named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Fenimore Chamber Orchestra in the Community
Community engagement initiative presenting concerts in various locations, including Panther Creek Arts in West Fulton, NY.
Illumination Series
Main concert series held at Christ Church in Cooperstown, NY, featuring chamber orchestra performances across multiple programs each season.
Music for All Initiative
Program providing complimentary tickets to adults for whom admission cost would be a barrier, ensuring broader access to performances.
Young Person’s Concerto Competition (YPCC)
Biennial competition for musicians aged 14–21 offering winners the opportunity to perform as soloists with the orchestra and receive cash awards.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Classical and Chamber Music Performances 3 activities
- Develop and present innovative musical programsDevelops and presents special programs such as “Bach in Bengal,” which explores intersections between Baroque counterpoint and Indian classical raga, and co-presents collaborative concerts with groups like Big Galut(e) Klezmer Band to expand the scope of chamber music repertoire.
- Employ and support professional musiciansEmploys accomplished musicians from the greater Catskill Mountain region, providing them with opportunities to perform at a high level of artistic excellence in a professional chamber orchestra setting.
- Present live classical music performancesPresents live classical music performances through its Main Series and Illumination Series concerts, featuring a professional chamber orchestra at Christ Church in Cooperstown, NY, with acoustics suited for intimate musical experiences. Performances include works by composers such as Mozart, Vivaldi, Dvořák, and Poulenc, and attract audiences from the Cooperstown region and surrounding rural counties.
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Performing Arts Archival Preservation 1 activity
- Archive and share historical performance materialsMaintains and provides public access to an archive of past season programs, photos, and related materials, preserving the organization’s performance history.
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Community Music Performances & Education 1 activity
- Conduct educational and community outreachConducts educational outreach to inspire young people, including providing complimentary concert tickets for children and youth, and enriches the cultural life of Central New York through accessible programming.
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Music Education Support 1 activity
- Host Young Person’s Concerto CompetitionHosts a bi-annual Young Person’s Concerto Competition that awards $1,000 to the first-place winner and $500 to the second-place winner, invites the first-place winner to perform as a soloist with the orchestra, and provides a Teacher Recognition Award of $500 to the first-place winner’s teacher and $250 to the second-place winner’s teacher.
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Performing Arts Ticket Access Programs 1 activity
- Offer subsidized and free concert accessOffers a season pass for $136 providing access to four Main Series concerts with a 15% discount, early seating, and consolidated ticketing. Provides free admission to Illumination Series concerts for children, youth, college students with ID, and adults in financial need through the Music for All initiative.
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Digital Music and Performance Archiving 1 activity
- Produce and distribute concert recordingsProduces and shares video recordings of live concerts filmed at Christ Church in Cooperstown, NY, expanding access to performances beyond in-person audiences.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$122K
Contributions & grants$85K70%
Program service revenue$37K30%
Investment income$3740%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$182K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$132K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$27K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$24K
3 years on record · 2022–2024 · YoY revenue -37.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROSEMARY SUMMERS | TREASURER/SE | 20 | $17K |
| LEE KOONCE | EXECUTIVE DI | 20 | $900 |
board members · 4
- KENT JONES — TRUSTEE
- NATHAN RITTER — TRUSTEE
- PATRICIA SLATER — TRUSTEE
- SETH PEACE — TRUSTEE
relationships · 8
Who they work with
- Big Galut(e) Klezmer Band Partner — Collaborated on a joint concert program blending klezmer traditions with chamber orchestra repertoire.
- Christ Church Partner — Hosts Fenimore Chamber Orchestra performances at its historic site in Cooperstown, NY.
- Christ Church Partner — Hosts the winner’s concert in Cooperstown, NY.
- Christ Church Cooperstown Partner — Hosts the Illumination Series concerts.
- Christ Church Cooperstown Partner — Provides a performance venue and collaborative partnership for the Fenimore Chamber Orchestra in Cooperstown.
- ISCM (International Society for Contemporary Music) Polish Section Network — Maestro Żółtowski has served as President of the ISCM Polish Section since 2010.
- Jeunesses Musicales Poland Network — Maestro Żółtowski has been involved with Jeunesses Musicales Poland as part of his broader engagement in music institutions.
- Polish Composers’ Union Network — Maestro Żółtowski has been affiliated with the Polish Composers’ Union as part of his career in contemporary music.
strategies · 5
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.
- Cross-Cultural Musical Dialogue as Artistic and Educational Strategymethodology: cross-cultural_musical_dialogueBy integrating non-Western traditions such as Indian raga and klezmer into chamber music performance and education, the orchestra fosters cross-cultural understanding because musical fusion creates shared meaning and challenges audience assumptions through lived artistic exchange.
- Cultural Enrichment in Economically Stressed Rural Communitiesmethodology: cultural_enrichment_in_economically_stressed_rural_communitiesBy presenting high-quality musical performances in economically stressed rural communities, the orchestra enriches cultural life and increases access to the arts because proximity and affordability remove barriers to engagement and foster local pride.
- Curated Musical Exploration to Broaden Engagementmethodology: curated_musical_explorationBy programming a balance of beloved classical works and lesser-known or culturally diverse repertoire, the orchestra fosters broader audience engagement because familiar pieces build trust while novel works cultivate curiosity and inclusion.
- Intimate Ensemble Performance for Audience and Artistic Connectionmethodology: intimate_ensemble_performanceBy utilizing small-scale, acoustically rich historic venues and maintaining a close-knit ensemble structure, the orchestra creates deeply personal audience experiences and sustains artistic continuity because intimacy enhances emotional resonance and long-term musician commitment strengthens interpretive depth.
- Support for Regional Artists and Youth Engagementmethodology: regional_artist_employment_and_youth_engagementBy employing regional musicians and offering free tickets and performance opportunities to young artists, the orchestra strengthens local artistic ecosystems because investing in local talent increases sustainability and early exposure builds lifelong audience and performer relationships with classical music.