-produced and live video lessons for primary through secondary choral music curriculum, aligned with Florida Music Education Standards and available to Florida educators and students.
• Big Sing Free community singing events held at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg and Tampa, open to everyone regardless of musical training or experience, taking place before The Florida Orchestra's Pops in the Park concerts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reaches nearly 25,000 people annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• University of South Florida - College of the Arts School of MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Appointed Artist in Residence at USF College of the Arts School of Music since 1999; office located in USF School of Music Building; serves as educational platform for students
• The Florida OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1986Designated Principal Chorus of The Florida Orchestra since 1986; featured annually on TFO's Masterworks season; regular collaborations on major choral-orchestral works including Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, Mahler symphonies, and Handel's Messiah
• The Cleveland OrchestraflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerformed Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 to sold-out audiences in Miami with The Cleveland Orchestra in March 2013, considered one of America's greatest orchestras
• Tampa Bay TimesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia sponsor and supporter of The Master Chorale; featured in Tampa Bay Times coverage
• Publix Supermarkets CharitiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsored the Going to the Show education program reaching over 2,000 children annually
• Lumina Youth ChoirscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for youth choral programs; MCTB conductor Rodney Shores also conducts Serata, an advanced high-school men's chorus, as part of Lumina Youth Choirs

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• Atlanta Master Chorale: Community-based auditioned choral ensemble in another US metro, comparable in scale and mission: performing major choral-orchestral works, partnering with a regional symphony, and running education outreach.
• The Florida Orchestra: Regional professional orchestra with which MCTB has been the Principal Chorus since 1986. Directly comparable as a Tampa Bay performing arts non-profit serving overlapping audiences through Masterworks concerts and education programs.
• Los Angeles Master Chorale: One of the country's leading professional (not volunteer) choral ensembles, also designated as Principal Chorus of a major symphony orchestra (LA Phil). Directly comparable professional choral-orchestral mission, community engagement, and education programs, though at much larger scale.
• Voices of Ascension: New York-based choral ensemble performing major choral-orchestral repertoire with concert series and recordings. Comparable performing-arts non-profit choral mission.
• Masterworks Chorale: Community-based auditioned choral ensemble performing major choral-orchestral works. Comparable volunteer-ensemble model and repertoire focus.
• Cantus: Professional male vocal ensemble that tours nationally and records extensively. Comparable as a choral ensemble with a strong touring/recording profile, though Cantus operates as paid professionals rather than volunteers.
• Chicago Symphony Chorus: Volunteer chorus serving as Principal Chorus for a top-tier US orchestra. Closely comparable choral-orchestral model at much larger institutional scale.
• San Francisco Symphony Chorus: Auditioned volunteer chorus that is the Principal Chorus of a major US symphony. Comparable choral-orchestral structure and volunteer talent base.

Emerging players

• Lumina Youth Choirs: Tampa Bay youth choral organization that is an active collaborative partner of MCTB (Principal Accompanist Rodney Shores conducts Serata within Lumina). Comparable choral education mission and shared regional pipeline.

Broad incumbents

• Boston Symphony Orchestra: Major US orchestra with its own Tanglewood Festival Chorus and education programs. Comparable only as a broad incumbent in the choral-orchestral space and a potential collaboration model for MCTB.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MasterChoraleofTampaBay
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/master-chorale-of-tampa-bay

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay