The Philadelphia Orchestra today announced that its 2010-11 subscription season at the Kimmel Center experienced positive trends in sales as well as a surge in giving. Paid capacity on tickets sold for the 2010-11 season increased by four percent from the previous year to 77 percent, which stems a decline in sales for the first time since the 2007-08 season. In addition, 19 of The Philadelphia Orchestra's performances from January 2011 through the end of the subscription season reached nearly sold-out status, including eight concerts led by Chief Conductor Charles Dutoit and four performances of Mozart's Requiem with Music Director Designate Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
Equally encouraging, The Philadelphia Orchestra Association is ahead of its FY10 giving by nearly $1 million. As of June 24, the Association had received gifts totaling 89 percent of its FY11 annual fund goal of $8M-a 14 percent increase compared to the same date in FY10. Indicative of the community's generosity, the Orchestra has received more than $3.2 million in gifts and pledges from over 2,000 donors since filing for reorganization in April and launching its "Listen with Your Heart" initiative.
Beyond increased giving to the Annual Fund and recent announced major funding and challenge grants from the William Penn Foundation, the Wyncote Foundation, Gerry Lenfest, the Neubauer Family Foundation, and members of the Orchestra's Board of Directors, 740 of the 2,000 gifts have been exclusively directed toward the Orchestra's "Listen with Your Heart" initiative. Although these gifts have mostly reflected smaller sums-many sent with handwritten notes of encouragement and memories of how the Orchestra touched their lives-it is important to note that more than half of these gifts came from individuals who had never before given to The Philadelphia Orchestra. Further, each of these 740 gifts is eligible to be matched via the challenge grants available to the Orchestra, resulting in more than $200,000 for this beloved ensemble.
"Stemming the decline in sales and growing our paid capacity during this past season, coupled with the exceptional generosity of our donors-many of them first-time donors-provides us great momentum to meet the challenge grants offered by major funders in the coming season and beyond," said Allison Vulgamore, president and CEO of The Philadelphia Orchestra Association. "As we continue through the reorganization process, these achievements help to lay a strong foundation for the Orchestra's revitalization and demonstrate that our community recognizes and deeply honors the exceptional artistry for which The Philadelphia Orchestra is world-renowned."
For important news and updates related to The Philadelphia Orchestra and to learn the many ways to support this legendary ensemble, please visit www.philorchtoday.org. For information regarding our summer concerts, touring schedules, and the 2011-12 concert season, please visit www.philorch.org.
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