Save Our Symphony!

The SMSO is at a critical financial tipping point having used its operational reserve funds as a bridge to carry the orchestra as new leadership came aboard and rebuilt the operational structure. 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, meaning:

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!

HOW DID WE GET HERE?
SMSO lost many relationship connections that provided much of our support as a result of enduring significant challenges in past years. These challenges include 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 a pandemic that impacted the way people live and work and how companies do business.

This is the challenge that faced our new leadership as they came aboard. Music Director Matthew Aubin and Executive Director Jessica Ishmael responded by rebuilding the organizational structure to better manage SMSO’s growth and development in this post-pandemic landscape.

HOW WE’RE MOVING FORWARD:
This rebuild has produced successful returns over the last two years as Aubin and Ishmael have rejuvenated the organization and its contribution to our musical life in SW Michigan by:

• 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.

WHAT WE’RE DOING TO PREVENT A FUTURE CHALLENGE
We are serious about continuing our efforts to properly manage our change to a sustainable model. To guide us, SMSO engaged the help of Kay Walvoord, former President & CEO of the Holland Symphony Orchestra. Through the 35+ years of her leadership, the HSO successfully built financial resources to support sold out audiences. 

Our turnaround is not solely a revenue issue – managing cost is equally important. We are also driving sustainability by rightsizing how we run the Symphony. The SMSO has begun: 

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

HOW YOU CAN HELP
We are excited to announce a special $150,000 Matching Grant opportunity that will reduce our deficit and stabilize financial footing as we actively work to right-size operations and prepare for our 75^th Anniversary season in 2025-26.

Our community is encouraged to reach out to Executive Director Jessica Ishmael at 269-982-4030 or jessica@smso.org with any questions about our action plan. We need your voices, ideas, and very importantly, financial support:

We urge everyone in our community to consider
a special year-end gift or 2-year pledge
to SAVE OUR SYMPHONY! 

Together, with your support, we can reduce SMSO’s deficit and create a stable foundation to continue our mission to Transform All Lives Through Music for many more years to come!

Yours in Music,