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PEOPLES' SYMPHONY CONCERTS
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 136034060 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A69Z · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Medium ($1M-$10M) · pscny.org
revenue
$1.0M
expenses
$639K
net assets
$9.5M
employees
0
volunteers
7
program ratio
94%
mission · from form 990

THE ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERTS TO THE PUBLIC OF NYC.

profile · synthesized from sources

Peoples' Symphony Concerts provides affordable classical music performances to the public in New York City. Founded in 1900, the organization presents a season of live and virtual chamber music concerts featuring renowned ensembles and rising artists. Concerts are offered at low cost or for free through programs like Culture Pass and discounted subscriptions, with a mission to make high-quality music accessible to audiences regardless of financial means.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Culture Pass Program
Offers one free ticket per year to any concert for New York State residents and NYC workers and students with a library card from NYPL, Brooklyn Public Library, or Queens Public Library
Family Pass
Allows subscribers to the Arens, Mann, and Salomon series to bring children aged 6–18 for free
Students & Essential Workers Pass
Provides unlimited access to all 18 concerts for $35 or a pick of any 6 concerts for $20 to full-time students aged 35 or younger and essential workers
Virtual Concert Series
Offers online access to concerts via Vimeo and YouTube, available for six days following the live performance, including artist conversations
activities · 3 groups

What they do

  • Performing Arts Ticket Access Programs 2 activities
    • Providing discounted and subsidized ticket programs for concerts
      Offers multiple discounted ticket options to increase accessibility, including series tickets for less than $10 per concert (50% savings), a Saturday Night Flex Pass (six general admission tickets for $95), and cost-parity pricing models for attending three concerts. Also provides reduced-price tickets ($10) for students and essential workers with valid ID, and unlimited access or flexible concert choices for eligible groups.
    • Providing free or complimentary concert tickets to specific populations
      Offers free tickets to children aged 6–18 for families subscribing to designated concert series. Also provides one free ticket per year to any concert for library card holders aged 13 and older through the Culture Pass program.
  • Digital Music and Performance Archiving 1 activity
    • Distributing virtual access to concert performances
      Makes recorded concerts available online via Vimeo and YouTube for six days following the live event, distributed through email to subscribers and ticket buyers. Includes virtual programming such as artist conversations and special features, with dedicated virtual viewing periods (e.g., December 14–17).
  • Classical and Chamber Music Performances 1 activity
    • Organizing and presenting affordable classical music concerts in New York City
      Produces and hosts live classical music concerts in New York City, including chamber music, recitals, and orchestral performances by established and emerging artists. Concerts typically last approximately two hours, including a 20-minute intermission, with some programs varying slightly in duration.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.02M
Contributions & grants$426K42%
Program service revenue$277K27%
Investment income$319K31%
Other revenue$250
expenses
Total expenses$639K
Program expenses94%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$9.56M
Cash$61K
Investments$9.48M
Liabilities$41K
Net assets$9.52M
Liquid reserves179.1 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +8.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 7
  • APRIL RIDDLE GOW — BOARD MEMBER
  • FREDERICK WERTHEIM — PRESIDENT AND TREASURER
  • GULLIVER BRADY — SECRETARY
  • LYNDSAY C HOWARD — BOARD MEMBER
  • RICHARD A RAFFETTO — BOARD MEMBER
  • RICHARD R HOWE — BOARD MEMBER
  • SUSAN PORTER — CHAIRPERSON
relationships · 16

Who they work with

  • Balourdet Quartet Partner — Performing ensemble featured in concert program organized by Peoples' Symphony Concerts.
  • Brooklyn Public Library Partner — Partner in the Culture Pass program, providing access to free concert tickets for its cardholders.
  • Dover Quartet Partner — Collaborates with the Dover Quartet for concert performances.
  • ESPRESSIVO! PIANO QUARTET Partner — Collaborates with the ESPRESSIVO! Piano Quartet, a chamber ensemble featuring Anna Polonsky, Jaime Laredo, Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, and Sharon Robinson, to present concerts.
  • Jordan Bak Partner — Featured violist performing in concert organized by Peoples' Symphony Concerts.
  • Juilliard String Quartet Partner — Performing ensemble featured in concert series
  • Marlboro Music Partner — Collaborates with Marlboro Music to present co-artistic direction and festival participants in concert programming.
  • Quatuor Danel Partner — Performing ensemble presenting a concert program of Weinberg, Shostakovich, and Beethoven string quartets.
  • Queens Public Library Partner — Partner in the Culture Pass program, providing access to free concert tickets for its cardholders.
  • Steven Banks Partner — Saxophonist and composer performing in concert
  • The Knights Partner — Collaborating ensemble performing in the concert program presented by Peoples' Symphony Concerts
  • The New York Public Library Partner — Partner in the Culture Pass program, providing access to free concert tickets for its cardholders.
  • Verona Quartet Partner — Performing ensemble featured in concert program
  • Vimeo Partner — Platform used to host and stream virtual concert videos
  • WQXR Partner — Media partner for Peoples' Symphony Concerts
  • YouTube Partner — Platform used to host and stream virtual concert videos
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.

  • Affordable Access Model
    methodology: affordable_access
    By offering concerts at low cost through subscription pricing and tiered access, the organization increases public engagement with classical music because affordability removes economic barriers to attendance, enabling broader and more diverse audience participation.
  • Artistic Innovation and Relevance Through Programming
    methodology: artistic_innovation_relevance
    By curating performances that blend canonical works with contemporary compositions, living composers, and Indigenous arrangements, and by emphasizing expressive, interpretive, and emotionally resonant ensemble playing, the organization deepens audience engagement because fresh, meaningful interpretations make classical music feel vital and accessible to modern audiences.
  • Expanded Access Through Flexible and Alternative Channels
    methodology: expanded_access_channels
    By providing virtual access, library-based ticket distribution, and flexible ticketing that allows partial attendance and date selection, the organization increases accessibility because these modalities reduce geographic, scheduling, and social barriers—particularly for families, students, and underserved communities.