New Haven Symphony Orchestra Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE NEW HAVEN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ENRICHES CONNECTICUT'S CULTURAL LANDSCAPE THROUGH EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCES AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE TO RESIDENTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING OFFERED STATEWIDE INSPIRES DEEPER AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT AND MEANINGFUL ARTISTIC AND EDUCATIONAL COLLABORATIONS WHICH INCREASE THE REACH AND IMPACT OF THE SYMPHONY. AUTHENTIC COMMITMENTS TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ACCESS MOVE THE NHSO TO PROVIDE REPRESENTATION THAT REFLECTS THE RICHLY DIVERSE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE IN ALL AREAS OF SYMPHONY LEADERSHIP.
- Income
- $2.5 million
- Spending
- $2.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 77%
- Reserves
- 13.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 73%
- Employees
- 274
- Volunteers
- 42
- Highest pay
- $200,814, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1577% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (4)
- $1.0 million spent. CLASSICS SERIES: IN THE 2024-25 SEASON, THE NHSO PERFORMED MAINSTAGE ORCHESTRA CONCERTS AT WOOLSEY HALL AT YALE UNIVERSITY, THE JOHN C. LYMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS AT SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY, ST. MARY'S CHURCH, SHELTON HIGH SCHOOL, AND SHELTON INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL.MUSIC DIRECTOR PERRY SO CELEBRATED HIS FIRST SEASON AS THE NHSO'S MUSIC DIRECTOR WITH CONCERTS LIKE DANZAS SINFONICAS THAT INCLUDED LATIN GRAMMY-WINNER TRUMPETER PACHO FLORES; A REIMAGINING OF BEETHOVEN'S ONLY BALLET, THE CREATURES OF PROMETHEUS, WITH SPOKEN WORD POETRY PERFORMED BY NEW HAVEN'S POET LAUREATE SHARMONT LITTLE; CANDLELIGHT CONCERTS; AND THE NEW HAVEN PREMIERE OF NATHANIEL DETT'S ORATORIO, THE ORDERING OF MOSES. PIECES PLAYED CAME FROM THE MUSICAL REPERTOIRE OF, LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN, JOHANNES BRAHMS, UNSUK CHIN, GABRIELA LENA FRANK, DANIEL FREIBERG, ALBERTO GINASTERA, JOSEPH HAYDN, ARTURO MARQUEZ, OTTORINO RESPIGHI, SILVESTRE REVUELTAS, NIKOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV, CLARA SCHUMANN, ANTONIO VIVALDI, RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS, DU YUN.
- $351,300 spent. POPS SERIES: THE NHSO'S VENERABLE POPS SERIES CONCERTS BEGAN IN 1945 AT THE NEW HAVEN ARENA AND HAVE FEATURED SUCH ESTEEMED ARTISTS AS DAVE BRUBECK, JUDY COLLINS, DIZZY GILLESPIE, BENNY GOODMAN, MARVIN HAMLISCH, SKITCH HENDERSON, WYNTON MARSALIS, DUDLEY MOORE, BUDDY RICH, DOC SEVERINSON, ARTIE SHAW, JAMES TAYLOR, AND SARAH VAUGHAN.PRINCIPAL POPS CONDUCTOR CHELSEA TIPTON, II LED THE SYMPHONY'S POPULAR HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA AS WELL AS IT'S MAGIC! JOAN ELLISON SWINGS IN HIGH FIDELITY. THE POPS SERIES, WHICH HELD PROGRAMS AT LYMAN CENTER AT SCSU AND SHELTON HIGH SCHOOL, CONCLUDED WITH A NEW SHOW CREATED IN COLLABORATION WITH VIDEO GAME FUNK-FUSION BAND DISCOCACTUS.
