Form 990 for tax year 2022

Totals

Total revenue

$16,899,193

Total expenses

$21,859,289

Contributions and grants received

$7,913,809

Grants paid

$10,000

Program service revenue

$8,760,304

Investment income

$209,610

Other revenue

$15,470

Total assets, end of year

$25,268,377

Total liabilities, end of year

$5,093,084

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$20,175,293

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$18,570,698

Management and general expenses

$1,621,166

Fundraising expenses

$1,667,425

Program service expenses (Part III)

$18,570,698

Program services were 85.0% 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.

Mission and programs · 2022

• THE 22/23 SEASON SAW THE OREGON SYMPHONY CONTINUE TO INVEST IN ITS MISSION BY BRINGING INSPIRING MUSIC TO LIFE ON THE STAGE, CHAMPIONING OREGON ARTISTS, GROWING THE ART FORM WITH NEW COMMISSIONS, DIVERSIFYING THE GENRES THAT WE PRESENT, AND SUPPORTING COMMUNITY WELLBEING THROUGH EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS. AS THE LARGEST PERFORMING ARTS INSTITUTION IN THE LARGEST CITY IN OREGON, WE ARE COMMITTED TO OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS LEADERS IN THE CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE OF OUR REGION. FOR MORE THAN 110 NIGHTS OF THE YEAR, WE ARE HELPING REVITALIZE OUR URBAN CORES BY BRINGING PEOPLE INTO THE HEART OF PORTLAND AND SALEM NOT ONLY TO ENJOY GREAT ART, BUT ALSO TO SUPPORT DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES .AT THIS MOMENT OF SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS MUSIC MORE THAN EVER TO EDUCATE, UNITE, INSPIRE, AND HEAL. IN FY23, WE WERE PROUD TO MEET THAT NEED FOR THE NEARLY 350,000 CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHO EXPERIENCED THE OREGON SYMPHONY IN PERSON THROUGH A PERFORMANCE OR COMMUNITY EVENT AND FOR THE 25 MILLION GLOBALLY WHO HEARD US VIA BROADCAST. WHILE IT WAS A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR THE ARTSPARTICULARLY SO IN PORTLANDWE ARE NEVERTHELESS ENCOURAGED. TICKET SALES FOR OUR UPCOMING 23/24 SEASON ARE INCREASING SIGNIFICANTLY, DATA INDICATE THAT PEOPLE ARE LISTENING TO ORCHESTRAL MUSIC AT RECORD LEVELS, AND DOWNTOWN SAFETY APPEARS TO BE IMPROVING.ALTHOUGH WE WILL CONTINUE TO FACE CHALLENGES AS THE ARTS SECTOR RECOVERS, WE ARE ADDRESSING THEM PROACTIVELY AND WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD THE WAY FOR THE ARTS IN OREGON. WHILE WE PREPARE FOR THAT FUTURE, WE CONTINUE TO BRING THE POWER OF MUSIC TO MORE PEOPLE IN NEW WAYSBOTH ONSTAGE AND OFF.

  Expenses $18,570,698 · Grants $10,000 · Revenue $8,760,304

• Withheld by Nonprofiteer: this text may name a private individual.

