The mission of the Flagstaff Symphony is to culturally enrich the communities of Northern Arizona through music, education and outreach.
We're a non-profit, community-based organization with an annual operating budget of about $675,000. It costs us approximately $22,000 to present a full concert with about 70 musicians on stage.
Here's how our funding breaks down:
One third of our annual budget comes from ticket sales.
State, local and federal grants supply us another 10 percent.
Corporate donations, grants and major sponsorships will provide about 40 percent of our operating budget this year.
The FSO contributes to culture, kids and community. More than just a group of talented musicians performing concerts every year, we represent a significant piece of local history - and the local economy. We inject more than $500,000 into the local economy each year. More than 80 percent of our budgeted expenses go to local businesses.
On April 11, 1898, Flagstaff's first classical music concert was performed in the Babbitt's Opera House on the corner of Aspen and San Francisco. Seven musicians performed. "A large and appreciative audience" was on hand for this milestone, the weekly Coconino Sun reported under the headline "A Grand Success."
In 1948, a handful of community members decided northern Arizona should have its own symphony orchestra. Two years later, the first performance of the Northern Arizona Orchestra was held in NAU's Men's Gymnasium. Maestro Jack Swartz conducted a program that included Copland's Hoedown, Haydn's suite from the Water Music and Strauss' overture to Die Fledermaus.
Today's FSO has come a long way since its first concert. Home is now the NAU's 1,400-seat Ardrey Auditorium, and this season we've welcomed our artistic director: Maestra Elizabeth Schulze. Over the years audiences have been brought to their feet by performances by some of the world's finest musicians: Itzhak Perlman, Christopher Parkening, Olga Kern, and Chris Brubeck, as well as rising stars like Sa Chen, Chu-Fang Huang, Timothy Fain, and Lara St. John.
Next season we celebrate our 60th anniversary. Join us as we bring you the classics, new music and some of the finest young and established solo artists in the world.