- $328,792 spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS:THE NEW HAVEN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA'S COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS ANNUALLY BRING ORCHESTRAL MUSIC TO CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT. INNOVATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE:FAMILY CONCERT SERIES DESIGNED EXCLUSIVELY FOR SMALL ENSEMBLES THAT ALLOW FOR AN INTIMATE AND INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE, THE NHSO OFFERED TWO FAMILY CONCERT PROGRAMS, EACH PERFORMED IN MULTIPLE NEIGHBORHOODS AND REGIONAL VENUES WITH NHSO OFFERING A SENSORY-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCE OF EACH PROGRAM. 2024-2025 OFFERINGS INCLUDED A NEW ORLEANS SUMMER SWING CONCERT WITH NHSO BRASS PLAYERS, AND AN EXPLORATION OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM WITH THE PROGRAM THREE LITTLE PIGS AND ANANSI THE SPIDER.YOUNG PEOPLE'S CONCERTS YOUNG PEOPLE'S CONCERTS HAVE BROUGHT FULL ORCHESTRA PERFORMANCES TO PUBLICSCHOOL CHILDREN FOR MORE THAN 90 YEARS. THESE PERFORMANCES ARE PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE. THE NHSO WELCOMES THOUSANDS OF YOUNG LISTENERS TO CONCERTS DESIGNED EXPRESSLY FOR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, SUPPORTED BY AN EXTENSIVE CURRICULUM GUIDE THAT SUPPORTS STATE AND NATIONAL TEACHING STANDARDS. MANY OF THE SCHOOLS HOST PRE-CONCERT VISITS TO THEIR CLASSROOMS BY NHSO TEACHING ARTISTS. A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF STUDENTS HEAR LIVE CLASSICAL MUSIC FOR THE FIRST TIME THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. THIS YEAR, THE NHSO OFFERED FREE, PUBLIC PERFORMANCES OF THIS PROGRAM IN NEW HAVEN, AS WELL AS IN-SCHOOL FIELD TRIP STYLE PERFORMANCES.CREATING MUSICAL READERSCREATING MUSICAL READERS HIGHLIGHTS INSTRUMENTS FROM EACH OF THE FOUR FAMILIES OF THE ORCHESTRA IN THE CONTEXT OF LITERACY ACTIVITIES. PROGRAMS ARE PERFORMED AT SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, LIBRARIES, AND THE CONNECTICUT CHILDREN'S MUSEUM. DESIGNED FOR PRE-K THROUGH 2ND GRADE, MUSIC AND STORYTELLING ARE COMBINED TO ENCOURAGE AVID READING AND BEGIN A LIFETIME OF MUSICAL AWARENESS. EACH 45-MINUTE PROGRAM FEATURES AN NHSO MUSICIAN ACCOMPANYING A STORYBOOK ON THEIR INSTRUMENT, WITH BOOK TITLES INCLUDING MOLE MUSIC (VIOLIN), TUBBY THE TUBA (TUBA), AND RALPH'S SECRET WEAPON (BASSOON). PRESENTING PARTNERS CONTINUE TO BRING NHSO TEACHING ARTISTS BACK DUE TO THE PROGRAM'S POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOUNG READERS.YOUNG COMPOSERS PROJECTTHE PROJECT IS A 2-YEAR EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAM FOR TALENTED AND ENGAGED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN ADVANCED MUSICAL STUDY. STUDENTS COMPLETE MUSIC THEORY COURSES; PARTICIPATE IN PRIVATE COMPOSITION LESSONS AND MONTHLY COMPOSITION SEMINARS; AND WORKSHOP DIRECTLY WITH PROFESSIONALS. THE PROJECT CULMINATES IN AN ANNUAL PREMIERE PERFORMANCE OF A CHAMBER WORK WITH THE MUSICIANS OF THE NHSO, WHICH IS RECORDED FOR THE STUDENTS. THE NHSO'S YOUNG COMPOSERS PROJECT HAS WON NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR BOTH ITS DEPTH OF STUDY AND THE PRESTIGIOUS PERSONNEL INVESTED IN THE COMPOSERS' GROWTH.ALL PARTICIPANTS FROM THE PREVIOUS COHORTS HAVE GAINED ACCESS TO CONSERVATORY AND HIGHER-EDUCATION MUSIC PROGRAMS.
- $427,244 spent. HARMONY FELLOWSHIP FOR UNDERREPRESENTED MUSICIANS, CONDUCTORS, ARTS ADMINISTRATORS, AND BOARD LEADERSTHE NHSO'S HARMONY FELLOWSHIPS , ORIGINALLY FUNDED BY THE ANN & GORDON GETTY FOUNDATION THROUGH THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN ORCHESTRAS, PROVIDE VITAL EARLY CAREER SUPPORT TO INSTRUMENTALISTS, CONDUCTORS, ARTS ADMINISTRATIVE, AND BOARD FELLOWS, BRINGING INCREASED DIVERSITY TO ALL AREAS OF THE SYMPHONY.THE INSTRUMENTAL FELLOWSHIP ACCEPTS A COHORT OF TWO MUSICIANS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED BACKGROUNDS EVERY YEAR FOR A TWO-YEAR FELLOWSHIP. FELLOWS RECEIVE LESSONS, PARTICIPATE IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUCH AS MOCK AUDITIONS, AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY CONCERTS WITH THE ORCHESTRA. AT THE END OF THE TWO-YEAR FELLOWSHIP, EACH FELLOW WILL BE INVITED TO ANY FUTURE OPPORTUNITY TO AUDITION FOR THE NHSO AND PAST FELLOWS HAVE WON SPOTS ON THE NHSO SUBSTITUTE LISTEACH COHORT, ALONG WITH TWO NHSO ORCHESTRA MEMBERS, FORMS ONE OF TWO HARMONY QUARTETS. THE HARMONY QUARTETS ARE INTEGRAL TO NHSO EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON RESILIENCE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION. CONDUCTING FELLOWS RECEIVE MENTORSHIP FROM MUSIC DIRECTOR PERRY SO AND PRINCIPAL POPS CONDUCTOR CHELSEA TIPTON WHILE ADMINISTRATIVE AND BOARD FELLOWS ARE PAIRED WITH STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS TO WORK ON PROJECTS AND COMMITTEES THAT ALIGN WITH THEIR PROFESSIONAL GOALS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1952.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
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