Filipino American Symphony Orchestra

What Filipino American Symphony Orchestra does

The Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit symphony orchestra founded in 2008 and headquartered in North Hollywood, California. It is the only Filipino symphony orchestra outside the Philippines, serving the Filipino-American community and broader Southern California audiences through live orchestral performances, education programs, and a recorded repertoire library. Its core offerings include a multi-concert season (with venues such as the Alex Theatre), an Education Program comprising the Youth String Ensemble, Junior Orchestra, and Vocal Workshops, a Composition Competition for Filipino-heritage works, and a Patreon-distributed music library. The ensemble comprises approximately 60 volunteer musicians led by Musical Director Robert Shroder.

FASO's business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue stack combining earned revenue from ticket sales (priced $20-$65), advertising ($300-$500 per slot), education session fees ($15 per session), and annual memberships ($25 per year), with philanthropic and institutional support from individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants. The organization employs 1-10 paid staff and relies on a largely volunteer performer base, with a small executive team including President and Education Director Louie Ramos and Executive Director Jilly Canizares. Institutional partners include the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, the Colburn School, the California Arts Council, and the Los Angeles Master Chorale.

The organization has accumulated community recognition, including a San Diego heritage award in 2016, a Los Angeles City Council recognition in 2018, the NaFFAA Trailblazer Award in 2019, and recurring Excellence in Music Awards. During COVID-19, FASO restructured its 2020 season toward virtual programming and digital fundraising channels, demonstrating operational adaptability. Its competitive position rests on a culturally specific niche, a multi-generational education pipeline, and institutional partnerships that are difficult to replicate in the small-community orchestra segment.

Name

Filipino American Symphony Orchestra

Legal name

The Filipino American Symphony Orchestra

Website

https://fasomusic.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Filipino American Symphony Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2008 in North Hollywood, California, serving as the only Filipino symphony orchestra outside the Philippines. It delivers live orchestral performances, youth music education programs, and a recorded repertoire library to the Filipino-American community and broader Southern California audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Symphony Orchestra

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Arranging & Orchestration (MPAIAHAG), Custom Music & Original Score/Composition (MPAIALAD), Music Schools & Conservatory Prep (Pre-College) (EDAMANAE), Music (Instruments, Voice, Music Theory) (EDAAAGAC)

Keywords

• Symphony orchestra performances
• Classical music concerts
• Music education programs
• Community youth ensembles
• Cultural arts nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

North Hollywood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from sales of concert tickets for performances at various venues including Walt Disney Concert Hall, Alex Theatre, and other California venues.
2. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting FASO's mission. The organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit (EIN #46-2720347).
3. Membership Program: Annual membership fees ($25 introductory rate) providing benefits including priority ticketing, merchandise discounts, free Patreon music library access, and member-only events.
4. Sponsorships: Corporate and organizational sponsorships for the orchestra's seasons and specific events.
5. Advertising: Revenue from selling advertising space in digital programs, on website, and during events. Ad pricing: Full page ad $500, Half page ad $300.
6. Education Program Fees: Tuition fees for vocal workshops ($15/session or $60 for 3 sessions), string classes, and other educational programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Filipino American Symphony Orchestra produces live orchestral concerts that blend classical Filipino and international repertoire, and runs structured music education programs for youth and adults, including string classes, ensemble training, a composition competition, and college scholarships. It operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and is recognized as the only Filipino symphony orchestra outside the Philippines, with performances staged at prestigious venues such as Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Product overview

The Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit performing arts organization offering a portfolio of musical products and services centered around its 60-piece symphony orchestra. The core offering consists of live orchestral performances showcasing Filipino and international repertoire. Supporting this are education programs including the Youth String Ensemble (intermediate), Junior Orchestra (advanced), String Classes, Workshops (voice, strings, wind & brass, songwriting), and Vocal Workshops. FASO also runs an annual Composition Competition, College Scholarship program, and Excellence in Music Award. Revenue streams include memberships ($25+), donations, ticket sales, advertising, and sponsorships. The organization provides free Patreon Music Library access to members for streaming past concert recordings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Orchestral Concert Performances Live symphony orchestra concerts featuring Filipino and international classical repertoire, presented for general audiences and the Filipino American community at major concert venues.
• FASO String Academy and Youth Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 young musicians served through Youth String Ensemble with free instrument access
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LA County Department of Arts and CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021LA County Department of Arts and Culture supports FASO as part of Creative Recovery LA, an initiative funded by the American Rescue Plan. This funding helps sustain FASO's operations and programming as a community arts organization.
• The US Asian PostminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia sponsor providing coverage and visibility for FASO events within the Filipino American community.
• Colburn School of MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColburn School of Music hosts FASO Education Spring Recital and vocal workshops. Partnership provides prestigious venue for education programs and performance opportunities for FASO students.
• Los Angeles Master ChoraleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner for performances at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Joint programs include composer spotlights and choral-orchestral performances.
• YOLA at LACHSAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGustavo Dudamel's signature music education program. FASO violist Armin Mariano teaches violin and viola lessons through this program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Filipino American Arts Exposition: Cultural community peer focused on Filipino American arts and culture. Operates in the same cultural niche as FASO and shares audience/donor overlap, though programming model differs.

Direct peers

• Los Angeles Master Chorale: LA-based performing arts organization at a similar tier. FASO's actual joint-presentation partner at Walt Disney Concert Hall; both organizations compete for the same SoCal performing-arts donor base.
• Pasadena Symphony: Regional orchestra serving Pasadena and surrounding communities with comparable scale and educational programming, including youth ensemble initiatives. Operates in adjacent SoCal territory.
• Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra: LA-based chamber orchestra at a similar tier to FASO. Both perform in iconic LA venues and compete for the same community concert audience and mid-tier donor pool.
• Long Beach Symphony: Regional symphony serving Long Beach and surrounding Southern California communities. Similar scale, community-outreach mission, and audience demographics as FASO.
• Pacific Symphony: Regional symphony orchestra based in Orange County, CA. Comparable scale, community-outreach programming model, and Southern California operating footprint — directly competes with FASO for regional audiences, donors, and grant funding.

Broad incumbents

• LA Opera: Major LA performing arts organization competing for the same institutional donors, corporate sponsorships, and culturally engaged audience as FASO.
• LA Philharmonic: Premier LA orchestra and dominant incumbent. Oversees YOLA (the program through which FASO musicians teach), and competes with FASO for the same donor and audience pool at vastly larger scale.

Regional players

• San Diego Symphony: California-based regional symphony comparable in scale and educational programming model. Serves San Diego market and overlaps with FASO's regional California operating geography.

Emerging players

• Asian Youth Orchestra: International Asian-focused youth orchestra with a comparable cultural mission of bridging Asian heritage with classical orchestral music. Smaller-scale model aligned with FASO's youth education programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/faso_ig
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/faso

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Filipino American Symphony Orchestra