ANNUAL REPORT 2013–14 The passion of music. The power of ...

ANNUAL REPORT 2013–14

The passion of music. The power of democracy.

I am Orpheus.

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Executive Report | Page 4

Artistic Report | Page 7

Season at a Glance | Page 8

Carnegie Hall Series | Page 10 Touring | Page 12

Touring Highlights | Page 14

Further Highlights | Page 15

Education + Community | Page 16

Press | Page 18

Financial Overview | Page 20

I am Orpheus | Page 23

Musicians + Staff | Page 24

Board of Trustees | Page 25

Orpheus Society | Page 26

Institutional Support | Page 27

2014-15 Preview | Page 28

New Initiatives | Page 29

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Krishna ThiagarajanExecutive Director

The increased touring also resulted in an expansion ofOrpheus’ repertoire, including additional French pieces as well as a renewed push to perform Beethoven’s Symphonies.Our selection of soloists reinforced the Orpheus commitment to the established, the up and coming, and the unexpected – a trademark built over the past 40 years.

Looking ahead as the orchestra enters its fifth decade, Orpheus has identified the need for succession planning with its members, leading to an extensive evaluation of the orchestra’s needs. I am pleased to report that The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation recently agreed with our assessment and supported our next-generation project with a three-year $400,000 grant. Orpheus is especially grateful to our partners at Mellon as this is the third grant in a row. This continued trust in Orpheus’ capability to be a leader in innovation and creative management will propel the orchestra to new heights and successes in the future.

Today, Orpheus is the world’s leading chamber orchestrawith a regular presence in New York, Tokyo, Berlin, and now again after 17 years South America. It records, performs,commissions, and manages itself in a 21st century spirit of democracy. It consistently ranks in the top ten chamber orchestras internationally and in the top three domestically. Orpheus belongs to the world as much as it belongs to New York. With its recognized excellence comes a responsibility to continue developing and to adapt to new realities. Because Orpheus is unique, we write our own history.

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to our Board of Trustees, Artistic Directors, the musicians, and the Orpheus staff for an extremely productive and musically satisfying year..Warmest Regards,

It gives me great pleasure to report onthe strong artistic and institutional resultsof the 2013–14 Season, one of the mostproductive touring seasons in recentOrpheus history. The orchestra not only presented 38 performances on threecontinents, but sold out venues inColombia, Japan, and New York City’s

Carnegie Hall; produced three new recordings, includingOrpheus’ first-ever CD of Beethoven Symphonies; garneredTV and radio coverage in South America and Asia; andreceived excellent reviews in The New York Times for our Carnegie Hall series. Orpheus closed the season with asizable surplus, allowing the organization to replenishreserves, eliminate all deficits, and prepare for the future.

The Carnegie Hall series was reduced from five to fourconcerts this Season, mainly due to the increase ofinternational touring. However, it also resulted insignificantly higher attendance with resurging subscription trends and the strongest single ticket sales in four years.In addition, Orpheus was able to take advantage of newartistic opportunities that not only expanded the orchestra’s artistry but also resulted in an improvement of earned revenue from the previous year’s 29% to almost 40% of the overall budget. Previously, it would not have been financially feasible to present two international tours in one Season. In revising its fiscal model, the orchestra allowed for both tours to Colombia and Japan to be conducted from a place of responsibility and stability.

