named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Annual Chamber Music Concert Series
Seven-concert season featuring professional chamber ensembles performing classical and contemporary repertoire at Grant Middle School in Syracuse.
CHAMPS (CHAmber Music PlayerS)
Informal group for amateur musicians to play chamber music together in a social, non-competitive setting.
Community Engagement Initiatives
Partnerships with local schools and organizations to bring music programs, performances, and instrument support to students in the Syracuse City School District.
Youth Chamber Music Competition
Annual competition for middle and high school students in grades 7–12 from Central New York, offering performance opportunities, evaluations, and prizes.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Classical and Chamber Music Performances 3 activities
- Facilitate community chamber music participation through CHAMPSOrganizes CHAMPS, an informal group that creates opportunities for amateur musicians in the Central New York community to play chamber music together.
- Host free pre-concert performances by local ensemblesProvides performance opportunities for local professional and youth musicians by hosting free pre-concert events, such as the CASEY Wind Quintet performance prior to a Salix Piano Trio concert and performances by the Meridian String Quartet for the Board of Directors.
- Present annual chamber music concert seriesPresents a seven-concert chamber music season annually from September through May, featuring international and professional ensembles such as the Pacifica Quartet, Juilliard String Quartet, and Dover Quartet. Concerts are held at venues including Grant Middle School in Syracuse, NY, and include program books and ticketing for subscribers.
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Music Education Support 2 activities
- Sponsor annual Youth Chamber Music CompetitionOrganizes and sponsors an annual competition for student ensembles in grades 7–12 from Central New York, offering prize money of $100 per musician and coach, and potential performance opportunities at subscription concerts. The 2026 competition was held at Park Central Presbyterian Church with participants from Syracuse and Rochester areas.
- Support music education and youth performance opportunitiesFunded supplies and T-shirts for band and orchestra students at Grant Middle School, commissioned a new composition for the school’s combined orchestra and band, and sponsored a free Young Artists Concert in July 2025 featuring young local musicians performing with a professional orchestra.
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Performing Arts Ticket Access Programs 1 activity
- Offer free concert access to students and low-income individualsProvides free tickets to current students and EBT/SNAP holders with valid ID for its subscription concert series, increasing accessibility to chamber music performances.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$223K
Contributions & grants$84K38%
Program service revenue$77K34%
Investment income$62K28%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$169K
Program expenses98%
Admin / overhead2%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$1.52M
Cash$53K
Investments$1.47M
Liabilities$0
Net assets$1.52M
Liquid reserves108.3 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +103.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 7
- BETH ODDY — SECRETARY
- DAVID ABRAMS — TREASURER
- JAMIE TRAVER — VP
- RICHARD MOSESON — MUSIC OPERAT
- STAMATIOS KYRKOS — PROGRAMING D
- TODD MCKAY — AT-LARGE
- VIRGINIA ROBBINS — PRESIDENT
relationships · 21
Who they work with
- Alias Brass Company Partner — Newly featured ensemble in the concert series.
- CNY Arts Funder — Provides grant support to Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music.
- Camerata RCO Partner — Performing ensemble making its first appearance in the organization's concert series.
- Christian Brothers Academy Partner — Judge Jessica Tumajyan, associated with Christian Brothers Academy, served as a competition judge.
- David Ross Partner — Co-creator and Music Director of the Festival of Music Series 2025, which included the SFCM-sponsored Young Artists Concert.
- Fayetteville-Manlius High School Partner — Rebecca Bizup, a teacher at Fayetteville-Manlius High School, coached two competing ensembles: the CASEY Wind Quintet and a flute quintet.
- Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation Funder — Provides grant support to Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music.
- Grant Middle School Partner — Collaborated with SFCM on music programming, including performances, supplies, and a commissioned composition during the 2024-2025 school year.
- Gregory Sheppard Partner — Co-creator of the Festival of Music Series 2025, which included the SFCM-sponsored Young Artists Concert.
- Hochstein School Partner — James Marshall, affiliated with the Hochstein School in Rochester, coached the winning Meridian String Quartet.
- Jupiter String Quartet Partner — Returning ensemble performing with guest pianist Jon Nakamatsu.
- LeMoyne College Partner — Flutist and judge Martha Grener, who teaches at LeMoyne College, participated in the competition as a judge.
- Lucie Wellner Partner — Contact person for advertising inquiries and reservations.
- Onondaga Community College Partner — Flutist and judge Martha Grener, who teaches at Onondaga Community College, participated in the competition as a judge.
- Pacific Quartet Partner — Performing ensemble featured in the opening concert of the 77th season.
- Park Central Presbyterian Church Partner — Hosted the SFCM Youth Competition venue in downtown Syracuse.
- Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music Partner — Volunteer organization dedicated to presenting chamber music concerts in Syracuse.
- Syracuse Sounds of Music Association Funder — Provides grant support to Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music.
- Syracuse University Jazz Partner — Provided ensembles for performances at Grant Middle School supported by SFCM.
- Telegraph Quartet Partner — Performing ensemble making its debut in the organization's concert series.
- The Syracuse Orchestra Partner — Provided quartets and quintets for performances at Grant Middle School supported by SFCM.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- All-Volunteer Model to Maximize Artist Fundingmethodology: all-volunteer_modelBy operating with an all-volunteer structure, the organization minimizes administrative and operational costs, allowing a greater proportion of funds to be directed toward hiring top-tier international artists, thereby enhancing artistic quality and audience experience.
- Community-Engaged Programming to Align with Local Needsmethodology: community-engaged_programmingBy collaborating with school staff and assessing community needs, the organization co-develops music programs that are contextually relevant and accessible, increasing buy-in and participation from the Syracuse City School District because programs are designed in partnership rather than imposed externally.
- Equity-Based Access to Promote Inclusive Participationmethodology: equity-based_accessBy offering free concert access to full-time students and EBT/SNAP holders, the organization reduces financial barriers to attendance, increasing inclusivity and diversity of audience participation because affordability directly enables engagement among underserved populations.
- Youth Engagement Through Performance and Regional Focusmethodology: regional-youth-engagementBy providing guided preparation and public performance opportunities for middle and high school students, and focusing outreach within a 90-mile radius of Syracuse, the organization fosters regional chamber music development because localized, experiential learning increases student investment and long-term engagement.