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North Carolina’s state orchestra, an orchestra achieving Report to the the highest level of artistic quality and performance standards, and embracing our dual legacies of Community statewide service and music education 2015/16 In our 83rd year of service Dear Friends, to North Carolina, your Symphony... Across counties and across generations, nearly everyone who grew up in the state of North Carolina in the past seven decades shares a common thread. We all experienced the magic of Traveled 18,000 miles throughout Was enjoyed by 52,000 the North Carolina Symphony (NCS) as children—myself included. the state—an average of 50 miles per day! 21,000 4th and 5th graders new ticket-buyers Years later, as Board Chair of this excellent artistic and educational organization—regarded 250,000 Performed for people from as one of the finest in the country—I fully appreciate the significance that this childhood people 80,000+ 91 North Carolina counties, experience carries throughout people’s lives. In the Symphony’s travels throughout the state, we people reached from Murphy to Manteo are told countless stories from those who fondly remember hearing orchestral music for the first 83,000 via broadcasts time when the Symphony came to their schools. Today, they are eager for world-class musical 13,000 returning friends attendees at free and cultural opportunities—and NCS delivers. community events __1 of our concerts took place Looking back on the past year, you’ll find that NCS takes pride in bringing the world’s top artists 2 outside of the Triangle to North Carolina, while simultaneously embracing homegrown talent and developing strong partnerships with our fellow community organizations. Our innovation and statewide impact earned the Symphony one of four spots in SHIFT, a prestigious national festival at The Kennedy Renée Brought some of Johnny Taught 4th and 5th graders Center taking place in March 2017. Fleming the world’s top talent Jean-Yves Mathis essential music concepts Thibaudet Whether you’re a “Symphony kid” like me, or whether your Symphony story has just begun, to our state Zuill thank you for taking pride in your North Carolina Symphony. Bailey Collaborated Melody with 26 public Sincerely, Rhythm school systems Gave voice to new art Dynamics introducing audiences to 20 works Tempo by living composers—including Don Davis 2 co-commissions by composers with Form Board Chair, North Carolina Symphony Society ties to North Carolina Texture Caroline Shaw, Greenville Sarah Kirkland Snider, Salisbury First Appearance at Smoky Mountain Center Creating Unique for the Performing Arts NCS traveled to Franklin, North High-Flying Holiday Spirit Carolina, filling all 1,500 seats for at New Cirque Show Arts Experiences our first-ever performance at Thousands of people celebrated the Smoky Mountain Center for the holiday season with the Symphony— for North Carolinians Performing Arts. The concert from traditional carol singing, to music included light overtures and from the movie Frozen, to a new Cirque In the 2015/16 season, the North Carolina Symphony presented waltzes, as well as Rachmaninoff’s Musica show with familiar classical Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, 177 concerts and events that were attended by music-lovers from favorites and jaw-dropping acrobatic featuring our 2015 Kathleen Price performances. Aerial flying, balancing every corner of our state. These are some of the many moments and Joseph M. Bryan Youth feats, juggling, and more dazzled that highlighted our commitment to providing the highest- Concerto Competition winner concertgoers at this family-friendly show. Kiffen Loomis from nearby quality cultural opportunities in North Carolina. Asheville. The performance was made possible thanks to the advocacy of North Carolina Senator Jim Davis. Multimedia Concert with the Museum of Natural Sciences World Premiere of a Work The Symphony created a new partnership with Inspired by North Carolina Two Evenings with Pop and Jazz the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Composer Sarah Kirkland Snider grew up visiting Legend Johnny Mathis performing Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with beautiful her grandparents in Salisbury, North Carolina; the The soulful Johnny Mathis took the spotlight in the spring, images and aerial shots of North Carolina state emotional, nostalgic music of her new piece Hiraeth, crooning his suave ballads and chart-topping hits. There was parks projected in high-definition at Meymandi co-commissioned by NCS, recalls those times and is a wonderful feeling of intimacy to the performances—even Concert Hall. The partnership continues this accompanied by a film with footage of the Piedmont with 1,500 people filling Meymandi Concert Hall each night! season with another multimedia