The 2013–14 Season allowed Orpheus to pursue newcollaborations, including: a residency in Cartagena,Colombia, a ten-concert tour through Japan, a premiere atthe White Light Festival at Lincoln Center, a tour throughthe Mid-Atlantic States with Ryu Goto, and summer concerts at the Naumburg Bandshell and the Minnesota BeethovenFestival. These were incorporated into the 2013–14 Season very successfully, allowing the orchestra to reach new, broadaudiences in diverse communities. To celebrate thesesuccesses Orpheus released its first recording ofBeethoven’s 5th and 7th symphonies to great reviews by Gramophone Magazine. This recording is a live fromCarnegie Hall broadcast and was made possible through thesupport of KPMG, Orpheus Trustee Marc O. Mayer, and our collaboration with WQXR, New York.EX

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On behalf of my fellow Artistic Directors,I am proud to reflect back on Orpheus’remarkable accomplishments during our 41st Season. The orchestra performed 38 concerts on three continents, reaching over 45,000 people worldwide.The Season featured dynamic new

collaborations with renowned soloists, the U.S. premieres of two new works, and educational engagement with students in Japan, Colombia, and throughout the United States.

Our signature series at Carnegie Hall featured the Orpheus debuts of four soloists: Swedish clarinetist Martin Fröst, Van Cliburn-winning pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii, renowned violinist Christian Tetzlaff, and pianist Brad Mehldau who also presented the U.S. Premiere of his Orpheus-commissioned work. We were privileged to perform the Gravemeyer Award-winning piece Up-Close by Dutch composer Michel van der Aa as part of the acclaimed Lincoln Center White Light Festival, and, at the invitation of the United Nations, to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the First World War.

Internationally, we toured to Japan, presenting ten concerts in eight cities; Ambassador Caroline Kennedy graciously hosted a reception for the orchestra in her home in Tokyo, honoring Orpheus’ 100th performance in Japan. We were also thrilled to return to South America for the first time in 17 years as the resident orchestra of the Cartagena International Music Festival in Colombia, which we were able to share with some of our strongest supporters through Orpheus’ first ever Patron Tour.

The 2013–14 Season highlighted the versatility andvirtuosity of the orchestra. On behalf of all of Orpheus’musicians, I would like to thank our audience, collaborators, supporters, Board, and staff for a spectacular season.Together, we are Orpheus!

Sincerely,

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Laura FrautschiArtistic Director, Personnel Coordinator & Violinist

“Orpheus demonstrated its conductorless ability to render complex scores with taut precision and feverish excitement.” -The New York Times

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38 CONCERTS

3 RECORDINGS

2 PREMIERES

3 CONTINENTS24 CITIES

With two international tours and U.S. tours through eight states, the 2013–14 Season saw an increase of 12 performances from the previous year — reaching over 45,000 people.

Orpheus released its first self-produced album, featuring Beethoven Symphonies 5 & 7. Two additional recordings took place with acclaimed pianists Brad Mehldau and Nobuyuki Tsujii, for upcoming release.

Orpheus presented the U.S. premieres of new works by Brad Mehldau and Michel van der Aa; the orchestra also began collaborations with composers Anna Clyne, Timo Andres, and Fazıl Say for world premieres in 2014–15.

Sold-out concerts on three continents included the Carnegie Hall subscription series, ten performances in Japan, and a return to South America for the Cartagena International Music Festival.

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JANUARY 25, 2014with Nobuyuki Tsujii, piano

The third subscription concert at Carnegie Hall marked Orpheus’ first ever all-Beethoven concert. The triumphant Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Emperor, featured the Orpheus debut of dazzling pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii. The program also included Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture and Symphony No. 2. Zachary Woolfe wrote in The New York Times that “Orpheus Chamber Orchestra has a way with Beethoven…[creating] a compelling balance of Classical dignity and Romantic meatiness.”

MARCH 29, 2014with Christian Tetzlaff, violin

The German violinist Christian Tetzlaff made his Orpheus debut with Joachim’s rarely-performed Violin Concerto No. 2 “In the Hungarian Style.” The orchestra displayed the brilliance of its own outstanding string players in Bartok’s Divertimento for Strings, which Vivien Schweitzer of The New York Times lauded as “edge-of-the-seat intensity…taut precision, and feverish excitement.” Completing the evening was Kodaly’s animated Hungarian Rondo, closing the Season in high spirits.CA

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OCTOBER 9, 2013, OPENING NIGHTwith Brad Mehldau, piano

Orpheus launched its fifth decade of performances with a work by innovative composer Brad Mehldau. Mehldau appeared with Orpheus in the U.S. premiere of his jazz-inspired Variations for Piano and Orchestra on a Melancholy Theme, described “as if Brahms woke up one day and had the blues.” The program also featured the orchestra’s singular interpretation of Beethoven’s grand Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Eroica, and Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes.

