Richmond Symphony

aka RSO   |   Richmond, VA   |  www.richmondsymphony.com

Mission

Our Mission: The Richmond Symphony performs, teaches, and champions music, to inspire and unite our communities. Our Vision: We change lives through the power of our music.

Ruling year info

1960

Executive Director

Ms. Lacey Huszcza

Main address

612 East Grace Street, #401

Richmond, VA 23219 USA

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EIN

54-6024033

NTEE code info

Symphony Orchestras (A69)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Programs and results

What we aim to solve

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Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Concert Season

The core of the Symphony's activities are its concert season performances which include four main series: Altria Masterworks - Beloved masterpieces in the traditional European art music repertory, presented in the Symphony's home, the Carpenter Theatre at the Dominion Energy Center; Dominion Casual Fridays - One- hour concerts starting at 6:30 that showcase great works from the classical repertoire including a deeper look into that evening's work, with a post concert happy hour nearby to round out the evening; Symphony Pops - Lighter popular and classical favorites, featuring celebrated stage and screen performers; Metro Collection - Four intimate, engaging chamber orchestra concerts held at Randolph-Macon College that feature Richmond Symphony Musicians as soloists; Union Bank & Trust LolliPops - A series designed just for children and families, the LolliPops Series is a fun introduction to the orchestra. Pre-concert festival with an instrument petting zoo and musical activities begins an hour before each kid-friendly concert; Rush Hour at Hardywood - One-hour informal concerts featuring great music and discussion in the Hardywood tasting room; and other concerts each season, including our Big Tent Festivals (see our website for more information).

Population(s) Served
Adults
Families

The RSO's Education Programs seek to "foster and develop diverse, informed audiences who value live symphonic music and music education in our community; to help nurture and develop young musicians; and to advocate for music education and orchestral music." Services include: 1) Musical Ambassadors Program (MAP) - Our 6 MAP ensembles perform more than 100 concerts annually in elementary, middle, and high schools throughout Central Virginia. More than 20,000 children are exposed to classical music each year through MAP. 2) Discovery Concerts - Interactive youth concerts that focus on the emotional power of symphony music and curricular themes for grades 3-8 3) Youth Orchestra Program - Consists of 4 youth orchestras that provide beginner to advanced musical training 4) Orchestra Project - in collaboration with VCU, we have a one week String Intensive camp each summer for advanced players in grades 8 - 12 and a one week String Odyssey camp for middle and high school students with a minimum of one year of experience but who are ready to advance their skills. 5) Our newest addition, the Richmond Symphony School of Music aims to support music in schools, with an all-inclusive, affordable and accessible music instruction for teachers, students, parents, adults, and children. The school is currently virtual and provides supplemental teaching materials to teachers adapting to teaching music in a virtual world, as well as adult courses, pre-college courses, high school courses, private instrumental instruction, vocal training and more, creating a diverse, unique, and useful experience, as well as help fill a need in our Richmond Community. All courses are taught by top of the line musicians local and afar.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth

Where we work

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • Who are the people you serve with your mission?

    The Richmond Symphony performs, teaches, and champions music to inspire and unite our communities.

  • How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?

    Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Suggestion box/email,

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals,

  • With whom is the organization sharing feedback?

    The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners,

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We act on the feedback we receive,

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback,

Financials

Richmond Symphony
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Richmond Symphony

Board of directors
as of 11/17/2021
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Mrs. Elizabeth Cabell Jennings

SunTrust Bank

Term: 2022 - 2024

Joshua Bennett

Dominion Energy

Phil Bennett

KPMG LLP

Stuart Blain

Middleburg Financial

John Bock

Wells Fargo

John Braymer

Branch Museum of Architecture and Design (retired)

Priscilla Burbank

Retired Attorney

Sandra Chase

Markel Corporation

Angel Clarke

Bank of America

Alison Eckis

Richmond Symphony League

Gary Flowers

Gary Flowers & Associates,LLC

James Hartough

The Brink's Co. (retired)

Cheryl Goddard

Goddard LLC

Rebecca Horner

Community Volunteer

Lacey Huszcza

Executive Director of the Richmond Symphony

Elizabeth Jennings

Chair of the Richmond Symphony Board; SunTrust Bank

D. Keene

McGuire Woods LLP

Christopher Lindbloom

Janney Montgomery Scott

J. Linhart

The Linhart Company

George Mahoney

Media General, Inc. (retired)

William (Bill) Mears, Jr.

Retired

Patrick Murtaugh

Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

Roger Neathawk

NDP

Kamran Raika

River Hills Wealth Management

Leon Roday

Retired

John (Rick) Sample

Rainbow Station Group

Maura Scott

Runners Corporation

Richard Szucs

Commonwealth Radiology, PC

Brandon Taylor

Taylor Hoffman

Marcia Thalheimer

John Walker

Williams Mullen, PC

Ludi Webber

Retired

Mark Wickersham

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

Mark Wolfram

M&T Bank

Elizabeth (Betsy) Wollan

American Civil War Museum

Bucci Zeugner

Davenport & Co., LLC

Bucci Zeugner

James Hartough

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 11/17/2021,

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 11/17/2021

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.