• INVESTING IN COMMUNITY EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR EXCELLENCE ONSTAGE IS THE WORK WE DO TO INCREASE ACCESS TO THE ARTS. MUSIC SUPPORTS COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT, EMOTIONAL WELLBEING, AND SOCIAL INCLUSION. EACH YEAR, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THESE BENEFITS THROUGH SYMPHONY PROGRAMS. FOLLOWING IS A SAMPLING OF THE MANY WAYS THAT OUR MUSICIANS AND VISITING ARTISTS BROUGHT THE LIFE-CHANGING BENEFITS OF MUSIC TO OUR COMMUNITY IN THE SECOND HALF OF FY23.LED BY HAROLD & ARLENE SCHNITZER ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR DEANNA THAM, WE HOSTED FIVE YOUNG PEOPLE'S CONCERTS THIS SPRING: TWO IN PORTLAND, TWO IN SALEM, AND ONE IN NEWBERG. COLLECTIVELY, 6,200+ STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-8 FROM SEVEN COUNTIES JOINED US FOR A YPC PERFORMANCE. STUDENTS ENJOYED A WIDE VARIETY OF WORKS, FROM CLASSICAL MASTERS LIKE BEETHOVEN, MUSSORGSKY, AND DEBUSSY TO LIVING COMPOSERS LIKE GABRIELA LENA FRANK, ANDY AKIHO, FRANK PROTO, AND 14-YEAR-OLD PORTLAND COMPOSER ELAINA RAE STUPPLER. IN MARCH, WE HOSTED THREE LINK UP CONCERTS IN PORTLAND FOR PARTICIPATING STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-5. DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, STUDENTS LEARNED TO SING AND PLAY THE RECORDER IN THEIR CLASSROOMS; THE LINK UP CURRICULUM CULMINATES WITH STUDENTS PERFORMING FROM THEIR SEATS IN OUR HALL ALONGSIDE THE OREGON SYMPHONY. THIS YEAR, MORE THAN 5,500 STUDENTS STUDIED IN OUR PROGRAM AND JOINED US IN THE HALL.WE BROUGHT BACK OUR KINDERKONZERTS SERIES OF IN-SCHOOL PERFORMANCES FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES K-2. THREE HOST SCHOOLSFAUBION SCHOOL IN NE PORTLAND, WOODSTOCK ELEMENTARY IN SE PORTLAND, AND LINCOLN ST. SCHOOL IN HILLSBOROENGAGED NEARLY 4,000 STUDENTS FOR UP-CLOSE PERFORMANCES BY GROUPS OF OREGON SYMPHONY MUSICIANS. EACH PERFORMANCE FEATURED AN ENSEMBLE OF STRING, WOODWIND, OR BRASS PLAYERS SHARING SHORT PIECES THAT DEMONSTRATED THE TONE QUALITY AND CHARACTERISTICS OF EACH INSTRUMENT. UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A NARRATOR, STUDENTS WERE ENCOURAGED TO MOVE WITH THE MUSIC, RESPOND TO QUESTIONS, CLAP AND SING, AND ENGAGE VERBALLY THROUGHOUT EACH PERFORMANCE. PRIOR TO EACH CLASSICAL CONCERT AND SELECT POPS AND SPECIALS CONCERTS DURING THE SEASON, WE HOSTED STUDENT ENSEMBLES IN OUR LOBBY TO GIVE PRELUDE PERFORMANCES. STUDENT PERFORMERS WERE RECOGNIZED FROM THE STAGE BEFORE EACH CONCERT, AND THEY WERE INVITED TO ATTEND THE SYMPHONY PERFORMANCE FREE OF CHARGE. MORE THAN 300 STUDENT MUSICIANS WERE AFFORDED THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY. WE ALSO WELCOMED HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS TO WITNESS AND LEARN FROM ORCHESTRA REHEARSALS. ONE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT REMARKED, "IT WAS EYE-OPENING TO SEE HOW WELL THE MUSICIANS PLAYED EVEN AT REHEARSAL, AND HOW THE SOUND CHANGED THE MORE THEY PLAYED TOGETHER.OREGON SYMPHONY MUSICIANS AND OUR TWO ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE ALSO VISITED SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT OUR REGION. THEY VISITED BAND AND ORCHESTRA ENSEMBLES TO COACH STUDENT ARTISTS DURING IN-SCHOOL REHEARSALS, HOSTED MASTERCLASSES TO SHARE INNOVATIVE TEACHING TECHNIQUES WITH LARGE GROUPS OF STUDENTS, AND VISITED ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO HOST INFORMATIONAL PERFORMANCES ("INFORMANCES") THAT INSPIRE YOUNG STUDENTS TO STUDY MUSIC. BEYOND ITS ABILITY TO SUPPORT LEARNING, MUSIC SUPPORTS EMOTIONAL WELLBEING FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS. FOR INSTANCE, OUR 2023 LULLABY PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PATH HOME SUPPORTED FAMILIES IN HOUSING TRANSITION. WORKING WITH SYMPHONY MUSICIANS AND LOCAL SINGER-SONGWRITERS, EACH FAMILY WROTE AND PROFESSIONALLY RECORDED A LULLABY THAT HONORED THEIR FAMILY. WE DEBUTED THESE HEARTFELT SONGS BEFORE 200+ COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT AN IN-PERSON FREE