DECEMBER 7, 2013with Martin Fröst, clarinet

Orpheus presented its second Carnegie Hall concert of the season featuring Swedish clarinetist Martin Fröst in Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major. The program also honored the centennial of composer Irving Fine with a performance of his work Serious Song: A Lament for String Orchestra. Handel’s Concerto Grosso in F Major, Op. 6, No. 2 opened the program, highlighting talented soloists within Orpheus, and the evening closed with Mozart’s Symphony No. 29.

12 13Orpheus in Cartagena, Colombia | January 2014

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Worcester, MA | October 2013

Easton, PA | October 2013

Kalamazoo, MI | November 2013

Cartagena, Colombia | January 2014(6 concerts)

Florida | January 2014(3 concerts)

Purchase, NY | January 2014

Easton, PA | January 2014

Japan | January–February 2014(10 concerts)

East Coast, United States | February 2014(5 concerts)

Ithaca, NY | March 2014

Easton, PA | March 2014

Winona, MN | July 2014

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Up-close, Michel van der Aa(U.S. Premiere)

Kaori Yamagami, cello

White Light Festival, NYCOctober 2013

Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Saint-Saëns

Anne Akiko Meyers, violin

Annual Gala, Metropolitan ClubHonoring Agnes Hassell April 2014

Adagio for Strings, Barber

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

First World War Commemorative Event with the United NationsJuly 2014

Emperor Piano Concerto, Beethoven

Nobuyuki Tsujii, piano

Orpheus Friends of Palm Beach

West Palm Beach, FloridaJanuary 2014

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HTS Concerto for Two Pianos in

D minor, Poulenc

Katia and Marielle Labèque, piano

Teatro Adolfo Mejia, ColombiaCartagena Music FestivalJanuary 2014

Variations for Piano and Orchestra on a Melancholy Theme, Brad Mehldau (U.S. Premiere)

Brad Mehldau, piano

Mechanics Hall, Worcester, MAOctober 2013

Emperor Piano Concerto, Beethoven

Nobuyuki Tsujii, piano

3-city Florida tour | New York 10-concert Japan tourJanuary–February 2014

The Four Seasons, Vivaldi

Ryu Goto, violin

5-city U.S. East Coast TourMarch 2014

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In 2013–14, Access Orpheus served over 2,000 school children worldwide — in New York City; Cartagena, Colombia; and Sendai, Japan — engaging them through in-class visits, musical coachings, invitations to working rehearsals, and free tickets to Orpheus performances.

In New York City, Orpheus reaches public school children from all five boroughs, with priority given to Title 1 schools, offering free tickets to students and their families for the subscription series. For many, this is their first opportunity to experience a live classical music concert and to enter Carnegie Hall.

2,000+ STUDENTS WORLDWIDE

“There was a renewed energy amongst the students…It was such a fantastic experience. Everyone was just blown away at the brilliance of the musicians and their performance. You could see a noticeable difference in the way the students were talking and carrying themselves.”

-Kaoru Utada, Program ManagerTOMODACHI Initiative / U.S.-Japan Council

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Students with Orpheus in Sendai, Japan | January–February 2014

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“The members famously perform without a conductor — and, judging by their incredible precision and musical unanimity, they have no need for one.” -Palm Beach Daily News

“There was no tuning. There was no conductor. Just one breath signaled the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra to release a sound that stirred the core of the audience’s souls.”

