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Nonprofiteer
← AMERICAN COMPOSERS ORCHESTRA INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by AMERICAN COMPOSERS ORCHESTRA INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$2,283,167
Total expenses
$2,331,239
Contributions and grants received
$1,705,496
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$448,559
Investment income
$120,882
Other revenue
$8,230
Total assets, end of year
$4,464,538
Total liabilities, end of year
$148,821
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$4,315,717
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$1,622,317
Management and general expenses
$197,869
Fundraising expenses
$511,053
Program service expenses (Part III)
$1,622,317

Program services were 69.6% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $69,170

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $202,610

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $1,433,716

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $7,676

  • 2a · Program service revenue: PERFORMANCE AND WORKSHOP FEES

    total $261,983 · related or exempt $261,983

  • 2b · Program service revenue: CONTRACT AND CONSULTING SERVICES

    total $179,773 · related or exempt $179,773

  • 2c · Program service revenue: TICKET SALES

    total $6,803 · related or exempt $6,803

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $100,447 · excluded $100,447

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $3,130 · excluded $3,130

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $124,242

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $103,807

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $20,435

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $20,435 · excluded $20,435

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $116,342

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $69,170

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $116,342

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $0

  • 11a · Other revenue: OTHER INCOME

    total $5,100 · excluded $5,100

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $5,100

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $218,291 · program services $130,975 · management and general $43,658 · fundraising $43,658

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $915,019 · program services $765,109 · management and general $3,485 · fundraising $146,425

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $77,869 · program services $62,951 · management and general $2,096 · fundraising $12,822

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $41,685 · program services $35,131 · fundraising $6,554

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $101,885 · program services $80,847 · management and general $4,004 · fundraising $17,034

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $49,683 · management and general $49,683

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $215,000 · fundraising $215,000

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $65,988 · program services $500 · management and general $13,705 · fundraising $51,783

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $32,950 · program services $1,700 · management and general $31,250

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $13,607 · program services $10,797 · management and general $535 · fundraising $2,275

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $9,459 · program services $7,506 · management and general $372 · fundraising $1,581

  • 17 · Travel

    total $68,711 · program services $50,953 · management and general $17,758

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $15,610 · program services $12,387 · management and general $613 · fundraising $2,610

  • 24a · Other expenses: PRESENTATION EXPENSES

    total $240,425 · program services $240,425

  • 24b · Other expenses: PERFORMANCE HALL EXPENS

    total $140,836 · program services $140,836

  • 24c · Other expenses: EVENT EXPENSES

    total $58,742 · program services $34,366 · management and general $17,260 · fundraising $7,116

  • 24d · Other expenses: OTHER PERFORMANCE EXPEN

    total $27,925 · program services $27,925

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $37,554 · program services $19,909 · management and general $13,450 · fundraising $4,195

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $933,780 · end of year $250,729

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $18,208 · end of year $748,897

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $616,383 · end of year $311,827

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $435,489 · end of year $147,394

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $111,317 · end of year $186,625

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $2,266,030 · end of year $2,819,066

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $219,296 · end of year $95,011

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $43,750 · end of year $53,810

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $151,198 · end of year $202,652

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $3,966,963 · end of year $4,113,065

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

PERFORMANCE, PRESENTATION, COMMISSIONING, RECORDING AND DISSEMINATION OF AMERICAN MUSIC FOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA; PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR AMERICAN COMPOSERS; AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES ABOUT AMERICAN MUSIC FOR STUDENTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

Activities or mission (Part I)

CREATION, CELEBRATION, PERFORMANCE AND PROMOTION OF MUSIC BY AMERICAN COMPOSERS.

  • CONCERT PERFORMANCES FEATURING AMERICAN COMPOSERSACO'S 24-25 SEASON FEATURING ITS ENSEMBLE INCLUDED TWO CONCERTS CARNEGIE HALL'S ZANKEL HALL, TWO PERFORMANCES AT BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC, AND EARSHOT READINGS WITH ACO IN NYC AT MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC. ACO SERVED 5,238 AUDIENCE MEMBERS THROUGH LIVE PERFORMANCES. DIGITAL EVENTS ARE ACCESSIBLE ON ACO'S YOUTUBE PAGE, WHICH GARNERED 12.2K VIEWS IN THE PAST YEAR. ACO ALSO RELEASED THE PREMIERE RECORDING OF AN AMERICAN SOLDIER, THE FIRST OF 10 COMMERCIAL PROJECTS WITH PLATOON, APPLE'S IN-HOUSE RECORDING LABEL.

