named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Midtown Concerts
Free weekly concert series from September to June featuring local and international early music ensembles performing on period instruments; concerts are live-streamed and recorded for online distribution
Notes on the Scene
Bi-weekly e-newsletter featuring updates on GEMS events, upcoming performances, and community news in the New York early music scene
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Classical and Chamber Music Performances 2 activities
- Presenting free weekly early music concerts in New York CityOrganizes and presents a free weekly concert series from September to June, featuring local and international early music artists performing music from the 5th to 19th century. Concerts are held in person at venues such as St. Malachy’s Church and St. Mary the Virgin in Manhattan, with thousands of live and online audience members served annually.
- Providing performance support and honoraria for early music artistsOffers performance opportunities to hundreds of early music artists annually, providing a modest honorarium of $200 per performer (up to $800 per concert), along with video recording, printed programs, CD sales, publicity, front-of-house services, and box office support.
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Digital Music and Performance Archiving 1 activity
- Live streaming and archiving early music performancesLive streams all concerts online and produces archival recordings of performances, which are made available for on-demand viewing and shared with classical radio stations for potential broadcast. The organization also manages technical logistics including recording, editing, and distribution.
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Traditional & Cultural Performing Arts 1 activity
- Presenting special early music events and collaborationsPresents special concerts and collaborative performances in partnership with institutions such as Lincoln Center and Central Park SummerStage, including themed programs like Americana folk music for America’s 250th birthday and adaptations of Handel’s works. These include educational components such as storytime and instrument demonstrations.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Producing and distributing the "Notes on the Scene" e-newsletterProduces a twice-monthly e-newsletter titled "Notes on the Scene" that features information about upcoming in-person and virtual early music events in New York and beyond. The newsletter is distributed to an opt-in subscriber list of over 8,000 people.
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Accessibility Services for Cultural Programs 1 activity
- Supporting accessibility in early music venuesCollects and publishes information about disability access at New York City music venues to promote inclusive attendance and participation in early music events.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.22M
Contributions & grants$581K48%
Program service revenue$615K50%
Investment income$480%
Other revenue$24K
expenses
Total expenses$1.24M
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$193K
Grants paid out$6K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$301K
Cash$274K
Investments$313
Liabilities$91K
Net assets$210K
Liquid reserves2.7 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +14.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN THIESSEN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 45 | $50K |
| GENE MURROW | FOUNDER/PRESIDENT | 45 | $10K |
board members · 10
- JEFFREY FRIEDMAN — DIRECTOR
- JOANNE FLOYD — SECRETARY
- JUDITH KLOTZ — DIRECTOR
- LOUISE BASBAS — DIRECTOR
- LUGENE BE — DIRECTOR
- NANCY GRILIKHES — DIRECTOR
- NORMA ROSENBERG — DIRECTOR
- PAUL ROSS — DIRECTOR
- PETER FABER — TREASURER
- RITA PUTNAM — DIRECTORR
relationships · 15
Who they work with
- Americas Society Partner — Co-presents the GEMAS concert series devoted to early music of the Americas.
- Elm City Consort Partner — Invites selected Midtown Concerts performers to appear on Fridays at Five in New Haven as a supplemental performance opportunity.
- Handel Hendrix House America Partner — Co-sponsors select Midtown Concerts featuring the music of G.F. Handel and jointly promotes them in the U.S. and England.
- Lincoln Center Partner — Collaborated on a performance as part of the Summer for the City series.
- Lincoln Center Partner — Collaborates on programming as part of the Summer for the City series.
- Naumburg Orchestral Concerts Partner — Co-presents a free concert in Central Park featuring Aisslinn Nosky and Steven Marquardt.
- Naumburg Orchestral Concerts Partner — Co-presents a free concert in Central Park featuring Baroque music.
- Naumburg Orchestral Concerts Partner — Co-presents a free concert in Central Park featuring early music repertoire.
- Naumburg Orchestral Concerts Partner — Co-presents concerts, including the performance by Nosky’s Baroque Band at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park.
- Naumburg Orchestral Concerts Partner — Co-presents or collaborates on concert events, such as the performance by Nosky’s Baroque Band in Central Park.
- Opera Essentia Partner — Collaborates on event programming, including the presentation of "Lost in Cyprus" at the Green Oasis Community Garden.
- Opera Essentia Partner — Collaborates with GEMS to present performances in the Midtown Concerts series, including a preview of "Lost in Cyprus" at St. Malachy’s Church.
- St. Malachy’s Church Partner — Host venue for in-person Midtown Concerts in Manhattan.
- St. Malachy’s Church – The Actors’ Chapel Partner — Hosts concerts in the GEMS Presents! series, including performances by Opera Essentia.
- Weinig Foundation Funder — Season sponsor of the 2025–26 Midtown Concerts series.
strategies · 5
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.
- Inclusive Artist and Repertoire Selection 36 orgsmethodology: inclusive_repertoire_expansionBy selecting ensembles through peer review and intentionally programming performers and repertoire that expand the traditional canon, we increase representation of artists of color and promote racial equity in early music, because diverse casting and repertoire choices broaden cultural relevance and audience engagement.shared approach: Representation as Inclusion →
- Cultural Preservation Through Performance 14 orgsmethodology: cultural_preservation_through_performanceBy presenting concerts focused on early music of the Americas, we promote and preserve this musical heritage, because performance serves as an active form of cultural transmission and historical continuity.shared approach: Historically Informed Performance →
- Historically Informed Performance 14 orgsmethodology: historically_informed_performanceBy using period instruments and early vocal techniques to perform music from the Medieval to Romantic eras, we produce authentic interpretations of early music repertoire, because fidelity to historical performance practices enables audiences and artists to engage more deeply with the stylistic and cultural context of the music.
- Community Engagement via Regular Communication 8 orgsmethodology: community-engagement-through-regular-communicationBy distributing event information and community updates through regular email communications, we strengthen engagement with local and regional early music audiences, because consistent, targeted outreach sustains interest and increases event attendance.shared approach: Community Through Communication →
- Artist Support Through Production Managementmethodology: artist-support modelBy managing logistical and operational aspects of concert production, we enable early music artists to focus on artistic performance, because reducing administrative burdens improves artistic quality and increases artist participation.