-The Epoch Times

Live Interview in Cartagena, Colombia | January 2014

“In the orchestra’s first decades, there was disagreement about whether its chamber-music approach would work for Beethoven. It doesn’t only work, it’s delightful.”

“Orpheus performed with edge-of-the-seat intensity.”

-The New York Times

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETOrpheus Chamber Orchestra, Inc.

ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents

Contributions receivable, net

Prepaid expenses and other assets

Fixed assets, net

Security deposits

Total assets

LIABILITIES

Accounts payable

Deferred subscription income

Other deferred income

Total liabilities

NET ASSETS

Unrestricted

Temporarily restricted

Permanently restricted

Total net assets

Total liabilities and net assets

1,153,212

416,962

116,803

4,658

14,900

$1,706,535

68,549

162,559

--

$231,108

348,618

514,000

612,809

1,475,427

$1,706,535

865,172

394,384

121,765

7,636

14,900

$1,403,857

92,483

163,950

17,785

$274,218

(132,870)

649,700

612,809

1,129,639

$1,403,857

AUGUST 31, 2014 AUGUST 31, 2013

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Fiscal Year 2014 operating revenues totaled $4,458,000, which represented a 15.8% increase from Fiscal Year 2013 — mainly due to an increaseof $717,000 in touring and performance-related income.

The Fiscal Year ended with a surplus of $481,000 that has eliminated all accumulated deficit and replenished the orchestra’s cash reserve.

REVENUES

CONTRIBUTIONS

EXPENSES

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STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIESOrpheus Chamber Orchestra, Inc.

REVENUES AND OTHER SUPPORT

Performance Income

Education Program Income

Contributions

Special Events

Royalties, Recordings and Other Income

Total Revenues and Other Support

EXPENSES

Program Services

Production

Educational

Supporting Services

Management and General

Fundraising and Development

Direct Costs of Special Events

Total Expenses

Change in Net Assets

Net Assets - Beginning of Year

Net Assets - End of Year

1,878,924

50,600

1,312,122

1,009,094

71,410

$4,322,150

2,778,075

163, 089

425,599

374,274

235,325

$3,976,362

345,788

1,129,639

$1,475,427

1,161,296

82,365

1,686,143

794,596

41,032

$3,765,432

2,621,800

316,774

425,567

302,727

216,067

$3,882,935

(117,503)

1,247,142

$1,129,639

2014 2013

I AM ORPHEUS.

It is not only the musicians on stage, but it is everyone who interacts with them, who engages in their energy and unbridled enthusiasm for the music they play.

From the staff in the office to our Trustees and donors, whether you are a longtime subscriber with a personal connection to Orpheus musicians or a student attending your very first Carnegie Hall performance —everyone is a part of Orpheus.

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MUSICIANS

ViolinRonnie BauchMartha CaplinLaura FrautschiLiang-Ping HowJoanna JennerRenée JollesKyu-Young KimTodd PhillipsRichard RoodEriko SatoEric Wyrick

ViolaMaureen GallagherChristof HuebnerNardo PoyDov Scheindlin

CelloEric BartlettJulia LichtenMelissa MeellJonathan Spitz

Double BassJordan FrazierDonald Palma

FluteElizabeth MannSusan Palma Nidel

OboeMatthew DineStephen Taylor

ClarinetAlan KayDavid Singer

BassoonFrank Morelli

HornJulie LandsmanStewart Rose

TrumpetCarl AlbachLouis Hanzlik

TimpaniMaya Gunji

Honorary MembersElizabeth NewmanRichard PrinsConnie Steensma

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORKrishna Thiagarajan

ARTISTIC DIRECTORSLaura Frautschi, Personnel CoordinatorDov Scheindlin, Program CoordinatorJonathan Spitz, Artistic Coordinator

