named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Collaborative Tours
Joint performances with artists such as Haley Heynderickx and Fleet Foxes, blending genres and expanding audience reach.
Songbook Series
Performance and recording project featuring original compositions and arrangements by ensemble members, presented at venues including Alice Tully Hall and The New School.
Westerlies Fest
Annual multi-day festival in Seattle celebrating the ensemble's music through live recordings, special guests, and community engagement events.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Music Education and Training Programs 1 activity
- Conducts educational workshops and masterclasses nationwideEngages over 3,000 students annually through school assemblies, masterclasses, and educational residencies at conservatories and universities such as Juilliard, Yale, and Michigan State University, promoting listening, empathy, and inclusion through music.
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Community Music Performances & Education 1 activity
- Hosts annual Westerlies Fest with performances and in-school workshopsOrganizes and presents the annual Westerlies Fest in Seattle, WA, since 2018, combining evening performances with daytime educational workshops in underserved schools. The festival has included over 40 workshops and featured over 30 guest artists such as Haley Heynderickx and Samora Pinderhughes.
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Classical and Chamber Music Performances 1 activity
- Performs concerts nationally at major venues and festivalsDelivers live musical performances at prominent venues and festivals across the United States, including The Guggenheim in New York, NY, Tippet Rise Art Center in Fishtail, MT, and the Cooperstown Summer Music Festival in Cooperstown, NY, often with livestream components.
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Digital Music and Performance Archiving 1 activity
- Produces and shares video content featuring musical performancesCreates and distributes video content showcasing performances, including concert films such as the live recording of 'Songbook, Vol. 3,' as part of its public engagement and artistic output.
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Nonprofit Music Recording and Distribution 1 activity
- Releases studio and live albums through its record labelProduces and releases critically acclaimed studio and live recordings, including ten studio albums and multiple live EPs and concert films, featuring collaborations with artists such as Fleet Foxes, Joanna Newsom, and Aoife O’Donovan. Notable releases include 'Paradise' (2025), 'Songbook, Vol. 3' (2025), and 'Live at TOURISTS' (2022).
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Sells performance materials and sheet musicOffers for sale original compositions and arrangements including scores and parts for works such as “A Nearer Sun,” “Entr’acte,” and holiday pieces like “Angels We Have Heard on High,” available in various ensemble configurations priced between $25 and $50.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$348K
Contributions & grants$166K48%
Program service revenue$156K45%
Investment income$3K1%
Other revenue$23K
expenses
Total expenses$330K
Program expenses74%
Admin / overhead18%
Fundraising8%
Salaries & benefits$229K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$156K
Cash$120K
Investments$0
Liabilities$13K
Net assets$142K
Liquid reserves4.4 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +18.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RILEY MULHERKAR | ADMINISTRATOR/BOARD MEMBER (EX OFFICIO) | 1 | $58K |
board members · 8
- ALLYSON DAVIS — BOARD MEMBER
- BONNIE MAIN — BOARD MEMBER
- CHRISTINA WRIGHT — VICE PRESIDENT
- FLORANGELA DAVILA — SECRETARY
- MARC DAUDON — TREASURER
- MARK WITTOW — PRESIDENT
- MOYA VAZQUEZ — BOARD MEMBER
- NATALIE WEINER — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 47
Who they work with
- Amazon Partner — Distributes music through Amazon platform
- Aoife O’Donovan Partner — Collaborative performance and studio work
- Aoife O’Donovan Partner — Performed together at Freshgrass in North Adams, MA, in September 2023.
- Apple Music Partner — Distributes music through Apple Music platform
- BalletCollective Partner — Collaborated on performances in New York, NY, in October 2024.
- Bandcamp Partner — Distributes music through Bandcamp platform
- Big Red Machine Partner — Collaborative performance and studio work
- Bill Frisell Partner — Collaborative performance and studio work
- Celisse Partner — Artist presented through Westerlies Fest
- Clefworks Montgomery Partner — Collaborated with The Westerlies to deliver music engagement programs in underserved schools in Montgomery, AL
- Common Partner — Collaborative performance and studio work
- Cooperstown Summer Music Festival Partner — Hosted a performance by The Westerlies.
- Dave Douglas Partner — Collaborative performance and studio work
- Elisapie Partner — Collaborative performance and studio work
- Fleet Foxes Partner — Collaborative performance and studio work
- Fleet Foxes Partner — Performed together at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA, in August 2023.
- Haley Heynderickx Partner — Artist presented through Westerlies Fest
- Haley Heynderickx Partner — Collaborated on a tour in March 2024, with performances in multiple cities across the U.S.
- Haley Heynderickx Partner — Collaborative performance and studio work
- Juilliard Partner — Hosted The Westerlies for educational residencies, workshops, and collaborations
- Kate Davis Partner — Artist presented through Westerlies Fest
- Kate Davis Partner — Collaborative performance and studio work
- MRI / The Orchard Partner — Distributes Westerlies Records
- Michigan State University Partner — Collaborated with The Westerlies on educational programming, including masterclasses and student engagement
- New Music USA Funder — Supported The Westerlies Music, Inc. through its Organization Fund in 2024–25.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provides support for The Westerlies' programs through funding from the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
- Nick Murphy Partner — Collaborative performance and studio work
- Northeastern Illinois University Partner — Hosted a performance by The Westerlies.
- Phil Kaye Partner — Artist presented through Westerlies Fest
- Phil Kaye Partner — Collaborative performance and studio work
+ 17 more
strategies · 3
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.
- Artist-Led Collaborative Innovationmethodology: commissioning and collaboration-driven innovationBy centering artist-driven commissioning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and genre-fusion, we transform brass chamber music and inspire new artistic expressions because creative ownership and cross-disciplinary exchange foster innovation and broader engagement.
- Community-Engaged Arts Programmingmethodology: community-engaged arts programmingBy integrating in-school workshops with public performances and visual media outreach, we deepen community impact in underserved areas because sustained, participatory engagement builds artistic access and shared ownership of cultural experiences.
- Improvisation as Universal Creative Practicemethodology: improvisation-for-everyoneBy using improvisation games and participatory composition, we make musical creation accessible to all skill levels because treating improvisation as a shared, inclusive language fosters emotional exploration, individual expression, and collective creativity.