named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
A Distant Love: Songs of John and Abigail Adams
Music-theater piece based on the letters of John and Abigail Adams, composed by Gary S. Fagin, performed in historic venues including the South Street Seaport and Brooklyn’s Old Stone House
Charlotte: Life? or Theater?
One-act music-theater work based on the life of German-Jewish artist Charlotte Salomon, featuring projections of her artwork and performed at the Museum of Jewish Heritage
Music of Our Sphere
Annual Earth Day-themed concert celebrating nature through music, featuring works by composers like Vivaldi and Copland, and world premieres such as Gary S. Fagin’s “In Every Grain of Sand”
Youth Outreach Program
Free, interactive school visits to Lower Manhattan public schools featuring themed musical presentations such as "Intro to the Orchestra!" and "Music of Our Sphere!" combining performance with music education
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Classical and Chamber Music Performances 2 activities
- Orchestral and chamber music performancesProduces and presents classical orchestral and chamber music concerts in historic and notable venues throughout downtown Manhattan, including the Winter Garden at Brookfield Place, Pier A, and the Museum of Jewish Heritage. The orchestra performs both established repertoire and original compositions, with a focus on site-specific and thematic programming.
- Thematic and educational concert programmingDesigns and presents concerts centered on specific themes such as American history, Earth Day, Black history, and women composers, often combining live music with narrative, projections, or guest performers to enhance public engagement and understanding.
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Free Outdoor Music Concerts 1 activity
- Community and public space concertsRegularly performs outdoor summer concerts and family-friendly events in public spaces across Lower Manhattan, including Battery Park City and the Winter Garden, to increase access to classical music and engage diverse audiences.
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Community Music Performances & Education 1 activity
- Educational outreach in public schoolsDelivers free, interactive 35- to 45-minute chamber music programs to elementary, middle, and high schools in Lower Manhattan, integrating live performance with instruction in music history, theory, and themes such as classical repertoire, American music, Black history, women composers, and environmental awareness.
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Original Music-Theater and Opera Production 1 activity
- Performance of music-theater works based on historical figures and eventsPresents original music-theater productions that dramatize historical narratives, including “A Distant Love: Songs of John and Abigail Adams” and “Charlotte: Life? or Theater?,” combining music, libretto, and visual elements to explore the lives of John and Abigail Adams and artist Charlotte Salomon.
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Commissioning New Musical Works 1 activity
- Premiere and performance of original compositions by Gary S. FaginCommissions, develops, and presents world premieres of original music-theater works and cantatas by composer Gary S. Fagin, including pieces such as “And Bold to Fall Withal (Henry Hudson in The New World),” “Robert Moses Astride New York,” “Good Trouble,” and “In Every Grain of Sand,” often tied to historical, environmental, or social themes.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$110K
Contributions & grants$109K99%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$6991%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$96K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$74K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$74K
3 years on record · 2022–2024 · YoY revenue +29.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 9
- Alix Michel — Director
- Audrey Manley — Director
- Clive Burrow — Director
- Delfina Pattacini — Director
- Gerald Carp — Director
- Jason Balaban — Director
- Jennifer Famery Mariani — Director
- Lynda Davey — Director
- Sharon Fortenbaugh — Director
relationships · 27
Who they work with
- American Tap Dance Foundation Partner — Artistic partner in performances and programming.
- American Tap Dance Foundation Partner — Collaboration with the Tap City Youth Ensemble on the program "Dancin’ Feet! - The Roots of Tap".
- Arts Brookfield Partner — Artistic partner in performances and programming.
- Battery Maritime Building Partner — Artistic partner in performances and programming.
- Battery Park City Authority Partner — Partnership to provide musical programs for families in Battery Park City.
- Brookfield Place Partner — Venue host for the "Music of Our Sphere" concert.
- Florentine Music School Partner — Collaboration with youth soloists from the school in KCO programs.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum Partner — Artistic partner in performances and programming.
- Goldman Sachs Partner — Sponsored a free family concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.
- Harlem Chamber Players Partner — Collaborates with the Harlem Chamber Players through joint performances.
- Jody Oberfelder Projects Partner — Collaborated on the presentation of "A Soldier's Tale" in 2011 and "Kurt Weill’s Zaubernacht" in the 2019–2020 season.
- John Street Methodist Church Partner — Artistic partner in performances and programming.
- Museum of Jewish Heritage Partner — Artistic partner in performances and programming, including co-presentations with thematic exhibits.
- Museum of Jewish Heritage Partner — Hosted the KCO's concert performance of "Charlotte: Life? or Theater?" as part of its 2026 Mishpachah Festival.
- Museum of Jewish Heritage Partner — Performed “Charlotte: Life? or Theater?” at the Museum of Jewish Heritage.
- Museum of Jewish Heritage—A Living Memorial to the Holocaust Partner — Hosted multiple KCO concerts, including world premieres and annual thematic performances.
- Old Stone House Partner — Co-presented the performance "A Distant Love: Songs of John and Abigail Adams."
- Old Stone House Partner — Collaborates with the Old Stone House in Brooklyn to present performances, including "A Distant Love: Songs of John and Abigail Adams."
- Old Stone House Partner — Presented a reprise performance of “A Distant Love: Songs of John and Abigail Adams” in association with the Old Stone House in Brooklyn.
- Pier A Partner — Artistic partner in performances and programming.
- Poets House Partner — Artistic partner in performances and programming.
- Preet Bharara Partner — Collaborated as a guest performer with the orchestra at the Renaissance & Renewal concert.
- Schimmel Center for the Arts Partner — Artistic partner in performances and programming.
- South Street Seaport Museum Partner — Artistic partner in performances and programming.
- The Knickerbocker Club Partner — Artistic partner in performances and programming.
- Trinity Church Partner — Artistic partner in performances and programming.
- WSA Partner — Artistic partner in performances and programming.
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.
- Culturally Affirming and Identity-Driven Music Educationmethodology: culturally_affirming_programmingBy centering the work of underrepresented composers and using interactive, narrative-driven performances, the orchestra increases youth engagement with classical music because culturally relevant and inclusive content fosters identification, belonging, and sustained interest among diverse student audiences.
- Historically Informed Narrative Programmingmethodology: historically-informed_interdisciplinary_collaborationBy integrating historical research and storytelling with live musical performance, the orchestra deepens audience engagement and cultural understanding because connecting music to personal and regional history makes it more emotionally resonant and educationally meaningful.
- Thematic Programming Based on Philosophical and Cosmic Conceptsmethodology: celestial_harmony_thematic_programmingBy organizing concert programming around unifying themes such as celestial harmony derived from Pythagorean philosophy, the orchestra fosters a sense of wonder and connection between music, nature, and the cosmos because abstract, universal concepts enhance audience receptivity and provide a deeper conceptual framework for musical works.
- Urban Contextualization of Classical Musicmethodology: cultural_reintroduction_through_urban_performanceBy performing classical music in distinctive urban venues and blending historical repertoire with contemporary settings, the orchestra increases public accessibility and relevance because situating music within familiar or historically resonant city spaces lowers barriers to entry and recontextualizes classical traditions for modern audiences.