Annual Appeal

This appeal is a little different than your usual “year-end asks.” We need to take time to share with you a harsh and concerning truth.  Let us explain…

The SMSO—your symphony—WILL NOT be sustainable beyond the current 2024-25 season without all of us who care about having a Symphony for this community working together to SAVE OUR SYMPHONY!

Over the years you have been very supportive by attending our concerts, volunteering for events and generously donating to our operation. For all of this we cannot say “THANK YOU!” too much or too often.  You have played a very important role in Transforming All Lives Through Music in our beautiful corner of the world!  

SMSO has undergone significant challenges in past years with the turnover of our Conductor, Executive Director, and most of our board; the loss of our fundraising arm, the Symphony League; as well as the difficulties we all faced with the pandemic. As you also likely have experienced, the gradual emergence from Covid saw significant changes in the way people live and work and how companies do business, even here in Southwest Michigan. SMSO lost many relationship connections that provided much of our support. At the same time, the staff needed to rebuild the organizational structure to manage its growth and development.

Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra is at a critical financial tipping point having used its operational reserve funds as a bridge in the last two years to carry over the orchestra financially as the new staff and operational structure was rebuilt. This rebuild has produced successful returns over the last two years as our new leadership has rejuvenated the organization and its contribution to our musical life in SW Michigan, including:

• Broadening our audience increasing attendance by 42% and ticket sales by 94%.
• Engaging 1,093 third and fourth grade students from 15 Berrien County schools with our free Education concert, sparking light in children from all walks of life.
• Increasing shared music experiences in more Berrien County communities through our Pop Up! series, collaborating with new groups including Lest We Forget and Benton Harbor’s Juneteenth Celebration.
• A dramatic positive turnaround in our relationship with our union musicians.
• Reconnecting with former supporters and sponsors, and:
• Growing grant and foundation support, including an innovative new project to use music to support mental health in our community.

We do not view our turnaround solely as a revenue issue – managing cost is equally important. Please be assured that we are also driving sustainability by rightsizing how we run the Symphony. However, sources of funding are still insufficient to deliver our programs, and this rebuild will likely exhaust existing remaining operational reserve funds and financial resources before it is complete.

In fact, to show how serious we are about continuing to manage change properly, we have engaged the help of Kay Walvoord, former President & CEO of the Holland Symphony Orchestra. Walvoord led the HSO successfully for over 35 years building financial resources to support sold out audiences. Asked to analyze and advise how we will do business as an orchestra, attract and grow relationships, and ensure that our community benefits the most from the music we provide, we believe this partnership will enable our board and staff to be even stronger going forward.

Using these ideas for growth and rebuilding, SMSO pledges to: 

• Reduce the current budget by $250,000 through cost savings and better practices.
• Build back relationships, one by one, of ticket buyers and individual/corporate donors.
• Recruit volunteers needed to make events and projects possible.
• Seek out new members to join the board with skills to assist this working group.

We are also announcing a $150,000 Matching Grant opportunity to reduce our deficit while we right-size our operations. A collaboration of three area foundations is providing the one-time grant to encourage the Symphony’s work and preparations for its 75^th Anniversary season in 2025-26.

We need your voices, ideas, and very importantly, a special, year-end gift to SAVE OUR SYMPHONY!  Together we can turn SMSO around within the framework of great symphonic music as we continue our mission to Transform All Lives Through Music!

Please reach out to Jessica Ishmael at 269-982-4030 or jessica@smso.org if you have any questions or wish to speak to a Board Member on our turnaround.

Yours in Music,