    Expenses $1,271,078 · Revenue $161,699

  • EARSHOT: OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING COMPOSERS AMERICAN COMPOSERS ORCHESTRA'S EARSHOT COMPOSER ADVANCEMENT INITIATIVES FORM THE FIRST ONGOING, SYSTEMATIC PROGRAM FOR DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN COMPOSERS AND ORCHESTRAS ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL. THROUGH ORCHESTRAL READINGS, COLABORATORY RESIDENCIES, CONSORTIUM COMMISSIONS, CONCERTS, RECORDINGS, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, EARSHOT ENSURES A VIBRANT MUSICAL FUTURE BY INVESTING IN CREATIVITY TODAY. ACO PRODUCED EIGHT VIRTUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEBINARS ON TOPICS INCLUDING NETWORKING, SELF-PUBLISHING, COMMISSIONING AGREEMENTS AND CONSORTIA, ORCHESTRATION, FUNDRAISING, PUBLIC SPEAKING, AND MORE, SERVING 800 INDIVIDUALS. ACO'S EARSHOT READINGS SERVED 22 FEATURED ARTISTS VIA ITS OWN JUNE READINGS IN NYC, AND FOUR OTHERS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS IN TEXAS, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, AND OHIO. COLABORATORY RESIDENCIES PROVIDED COMMISSIONS AND WORKSHOPS TO 8 ARTISTS CREATING FIVE WORKS. EIGHT COMPOSERS HAD WORKS PUBLISHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BOOSEY & HAWKES. IN 2024-25, EARSHOT SERVED 51 ARTISTS WHO SELF-IDENTIFY AS 76% BIPOC AND 51% FEMALE OR NONBINARY.

    Expenses $227,848 · Revenue $179,773

  • MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM IN THE 2024-25 SEASON, ACO SERVED 1,508 NYCPS MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (309 DIRECT, 1,199 INDIRECT) THROUGH 9 IN-SCHOOL AND AFTER-SCHOOL CLASSES. SEQUENTIAL PROGRAMS INCLUDED SONIC SPARK ENSEMBLES, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL DIRECT INSTRUMENTAL AND VOICE INSTRUCTION; COMPOSE YOURSELF, HIGH SCHOOL COMPOSITION CLASSES; SONIC SPARK LAB, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL COMPOSITION AND CREATIVITY CLASSES. PROGRAMS INCLUDED WEEKLY SCHOOL-BASED CLASSES AND PROJECT-BASED CREATIVE CAPACITY BUILDING LED BY TEACHING ARTISTS, AND DIRECT MUSIC COMPOSITION INSTRUCTION WITH ACO'S EDUCATION DIRECTOR. OF THOSE STUDENTS ENROLLED IN SONIC SPARK, 20% ARE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, 19% ARE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, 73% RECEIVE FREE OR SUBSIDIZED SCHOOL MEALS, AND 86% ARE BIPOC/ALAANA.

    Expenses $123,391 · Revenue $107,087

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Sameera Troesch

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Melissa Ngan

    PRESIDENT & CEO

    Total calculated
    $223,438
    From this org
    $206,590
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $16,848
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $193,820
    Bonus
    $12,770
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,470
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,378
    Filer's total
    $223,438

  • Michael Fehrman

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Lisa Washburn

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Atif Bhanjee

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Derek Bermel

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Thomas Brener

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jane Cavalier

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Toyin Spellman-Diaz

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Scott Dunn

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Melin Tan-Geller

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Philip Glass

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Marilyn Go

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Augusta Gross

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Benjamin Hildner

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jonathan Holland

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $5,750
    From this org
    $5,750
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Ilya Karaulov

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Chris Lando

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Tess Mateo

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Annette McEvoy

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Geoffroy Van Raemdonck

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Deborah Sherman

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Karen Slack

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jess Ting

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Melinda Wagner

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $2,000
    From this org
    $2,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Andre Washington

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Brian Waters

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Frederick Wertheim

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Shinian Ye

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
10 March 2026
IRS schema version
2024v5.5
Source object
202640699349301009

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