CONCERT AT THE ALBERTA ROSE THEATER IN MAY; THE SONGS CONTINUE TO LIVE ON OUR WEBSITE.RECOGNIZING THAT MANY PEOPLE WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE HEALING POWER OF MUSIC WHO ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND AN IN-PERSON CONCERT, WE TAKE OUR MUSICIANS TO MEET NEIGHBORS WHERE THEY ARE. IN APRIL, AN OREGON SYMPHONY STRING QUARTET VISITED SANTIAM CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE IN SALEM TO AID INMATES' REHABILITATION. ONE MAN SAID, "LISTENING TO YOUR MUSIC WAS THE MOST PEACEFUL I'VE FELT SINCE I GOT HERE." IN MAY, XAVIER FOLEY PERFORMED FOR AND SPOKE WITH RESIDENTS OF ST. MARY'S HOME FOR BOYS. FOR BOTH THESE GROUPS, MUSIC PROMOTES THE DEVELOPMENT OF POSITIVE BEHAVIORS AND HELPS IMPROVE IMPULSE CONTROL. OUR MUSICIANS HELPED TO MARK SIGNIFICANT CULTURAL OCCASIONS AS WELL. IN RECOGNITION OF AANHPI HERITAGE MONTH, WE PARTNERED WITH THE PORTLAND JAPANESE GARDEN TO PROVIDE A FULL DAY OF FREE PERFORMANCES FOR ALL GARDEN VISITORS TO ENJOY. GROUPS OF MUSICIANS SHARED CULTURALLY RELEVANT MUSIC, CULMINATING IN SIMONE LAMSMA'S PERFORMANCE ALONGSIDE A TRADITIONAL JAPANESE KOTO PLAYER AND REMARKS FROM PRINCIPAL GUEST CONDUCTOR JUN MRKL ON HIS OWN JAPANESE HERITAGE. ALSO IN MAY, WE PARTICIPATED IN THE SECOND ANNUAL OREGON RISE AGAINST HATE EVENT AT LAN SU CHINESE GARDEN, HONORING AANHPI COMMUNITIES AND DEMANDING AN END TO ANTI-ASIAN HATE AND DISCRIMINATION. OTHER EXAMPLES INCLUDED SYMPHONY VIOLINIST INS VOLGAR BELGIQUE PERFORMING AT AN EVENT FOR THE LOCAL NONPROFIT VENEZUELA'S VOICE IN OREGON, A PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE PLAYING AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR THE RUSSIAN IMMERSION READING PROGRAM AT KELLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN SE PORTLAND, AND VADIM GLUZMAN PERFORMING FOR STUDENTS AT CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL. AS WE DO EACH YEAR, WE OFFERED SPECIAL CONCERTS FOR FREE TO OUR COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION TO THE WATERFRONT CONCERT DESCRIBED IN OUR MID-YEAR REPORT, THIS SPRING WE HOSTED THE "IN HARMONY" CELEBRATION CONCERT WHICH FILLED THE HALL WITH FAMILIES INVITED THROUGH OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS. FOR MANY ATTENDEES, SUCH A FREE SHOW MAY BE THEIR ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR LIVE MUSIC. THIS CONCERT INCLUDED THE DEBUT OF A PIECE, BORN OUT OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH OUTSIDE THE FRAME (OTF), WHICH USES FILM AS AN ENGAGEMENT TOOL TO SUPPORT HOMELESS AND MARGINALIZED YOUTH. CREATIVE CHAIR KAHANE WORKED WITH OTF YOUTH TO COLLABORATIVELY WRITE A PIECE THAT INCLUDED ORIGINAL FOOTAGE THAT THE STUDENTS HAD FILMED. THE EVENING ALSO INCLUDED A PIECE BY GIANCARLO CASTRO, A PORTLAND-BASED, VENEZUELAN COMPOSER WHOSE COMMISSIONED WORK WE WILL PREMIERE IN OUR UPCOMING SEASON.

As filed on the 2022 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here. A text marked withheld matched a screen for wording that may name a private individual, such as an honorific or "in memory of". Most of what it withholds names no one; it is withheld so that what does is never shown.

Listed in Part VII

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

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

• OUTSIDE THE FRAME

  $10,000

  2023 WONDER AWARD

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

• OREGON SYMPHONY FOUNDATION

  501(C)(3) · SUPPORT OF THE OREGON SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION · OR · controlled entity

  Directly controlled by OREGON SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION

• OREGON SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION IN SALEM

  501(C)(3) · BRING SYMPHONIC MUSIC AND THE OREGON SYMPHONY TO SALEM · OR · controlled entity

  Directly controlled by OREGON SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2022

Filed

8 May 2024

IRS schema version

2022v5.0

Source object

202411309349304051

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.