irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $286KMUSICAL CONNECTIONS: THE SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, LIVE IN CONCERT! CASA (CULTURAL AFTER SCHOOL ADVENTURES), AND OTHER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMSL.O.S.'S MUSIC EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES INCLUDE: MUSICAL CONNECTIONS: THE SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (MUSICAL CONNECTIONS) AND LIVE IN CONCERT!, AS WELL AS OTHER PROGRAMS. MUSICAL CONNECTIONS IS A MUSIC COMPOSITION RESIDENCY PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES MUSIC EDUCATION AND CONCERT EXPERIENCES FOR UNDER-RESOURCED NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THEIR STUDENTS IN GRADES PRE-K-5, AS WELL AS THEIR TEACHERS, FAMILIES, AND SCHOOL COMMUNITIES. THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF: IN-SCHOOL RESIDENCY SESSIONS WITH AN L.O.S. EDUCATOR/TEACHING ARTIST THAT UTILIZE MUSIC COMPOSITION TO TEACH THE ELEMENTS OF MUSIC; ACCESS TO L.O.S. KIDS CONCERTS TO CONNECT COMPOSITION TO ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCES; VIDEO DISCOVERY GUIDES TO CONNECT THE IN-SCHOOL SESSIONS WITH WHAT HAPPENS DURING LIVE CONCERTS; A SCHOOL-DAY CELEBRATION EVENT WHERE STUDENTS' COLLABORATIVE CLASS COMPOSITIONS ARE PERFORMED BY PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS; PLANNING MEETINGS FOR CLASSROOM TEACHERS WITH L.O.S. EDUCATION STAFF; CURRICULUM MATERIALS FOR EACH CONCERT FOR CLASSROOM TEACHERS; AND FREE TICKETS FOR FAMILIES TO ENJOY LIVE CONCERTS. THE 2024-25 PARTNER SCHOOLS WERE PS 122Q AND ASTORIA HOUSES (NYCHA) IN ASTORIA, QUEENS; PS 54X IN THE BRONX, AND PS 125M IN HARLEM, MANHATTAN. APPROXIMATELY 3,550 TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND PARENTS/CAREGIVERS PARTICIPATED IN MUSICAL CONNECTIONS.LIVE IN CONCERT! IS AN L.O.S. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK CITY COMMUNITY TO ATTEND PERFORMANCES OF THE L.O.S. KIDS SERIES, WITHOUT CHARGE. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS FROM UNDERSERVED PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CHILDREN IN PUBLICLY-FUNDED DAY CARE CENTERS AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES, WHO WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE LITTLE OR NO CONTACT WITH ORCHESTRAL MUSIC. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED TO HELP PARENTS, TEACHERS AND PROGRAM LEADERS IN PREPARING AND ENHANCING THE CONCERT EXPERIENCE FOR THEIR STUDENTS AND CHILDREN. APPROXIMATELY 5,750 CHILDREN AND ADULTS PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM IN 2024-25, INCLUDING MUSICAL CONNECTIONS FAMILIES, AND CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FROM PARTNER SITES. IN 2024-25, L.O.S. CONTINUED ITS AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN SEVEN TOTAL SCHOOLS: PS122Q IN ASTORIA, PS96X AND PS54X IN THE CENTRAL BRONX, PS 18X IN THE SOUTH BRONX, PS152K IN FLATBUSH, PS125M IN HARLEM, AND PS267M IN MANHATTAN, WITH SUPPORT FROM THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL'S CULTURAL AFTER-SCHOOL ADVENTURES (CASA) PROGRAM. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN ALL L.O.S. AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN 2024-25 EQUALED 440. THESE PROGRAMS ARE BASED ON THE MUSICAL CONNECTIONS MODEL AND PROVIDE INTENSIVE AFTERSCHOOL LEARNING FOR STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 5 WHO MAY ALSO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN PRIOR YEARS IN THE SCHOOL DAY MUSICAL CONNECTIONS PROGRAM. IN 2024-25, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN ALL L.O.S. PROGRAMS EQUALED APPROXIMATELY 15,500.