STAFFShruti Adhar, Director of Strategic PartnershipsCaroline Curatolo, Special Projects Associate and Board LiasonAndrea Humenick, Development and Special Events AssociateMaria Kanakis, Director of Individual GivingKristine Pottinger, General ManagerSerena Robbins, Marketing and Patron Services ManagerRyun Schienbein, Director of Artistic AdministrationKristine Spensieri, Director of FinanceMichael Volpert, Director of Artistic Planning and Orpheus InstituteConnie Shuman, President—Shuman AssociatesLisa Jaehnig, Publicist—Shuman Associates BOA

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES Marc O. Mayer, ChairmanRichard F. Brueckner, TreasurerPaula J. Mueller, Secretary

Douglas Becker Thomas H. Bishop Kim Bleimann Alan BrennerLaurie BruecknerPaul ChiharaDouglas H. EvansStephen W. FilloCynthia Friedman Jerry GladsteinKatherine Nouri HughesMartin JacobsonJay B. LangnerRichard S. LannamannSarah F. LeibowitzArthur LindenauerWalt Looney Elizabeth Lyman Yvonne Marsh Heidi Neuhoff-McWilliams Seth B. NovattSusan Palma NidelStewart RoseMitchell A. SeiderEdmund H. SuttonJason TilroePatrick K.A. VerdonckEric Wyrick

Trustees EmeritiElizabeth NewmanConnie Steensma

ARTISTIC ADVISORY COUNCIL Martina Arroyo Emanuel AxElliott Carter, In MemoriamOsvaldo Golijov Richard Goode James LevineBranford MarsalisDawn Upshaw

as of Aug 31, 2014

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OPUS CIRCLE$100,000 and aboveKim BleimannLaurie & Richard BruecknerElizabeth & Frank NewmanConnie Steensma & Richard Prins

CONCERTO CIRCLE$50,000 and aboveThomas H. BishopSarah F. & Martin L. LeibowitzHeidi Neuhoff-McWilliams & Thomas McWilliams

SYMPHONY CIRCLE$25,000 to $49,999Lisa Beck & Mitchell A. SeiderNancy & Alan BrennerSarah E. Cogan & Douglas H. Evans Jane C. Gould & Stephen FilloAgnes & Gerald HassellMary & Martin JacobsonMartina & Timothy KeaneyDiane & Walter LooneyCAPT. & Mrs. Melville LymanYvonne & Michael MarshMeera & Marc O. MayerGrace & Edmund Sutton

SERENADE CIRCLE$15,000 to $24,999Laura Chang & Arnie ChavkinCynthia FriedmanAlex & Jay B. LangnerKatharine & Richard LannamannSusan & Arthur LindenauerCheryl & Philip MilsteinPaula J. Mueller & Philippe SalomonPriscilla Natkins & Seth B. NovattYasko Tashiro Porté & Thierry Porté

OVERTURE CIRCLE$5,000 to $14,999AnonymousLillian BauchDouglas Becker & Jonathan KowolikNoreen & Kenneth BuckfireJoanne & Richard DanielEllen & Pierre de VeghLara Devgan & Patrick VerdonckDeborah & Orrin DevinskyBarbaralee Diamonstein- Spielvogel & Carl Spielvogel Arlyn & Edward L. GardnerAdeline Gersen, in memory of Dan GersenAnnette & Jerry GladsteinPenny & Alan GriffithMimi HalpernKatherine Nouri Hughes & Robert Del TufoStephen JudsonMargot & Jacques KohnChristie & Scott KrasePaul LegvoldLee A. & Troland S. LinkNancy Maruyama & Charles C. Cahn, Jr.Emily Mason & Wolf KahnAnne Akiko Meyers & Jason SubotkyJanet D. NeviusKate & Robert NiehausCarol & Tim RattrayJane & Alfred RossCharles ScheidtShira ScheindlinPatricia M. & Brian T. SheaMarilyn & James SimonsShining SungJudith & Andrew TuckerDaria L. & Eric J. WallachMary WhiteShelby WhitePeter A. WolfeO

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$300,000 and aboveThe Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

