EIN 36-2167823

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

IRS 501(c) type
501(c)(3)
Num. employees
785
Year formed
1890
Most recent tax filings
2022-06-01
NTEE code, primary
Description
Chicago Symphony Orchestra enriches, inspires and transforms lives through music, community engagement and education at the local, national and international level. During the 2021/22 Season, the Orchestra presented 38 weeks of concerts with Zell Music Director Riccardo Muti conducting 13 programs at Symphony Center. Additionally, their prestigious training program for young professional musicians, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, led by Principal Conductor Ken-David Masur presented seven full-orchestra concerts including two at community venues.
Total revenues
$102,432,097
2022
Total expenses
$75,080,250
2022
Total assets
$530,890,156
2022
Num. employees
785
2022

Program areas at Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Chicago Symphony Orchestra Concerts - During the 2021/22 Season, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra presented 38 weeks of concerts. Zell Music Director Riccardo Muti reunited with the Orchestra in September 2021 and conducted 13 programs at Symphony Center throughout the season, as well as free community concerts at Apostolic Church of God, Morton East High School and Millennium Park. The CSO gave the world premieres of works by Missy Mazzoli, Jessie Montgomery, Magnus Lindberg and Gabriela Lena Frank. Other highlights included the CSO's first performances of Symphony No. 3 by 20th-century African American composer Florence Price and Symphony No. 11 by contemporary American composer Philip Glass. The Chicago Symphony Chorus joined the Orchestra for performances of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera and more.
Civic Orchestra of Chicago - The Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the CSO's prestigious training program for young professional musicians, presented seven full-orchestra concerts, including two at community venues. Led by Principal Conductor Ken-David Masur and guest conductors, Civic programs featured established masterpieces alongside works from historically marginalized voices. During the annual Bach Marathon, ensembles of Civic musicians performed Bach's Brandenburg Concertos at elementary schools and retirement communities throughout Chicago, with a finale concert at Fourth Presbyterian Church. In addition to their regular activities with the Civic Orchestra, 13 Civic Fellows participated in educational workshops, partnerships with Chicago Public Schools, songwriting sessions and independent projects.
Symphony Center Presents - The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association offers concerts by acclaimed guest artists in the fields of jazz, classical, world and folk music as part of the Symphony Center Presents series. Twenty-eight concerts were presented during the 2021/22 Season and featured established artistic leaders and rising stars. Highlights included pianists Daniil Trifonov, Yuja Wang and Evgeny Kissin; a chamber music trio featuring pianist Emanuel Ax, violinist Leonidas Kavakos and cellist Yo-Yo Ma; the Latin Grammy-winning Quinteto Astor Piazzolla; the celebrated men's chorus Chanticleer; and jazz artists including Herbie Hancock, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater with pianist Bill Charlap, and Cecile McLorin Salvant.
Retail Sales - Music-related merchandise is available for purchase at The Symphony Store and online.
Media and Royalty - Radio Broadcast series, in-house recording label, audio recordings in compact disc and digital download formats.
Rentals and Commissions - Hall Rentals - Performance space provided to Chicagoland arts organizations.
Rentals and Commissions - Parking Lot provided for audiences' convenience to attend concerts.
Rentals and Commissions - A dining club and concessions are provided for audiences attending concerts and catering is provided for certain internal events.
Education Concerts and Activities - Across Chicago and around the world, the Negaunee Music Institute connects people to the extraordinary resources of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In the 2021/22 Season, the NMI welcomed families and school groups back to live concerts as part of the CSO for Kids series. Training programs and performance opportunities for young musicians included the Crain-Maling Foundation CSO Young Artists Competition, Chicago Youth in Music Festival, Percussion Scholarship Program and partnerships with local schools and the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative. The NMI continued to co-present Notes for Peace, a songwriting project that empowers parents who have lost children to gun violence to create original songs of tribute.
Other Program Services - Program Book Advertising

Grants made by Chicago Symphony Orchestra

GranteeGrant descriptionAmount
Roosevelt UniversityCivic Orchestra Fellowships$5,950

Who funds Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Grants from foundations and other nonprofits
GrantmakerDescriptionAmount
Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor Grant Recipient's Exempt Purposes$2,080,220
Negaunee FoundationRestricted Use$2,000,000
Richard and Mary L Gray FoundationGeneral Unrestricted$1,197,655
...and 208 more grants received totalling $14,839,997

Personnel at Chicago Symphony Orchestra

NameTitleCompensation
Vanessa MossVice President for Operations$232,843
Stephen WilliamsonPrincipal Clarinet$232,425
Riccardo MutiMusic Director$952,263
Robert ChenConcertmaster$379,024
Jeff AlexanderPresident$529,441
...and 5 more key personnel

Financials for Chicago Symphony Orchestra

RevenuesFYE 06/2022
Total grants, contributions, etc.$62,198,360
Program services$20,795,204
Investment income and dividends$4,774,794
Tax-exempt bond proceeds$0
Royalty revenue$0
Net rental income$-241,058
Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets$14,734,273
Net income from fundraising events$-30,808
Net income from gaming activities$0
Net income from sales of inventory$201,332
Miscellaneous revenues$0
Total revenues$102,432,097

Form 990s for Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Fiscal year endingDate received by IRSFormPDF link
2020-062021-05-18990View PDF
2019-062021-01-21990View PDF
2018-062019-06-19990View PDF
2017-062018-06-14990View PDF
2016-062017-09-21990View PDF
...and 7 more Form 990s
Data update history
July 3, 2023
Updated personnel
Identified 9 new personnel
May 16, 2023
Updated personnel
Identified 19 new personnel
May 10, 2023
Used new vendors
Identified 1 new vendor, including
May 6, 2023
Received grants
Identified 1 new grant, including a grant for $5,000 from Kurt B Karmin Family Foundation
August 3, 2022
Received grants
Identified 28 new grant, including a grant for $503,564 from The Chicago Community Trust
Nonprofit Types
Arts, culture, and humanities nonprofitsPerforming arts organizationsOperas and symphoniesMusical groupsCharities
Issues
Arts, cultural, and humanities
Characteristics
LobbyingFundraising eventsOperates internationallyState / local levelReceives government fundingEndowed supportCommunity engagement / volunteeringGala fundraisersTax deductible donations
General information
Address
220 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60604
Metro area
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
County
Cook County, IL
Website URL
cso.org/home/ 
Phone
(312) 294-3333
Facebook page
chicagosymphony 
Twitter profile
@chicagosymphony 
IRS details
EIN
36-2167823
Fiscal year end
June
Taxreturn type
Form 990
Year formed
1890
Eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions (Pub 78)
Yes
Categorization
NTEE code, primary
A69: Symphony Orchestras
NAICS code, primary
711130: Musical Groups and Artists
Parent/child status
Independent
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