Mercury Chamber Orchestra
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Downtown Series
Mercury’s core performance activities include our acclaimed Downtown Series at the Cullen Theater in The Wortham Center. Mercury's broad repertoire represents a variety of musical styles and periods to engage both the early music purist and those looking beyond the Baroque. The orchestra continues to attract new audiences, redefining the expectations of classical music through an approachable, fresh interpretation using period-instruments – giving us our unique and signature sound. Due to the strength of our musicians, program and leadership, Mercury’s core audience has grown 40% in three years. Our performance offerings have expanded in geography and content, reaching more of Houston than ever with original productions such as our wildly-successful staged work, The Crimson Prince of Venice, in January 2015. We strive to continue this growth and to reach out to new communities.
Education Programs
Mercury’s education programs connect more than 3,000 children, many of them at-risk, to music each year with content designed to engage young minds musically and critically while featuring opportunities for key interaction with Mercury’s musicians. Programs include Mercury’s award-winning partnership with charter school YES Prep West, initiated in 2011 and a growing series of in-school workshops presented at Title I schools. Mercury recognizes that learning doesn’t end when a child grows up. Through regular pre-concert lectures, adult audience-members can broaden their enjoyment of the concert through a deeper understanding of not only the music but the socio-historical background of the composer and their works.
Neighborhood/Community Concerts
Beginning in the 2012-13 season, Mercury presents a series of neighborhood concerts located in venues across the Houston community. These neighborhood concerts offer world-class performances that are both affordably priced and conveniently located, allowing Houston audiences to experience Mercury’s world-class performances of beautiful music in a casual, family-friendly environment. The neighborhood series features hour-long performances in 4 unique Houston neighborhoods three times a year: The Woodlands, Midtown, Memorial and the Museum District. Mercury also performs annually at Miller Outdoor Theatre, reaching over 8,000 people and around the community in other concerts such as a five-concert series at University of Houston-Clear Lake.
Touring
Mercury serves as a cultural ambassador for Houston's vibrant arts scene touring nationally and internationally. Past opportunities took Mercury to Ecuador’s Teatro Bolivar for tango and Vivaldi, and to Paris, France taking Lully’s opera Armide home. The near-future brings Mercury to Atlanta, Georgia for a restaging of A World Without Limits, collaborating with CORE Dance. The orchestra's critically-acclaimed recordings are also a powerful tool, building another bridge between Mercury and listeners anywhere, be they in the Inner Loop of Houston or far outside of Texas. Across the world, Mercury is winning the hearts of audiences and critics with its passionate enthusiasm and artistic excellence, and proving Houston is a culturally-rich place to visit and live.
Annual Gala
Mercury both enjoys and relies on the generous support of the community in order to bring our beautiful music to the stages and schools of Houston and positively impact the lives of our listeners both at home and abroad. One of the most popular methods of supporting the orchestra has been our annual gala. For the last four years, Mercury’s annual galas have become synonymous with fun and philanthropy: beautiful and elegant events that help raise funds in support of Mercury’s noble mission. Mercury’s galas feature mouth-watering meals, delicious wine, incredible live and silent auctions and spectacular entertainment. Auction items have ranged from gift certificates to the hottest restaurants to trips aboard private jets. Guests enjoy dancing and the opportunity to hear a live performance by Mercury. Mercury’s galas have helped raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help Mercury serve and inspire the community.
Where we work
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Login and updateAwards
Stanford Financial Excellence in the Arts Award 2007
Stanford Financial Group
Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award 2015
Yale School of Music
External reviews
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The Mercury Baroque Ensemble, now called Mercury, was founded in 2001 with the goal of enriching and entertaining Houston audiences. Today, that ensemble has blossomed into a chamber orchestra, reaching thousands across Houston and garnering critical acclaim around the world through its innovative and accessible performances, domestic and international tours, and groundbreaking music education programs.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild 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.
Mercury Chamber Orchestra
Board of directorsas of 01/28/2019
Mr. Lloyd Kirchner
Zachry Group
Katherine Cabaniss
Harris County District Courts
Susan Carlyle
M.D.
Catherine Crath
Blake Eskew
IHS, inc.
Marcia Faschingbauer
Excargo Services
William Guest
Stephen Hall
ExxonMobil
Timothy Howard
Shell Oil Company
Janine Iannarelli
Par Avion Ltd.
Lloyd Kirchner
Zachry Group
Rose Ann Medlin
Luc Messier
ConocoPhillips
Joel Mohrman
McGlinchey Stafford PLLC
Geoffroy Petit
Seeliger y Conde
Antoine Plante
Mercury Baroque
Robert Power
Baylor College of Medicine
Gregory Robertson
Houston Grand Opera
Scott Schwind
Jones Day
Denmon Sigler
Winston & Strawn LLP
James Smith
Beirne, Maynard & Parsons L.L.P.
Christine Spin
Tim Taylor
Phillips 66
Ana Treviño-Godfrey
Mercury Baroque
Stephen Wallace
Westchase Chemicals
Nelda Wilkomirski
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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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 -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes