named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Annual Concert Series
Series of live and live-streamed chamber music concerts featuring national and international ensembles, held at Munson in Utica, NY
Artist-Audience Receptions
Post-concert receptions at Fountain Elms for audience members to meet and interact with performers
School Outreach Programs
Education initiatives bringing chamber music performances and engagement to grade-school, middle-school, and high-school students
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Post-Performance Audience Engagement 1 activity
- Host post-concert receptions for audience engagementHosts post-concert receptions at Fountain Elms, allowing audience members to meet performers and socialize, fostering community connections around chamber music.
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Operate as a volunteer-run organizationFunctions entirely through volunteer labor provided by its Board of Trustees, with no paid staff or physical office space, a model sustained for over 80 years.
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Classical and Chamber Music Performances 1 activity
- Present concert series for the general publicPresents an annual concert series in Utica, NY, featuring national and international chamber ensembles, with live in-person performances and live-streamed access via the organization's website. The series typically includes five concerts per season, held on Sundays at 2:30pm at the Munson Sinnott Family–Bank of Utica Auditorium.
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Performing Arts Ticket Access Programs 1 activity
- Provide free and discounted concert access for students and youthOffers free admission to in-person concerts for students with ID, teens, and children under 18, and provides free annual subscriptions for students with ID, ensuring accessible participation in chamber music performances.
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Community Music Performances & Education 1 activity
- Sponsor school outreach programs for K-12 studentsOrganizes and presents school outreach programs featuring professional chamber music ensembles for K–12 students, introducing classical music to young audiences, including international students attending concerts for the first time.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Produce and distribute program notes for concertsProvides program notes for upcoming concerts, made accessible online prior to performances, to enhance audience engagement and understanding of the repertoire.
- Publish organizational historyPublished a history of the organization in 2016 to commemorate its first 75 years, documenting its contributions to chamber music and community engagement.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$86K
Contributions & grants$73K84%
Program service revenue$11K13%
Investment income$2K2%
Other revenue$152
expenses
Total expenses$69K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$170K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$170K
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +10.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 14
- ANITA HUMER — TRUSTEE
- BARBARA PRATT — TRUSTEE
- BETTY LOU FRYE — TRUSTEE
- CAROL STEELE — TRUSTEE
- HEIDI VON BERGEN — TRUSTEE
- JEAN MORRIS — TRUSTEE
- JOHN H ORR — TRUSTEE
- LAURENCE ZOECKLER — TRUSTEE
- LINDA SLAVIN — TRUSTEE
- PATRICIA SCARAMELLA — TRUSTEE
- RAYMOND ZOECKLER — TRUSTEE
- SUSAN GADBOW — TRUSTEE
- SUSANNA WATLING — TRUSTEE
- SUZANNE COSTANZA — TRUSTEE
relationships · 19
Who they work with
- American String Quartet Partner — Performs concerts and school outreach programs for the Chamber Music Society of Utica.
- Anita Humer Partner — Board member and pianist who contributed commentary on the concert.
- Balourdet Quartet Partner — Performs a concert for the Chamber Music Society of Utica's 2026–2027 season.
- Betty Lou Frye Partner — Sponsored the October 24, 2024 concert by the Lysander Piano Trio.
- Board of Trustees Partner — Volunteer board responsible for managing all aspects of the organization.
- Gryphon Trio Partner — Performs the final concert of the Chamber Music Society of Utica's 2026–2027 season.
- Hamilton College Partner — Provides bonus in-person concert access to subscribers through a partnership with Hamilton College.
- Jan and Pat Moore Partner — Sponsored the February 23, 2025 concert featuring the Escher String Quartet.
- John Orr Partner — Former Assistant Manager of the Philadelphia Orchestra who provided program commentary.
- Munson Partner — Venue partner hosting in-person concerts at the Sinnott Family–Bank of Utica Auditorium
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Primary public funder supporting the concert series
- Parker Quartet Partner — Performs concerts and school outreach programs for the Chamber Music Society of Utica.
- Rona Lukas Partner — Sponsored the October 24, 2024 concert by the Lysander Piano Trio.
- Stefan Schilling Partner — Guest clarinetist collaborating with the American String Quartet in performances and outreach for the Chamber Music Society of Utica.
- Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music Partner — Referred as a complementary organization for those interested in CMSU's series.
- Trio Bohemo Partner — Performs concerts and school outreach programs for the Chamber Music Society of Utica.
- Utica University Partner — Hosted international students from Utica University at a concert event.
- Utica University Partner — Hosted international students who attended the October 24, 2024 concert.
- WCNY Classic FM Partner — Rebroadcasts CMSU concert programs on WCNY Classic FM.
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 Outreach for Music Educationmethodology: artist-led_education_outreachBy deploying professional chamber ensembles to deliver music education directly in K-12 schools, the organization increases student engagement and musical literacy, because direct interaction with working artists provides authentic, inspiring learning experiences.
- Hybrid Access Model to Expand Audience Reachmethodology: hybrid_access_modelBy offering both in-person and live-streamed performances, the organization increases access to chamber music for geographically and physically constrained audiences, because combining physical and digital channels removes barriers to attendance while maintaining artistic quality.
- Intimate Performance as Educational Engagementmethodology: intimate_performance_educationBy hosting chamber music performances in intimate settings, the organization enhances audience understanding of musical interplay and ensemble coordination, because close proximity allows viewers to observe real-time artistic communication that deepens appreciation and engagement.