The Little Orchestra Society- Orpheon Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE LITTLE ORCHESTRA SOCIETY IS TO SHARE THE VITALITY OF LIVE CLASSICAL MUSIC AND BUILD FUTURE AUDIENCES BY PRESENTING INNOVATIVE CONCERTS THAT INCORPORATE MULTIPLE ART FORMS TO PROVIDE AUDIENCES OF BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING AND ENJOYMENT OF MUSIC. MUSIC EDUCATION AND PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAMS ARE CENTRAL TO SUPPORTING THIS MISSION WHICH SEEKS TO MAKE CONCERTGOING AND ENGAGEMENT IN THE LIVE PERFORMING ARTS A LIFE-LONG PURSUIT.
- Income
- $975,305
- Spending
- $976,002
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 2.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 42%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $155,660, executive director
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
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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: 97 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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 (3)
- $430,955 spent. L.O.S. KIDSIN 2024-25, THE LITTLE ORCHESTRA SOCIETY/ORPHEON, INC. (L.O.S.) PERFORMED THE TENTH SEASON OF THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL L.O.S. KIDS CONCERT SERIES FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-10. THE FOUR PROGRAMS WERE: "MOZART'S MAGIC FLUTE!," "PETER & THE WOLF!," "CLARA SCHUMANN'S WORLD OF MUSIC!, AND "VIVALDI'S FOUR SEASONS!" EACH PROGRAM EXPLORED COMPOSERS AND/OR MUSIC SPECIFIC TO A THEME, AND INVITED ACTORS TO PORTRAY COMPOSERS OR CHARACTERS ALONGSIDE THE PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS OF THE LITTLE ORCHESTRA SOCIETY, CONDUCTOR DAVID ALAN MILLER, AND SPECIAL GUESTS INCLUDING YOUNG INSTRUMENTAL SOLOISTS, DANCERS, SINGERS, AND COMPOSERS. CONCERTS WERE PERFORMED LIVE IN ASSEMBLY HALL AT HUNTER COLLEGE. IN ADDITION TO TICKETED AUDIENCE MEMBERS, L.O.S. PROVIDED FREE ADMISSION FOR STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS AT PARTNER PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS. AN ESTIMATED 11,500 CHILDREN, STUDENTS, AND FAMILIES ENJOYED ACCESS TO THE CONCERTS.L.O.S. ARTISTIC ADVISOR DAVID ALAN MILLER CREATED ALL THE PROGRAMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ARTISTIC ADMINISTRATOR NOAH KAYSER-HIRSH, L.O.S. STAFF, AND OUR CREATIVE TEAM. EACH OF THESE NEW L.O.S. KIDS PROGRAMS FEATURED ACTORS; VIDEO COMPONENTS; PERFORMANCES BY ACCOMPLISHED YOUNG SOLOISTS ALONG WITH OUR PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRA; AND AN ORIGINAL SCRIPT BY LONGTIME CHILDREN'S TELEVISION WRITER CRAIG SHEMIN - ALL DESIGNED TO ENHANCE AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE GREAT ORCHESTRAL MUSIC THAT IS AT THE CORE OF ALL L.O.S. PERFORMANCES.PRE-CONCERT EDUCATIONAL DISCOVERY GUIDE VIDEOS WERE PROVIDED TO L.O.S. EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS, PARTNER PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, TO ENHANCE AND DEEPEN THEIR CONCERT EXPERIENCE.
- $286,376 spent. MUSICAL 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.
- $55,184 spent. OTHER 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.
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 December 1971.
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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