Santa Rosa Symphony 2019-2020 Season (and Fiscal Year) Review

July 07, 2020

The Santa Rosa Symphony's 2019-2020 fiscal year began with expanded program offerings, another record-beating, season-opening fundraiser and strong ticket sales. Then the Kincaid Fire and the pandemic caused an unprecedented number of concert postponements in a single season. The organization met the challenges, adapted and ended the fiscal year, once again, in the black.

Top organizational highlights:

  • Two summer co-productions with the Green Music Center: free multimedia concert "Four Seasons of Sonoma County" with Vivaldi's The Four Seasons and photos curated by Museum of Sonoma County; and "Raiders of the Lost Ark in concert"
  • Most successful gala fundraiser of its kind in 17 years, honoring Gaye LeBaron
  • Negotiation of new five-year contracts with Musicians and Stagehands Unions
  • Critically-acclaimed, first full season of conducting and programming by music director Francesco Lecce-Chong
  • Inaugural First Symphony Project performance and launch of SRS Institute for Music Education's First Opus Project
  • Strong overall enrollment in youth orchestras, exceeding budgeted goal
  • Ticket sales for Classical Series and Family Series on record pace
  • High levels of individual donations, board giving, government grants and League support
  • Positive bottom line for seventeenth consecutive year

The pandemic caused the postponement of the last eight weeks of the season’s performances and three performances in the Green Music Center's summer season, and the temporary closing of the SRS administrative and patron services offices. The fourteen-member staff continues to work from home. Since the beginning of the sheltering in place, the organization accomplished the following:

  • All eight Classical Series and Family concerts rescheduled
  • Continued engagement through:
    • Music Director hosted Facebook "Watch Parties"
    • Virtual concert featuring 14 youth ensemble groups
    • Online videos/classes for youth ensembles and Simply Strings
    • NorCal Public Media radio broadcasts of past SRS performances
    • Sharing of individual SRS musician music performance videos
    • Video conversations with donors and the Music Director

“For 92 years, the Santa Rosa Symphony has valued its role in making a difference in the life of its community. The success of our organization has not been accidental or haphazard. It has been based on artistic and educational excellence, fiscal ingenuity and community engagement. Intangible assets like trust, good decision-making, artistic and managerial expertise, reputation and relationships, a positive organizational culture, and the quality of the board, staff and orchestra all have influenced our performance,” said SRS President and CEO Alan Silow.