- #2 $55KOTHER PROGRAM SERVICES EACH FISCAL YEAR, L.O.S. CREATES NEW CONCERT PROGRAMS FOR THE CURRENT SEASON AS WELL AS FOR FOLLOWING SEASONS. ADDITIONALLY, IT IS NECESSARY TO PLAN OUR MUSIC EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS SEVERAL YEARS IN ADVANCE. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES COVER BOTH PERSONNEL EXPENSES AND OTHER THAN PERSONNEL SERVICES (OTPS) FOR THESE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
L.O.S. KIDS Concert Series
Live orchestral concert series for children and families ages 3–10, featuring themed performances that integrate theatre, dance, video, and music education elements.
Live in Concert!
Community engagement program offering free access to L.O.S. Kids Series performances for students from underserved schools, publicly funded daycare centers, and social service agencies.
Musical Connections: The School Partnership Program
A music composition residency program providing in-school sessions, concert access, curriculum materials, and celebration events for students, teachers, and families in underserved NYC public schools.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Music Education and Training Programs 2 activities
- Delivering in-school music composition and performance residenciesProvides music composition residencies in New York City public schools through the Musical Connections program, where students compose original music performed by professional musicians. The program served approximately 3,550 teachers, students, and caregivers in the 2024–25 school year and includes curriculum materials, live concerts, and family engagement components.
- Producing and distributing educational music content for home and classroom useCreates and shares interactive videos, online resources, and Spotify playlists to support music learning at home and in schools. Content includes instrument-making tutorials, composer introductions, musical storytelling, songwriting activities, and pre-concert preparation materials.
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Commissioning New Musical Works 1 activity
- Commissioning and premiering new musical worksCommissions, presents, and records new compositions by living composers, including works by young and emerging composers, and has premiered pieces by figures such as Richard Strauss, Alan Hovhaness, and David Diamond. The organization also produces professional recordings, such as a Grammy-nominated narration of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf.
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Early Childhood Music Education 1 activity
- Operating youth and family music education programsRuns dedicated music education programs including Lolli-Pops™ for ages 3–5, Happy Concerts for Young People for ages 6–12, and the L.O.S. KIDS series, which introduce children to composers and orchestral music through age-appropriate, interactive concert experiences.
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Free Outdoor Music Concerts 1 activity
- Organizing citywide celebrations of youth-composed musicProduces the New Voices Celebration, a free concert series across all five boroughs of New York City featuring music composed by students, emerging artists, and professional composers from diverse backgrounds.
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Classical and Chamber Music Performances 1 activity
- Presenting experiential orchestra concerts for children and familiesPresents orchestral concert series designed for children and families, integrating music, theatre, video, dance, and original scripts. These concerts feature works by canonical and living composers, include young and professional soloists, and are held at venues like The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, with performances running from October to April.
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Performing Arts Ticket Access Programs 1 activity
- Providing free concert access and community engagement for underserved audiencesOffers free concert tickets and live music experiences through the Live in Concert! program and other initiatives, distributing tickets on a rolling basis to students, families, and public service organizations from underserved communities in the Tri-state area.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$975K
Contributions & grants$702K72%
Program service revenue$273K28%
Investment income$30%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$976K
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising12%
Salaries & benefits$354K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$232K
Cash$58K
Investments$0
Liabilities$42K
Net assets$190K
Liquid reserves0.7 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -2.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANTHONY C BALL | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $156K |
board members · 13
- CAROLINE WALL — BOARD MEMBER
- DIANA BYER — BOARD MEMBER
- DR C CHRISTINE WHEELER — SECRETARY
- DR EILEEN K CUTLER — BOARD MEMBER
- DR GARRETT T DESMAN — BOARD MEMBER
- ELLIOTT FORREST — BOARD MEMBER
- GEORGE R YOUNG JR — BOARD MEMBER
- GREGORY PARSONS — TREASURER
- JOAN RUDEL WEINREICH PHD — BOARD MEMBER
- KAREN SW FRIEDMAN — BOARD MEMBER
- MARY E KEEGAN — BOARD MEMBER
- NANCY SCHWARTZ-WEINSTOCK — BOARD MEMBER
- SHARON HITE — PRESIDENT
relationships · 50
Who they work with
- Astoria Houses (NYCHA) Partner — Community partner in Astoria, Queens for the Musical Connections program.
- BMI Foundation Funder — Named supporter of The Little Orchestra Society
- Big Apple Circus Partner — Collaborated on Music Under the Big Top, the Orchestra’s first concert in the ring at the Big Apple Circus at Lincoln Center.
- Consolidated Edison Funder — Named supporter of The Little Orchestra Society
- Craig Shemin Partner — Writer and director for the LOS KIDS concert series and creator of multiple family concert scripts.
- Dance Theatre of Harlem School Partner — Collaborates by providing dancers for concert performances.
- David Alan Miller Partner — Guest conductor and artistic collaborator with ties to the organization through performance and educational initiatives.
- Eva & Louis Galpern Foundation Funder — Named supporter of The Little Orchestra Society
- Facebook Network — Social media presence on Facebook for community engagement and event promotion.
- Flute Center of New York Partner — Partners to produce educational videos about the flute, featuring instruction from resident flutist Kim Lewis.
- Gemini Music Productions, Ltd. Partner — Provides personnel management services for the orchestra.
- Gracie Lee Brown Partner — Performer in the organization’s artistic programs, including family and cabaret-style concerts.
- Howard & Sarah D. Solomon Foundation Funder — Named supporter of The Little Orchestra Society
- Instagram Network — Social media presence on Instagram for outreach and updates.
- Investors Bank Foundation Funder — Named supporter of The Little Orchestra Society
- Juilliard Pre-college Partner — Provides talented young soloists for concert performances.
- Kevin Zak Partner — Actor and writer affiliated with the organization, contributing to its artistic programs.
- NYC Council Government — Named supporter of The Little Orchestra Society
- NYC Department for the Aging, Grandparents Resource Center Partner — Partner organization that has provided testimonials about family experiences at Little Orchestra Society concerts.
- NYC public elementary schools Partner — Schools participating in the Musical Connections program where students compose music performed by L.O.S. musicians.
- National Endowment for the Arts Government — Federal agency providing financial support for The Little Orchestra Society's programs.
- National Endowment for the Arts Government — Named supporter of The Little Orchestra Society
- New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Public funder supporting The Little Orchestra Society's programs in partnership with the New York City Council.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Named supporter of The Little Orchestra Society
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — State arts agency providing support to The Little Orchestra Society with funding from the New York State Legislature.
- New York Theatre Ballet School Partner — Collaborating organization whose dancers were featured in four pieces during the 2025-2026 concert season.
- PS 122Q Partner — Public school partner in Astoria, Queens for the Musical Connections program.
- PS 125M Partner — Public school partner in Harlem, Manhattan for the Musical Connections program.
- PS 54X Partner — Public school partner in the Bronx for the Musical Connections program.
- Phillips Charitable Foundation Funder — Named supporter of The Little Orchestra Society
+ 20 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.
- Equity-Driven Access and Outreachmethodology: equity-focused_outreachBy removing financial and geographic barriers and targeting underserved schools and communities, we cultivate early engagement with orchestral music, because inclusive access fosters lifelong appreciation and ensures classical music serves all children, not just the privileged few.
- Immersive, Interdisciplinary Concert Experiencesmethodology: experiential_music_educationBy integrating orchestral music with storytelling, dance, puppetry, and multimedia, we make classical music accessible and engaging for children and families, because multisensory and narrative-rich experiences lower barriers to understanding and increase emotional resonance.
- Student Composition as Pedagogical Bridgemethodology: composition-based_music_educationBy engaging students in composing their own music, we deepen their understanding of musical elements and create a meaningful connection between classroom learning and live orchestral performance, because active creation fosters ownership, engagement, and conceptual mastery.