concert region. The Symphony gave the world premiere of The platinum-selling artist delighted audiences young and featuring Holst’s famous suite The Planets, Hiraeth in September 2015 and brought the work to old, and North Carolina Symphony musicians raved about performed with projected imagery and video Salisbury in February 2016. This season, we perform their experience working with one of the world’s greatest of our solar system. it at The Kennedy Center as part of SHIFT: A Festival of talents. Many were eager to take photos during rehearsal American Orchestras. breaks, including violinist Suzanne Kelly (pictured at right). Growing Together with “Wow! It was amazing to hear how different all of the instruments were Our Youngest Audiences and how they could come together and make a beautiful sound. It was The Symphony’s Music Discovery program—a part of PNC’s really cool to hear how the orchestra can create a mood and a story.” Grow Up Great initiative—welcomes preschoolers and –Elisa Rowinski, 5th grade student, Laurel Park Elementary School, Apex, North Carolina their families for storytelling and music, in collaboration with libraries, museums, and Head Start programs across the state. Music Discovery has grown 50% since it launched three years ago, expanding into rural areas Music for Learning, Music for Life of the state and offering 30 events in 2015/16. Striving to make music education accessible to all, events held The North Carolina Symphony leads the most in counties with high Spanish-speaking populations included Spanish translation. extensive music education program of any U.S. Assistant Principal Percussion Matt Decker reads orchestra, engaging more than 52,000 4th and 5th to preschoolers at Music Discovery. A Model for Music Education Partnerships graders in the 2015/16 season. In alignment with the music curriculum set by the North Carolina In 2015, the Yale School of Music’s Symposium on Music in the Schools recognized the North Carolina Symphony Department of Public Instruction, the Symphony and Wake County Public School System for their inspiring provides training and resources for teachers, sends partnership. Working together, the Symphony and the small ensembles into classrooms, and performs full- school system have greatly increased opportunities for orchestra concerts for students at Meymandi middle and high school students in recent years. Programs Concert Hall in Raleigh and in school auditoriums I looked around the hall during the Stravinsky, for 6th through 12th graders include open rehearsals, around the state. The Education Concert theme Brahms, Beethoven, Schubert, and Rossini, and where students observe the process of shaping a piece of was moved to tears seeing these kids bouncing “What Makes Music ... Music?” teaches core musical music for a performance; master classes, through which in their seats and pretending to direct. Music has young musicians are coached by NCS musicians and guest components such as melody, rhythm, and dynamics. the power to transcend culture and position once artists; and Ovations, which organizes student ensemble education becomes a part of the experience. performances for NCS audiences before Raleigh Classical –Dooley Ezzard, music teacher, Wilson Preparatory Academy, Series concerts. Middle school students give an Ovations performance Wilson, North Carolina before an NCS concert at Meymandi Concert Hall. The Symphony’s Strength FY 2016 INCOME BY CATEGORY FY 2016 EXPENSES BY CATEGORY as a Percentage of the Total Operating Budget as a Percentage of the Total Operating Budget Bringing Music-Lovers in Numbers The North Carolina Symphony sold out more than a dozen 3% concerts in the 2015/16 season; doubled ticket sales 11% Together for a Good Cause in Wilmington; and increased sales for Young People’s 6% Concerts by 25%. 35% Throughout the year, the North Carolina Symphony brings people While the Symphony fills concert halls, sales cover only 29% 10% together in support of excellence in music performance and music a portion of the cost to stage performances and fulfill education. These special events are not only a treat for those our educational mission. NCS is grateful to our dedicated donors and sponsors; gifts to the Annual Fund from 73% attending—the funds they raise ensure that people throughout individuals, corporations, and foundations increased North Carolina have opportunities to experience the Symphony. by 8.3% in 2015/16. We also met the State’s Challenge Grant again last year. This challenge provides $2 million 33% Gala Performance with Superstar Renée Fleming once we have garnered $9 million in non-state funds— meaning we earn an additional 22 cents for every dollar Renée Fleming, one of the most acclaimed singers of our time, performed for Contributions Statewide Artistic

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