$100,000 to $299,999The Bank of New York MellonBerjé Inc.MetLife Foundation

$50,000 to $99,999Henry and Lucy Moses Fund, Inc.KPMGMax Kade FoundationMitsubishi UFJ Financial GroupNew York City Department of Cultural AffairsRobert Sterling Clark Foundation

$25,000 to $49,999Deutsche BankThe Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels FoundationIBM CorporationNational Endowment for the ArtsNew York State Council on the ArtsThe Peter Jay Sharp FoundationSullivan & Cromwell

$5,000 to $24,999The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Inc.ANA—All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd.Ann and Gordon Getty FoundationAyco Charitable FoundationCon EdisonEmmet, Marvin & Martin, LLPErnst & YoungFrancis Goelet Charitable Lead TrustsThe Gladys Krieble Delmas FoundationThe Howard Bayne FundJapan-United States Friendship Commission

Jewish Communal FundKorn Ferry International Leon Levy FoundationLily Auchincloss Foundation, Inc.McKinsey & CompanyMilken Family FoundationNew Music USANomura Holding America, Inc.Operation Tomodachi, U.S.-Japan CouncilPricewaterhouseCoopers LLPRockefeller FinancialRoland Foods—Bruno Scheidt Charitable Foundation TD BankUnum

$4,999 and belowAlice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia UniversityBank of the WestBessemer TrustBNY Mellon Community PartnershipHenry & Elaine Kaufman Foundation IBM Matching Grants ProgramJapan Foundation New YorkJohn W. and Laura S. Stewart FoundationJohnson & JohnsonMarble Fund, Inc.Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky, and Popeo, P.C.Morgan Stanley Community AffairsMusic Performance Trust FundNew York Community TrustOwen Petersen & Co. LLPThe Prudential FoundationThe Simons FoundationsThe Sire Foundation

as of August 31, 2014 INST

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Orpheus focuses on the following initiatives in the 2014–15 Season, ensuring the growing success of this remarkable orchestra.

NEXT GENERATION

As Orpheus enters its 42nd Season, the orchestra looks to build its legacy into the next 40 years by transitioning from a founder-driven organization to the next generation. With a three-year grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Orpheus will implement a musician-led process to preserve the institutional knowledge of its founding members while introducing diverse, young musicians into the orchestra.

TOURING SPONSORSHIP

Orpheus is committed to removing the numerous geographical and financial obstacles that prevent many communities from experiencing its dynamic live performances such as decreased performance fees and rising travel expenses. Orpheus is looking to create a new model for touring and actively seeking new partners for travel sponsorships to allow the orchestra to remain competitive in the marketplace and maintain affordable ticket prices so that new audiences can continue to experience Orpheus’ music-making.

GLOBAL BRAND EXPANSION

Parallel to touring is the necessity to share Orpheus’ principles, process, and music through current digital means, allowing the orchestra to reach across geographic barriers to the broadest possible audience. To this end, an investment in the Orpheus digital brand and the creation and maintenance of content is necessary for Orpheus to grow its impact. Orpheus is committed to creating a holistic and effective strategy that can capture the orchestra’s uniqueness.

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World Premieres

Next season Orpheus continues its long history of nurturing new musical voices and expanding the repertoire with three new works by Anna Clyne, Timo Andres, and Fazıl Say.

Access Orpheus Expansion

Orpheus doubles its in-school presence, working with students in East Harlem, Washington Heights, and Brooklyn and furthering itscommitment to nurture the next generation of music performers and appreciators.

Europe Tour with Fazıl Say

In April 2015 Orpheus performs throughout Europe with pianist Fazıl Say, including four concerts in Germany, two in Austria, a return to Italy, and the orchestra’s debut at the prestigious Budapest Festival in Hungary.

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Orpheus Chamber Orchestra490 Riverside Drive, 11th Floor

New York, NY 10027212.896.1700 | www.orpheusnyc.org