BSO

What it reported doing in 2023

Education and community programs are integral to the BSO's mission. In Boston: 3,700 high school students attended one of the BSO's High School Open Rehearsals, giving them and their teachers a rare opportunity to watch as a work-in-progress became a work of art, exposing students to a powerful artistic experience. Symphony Hall was bursting with students during an open rehearsal where Yo-Yo Ma performed Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1 and No. 2. The BSO's three Youth Concerts engaged 5,533 third - ninth grade students from Boston and well beyond. The orchestra performed excerpts by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and William Grant Still as Conductor Thomas Wilkins talked about friendship, and the importance of listening and of being heard. The students felt his warmth radiate from the stage as he communicated, "this music is for you. This orchestra is here for you." They responded in kind. Each concert ended with a rousing standing ovation. To honor veterans, the Boston Pops gave a free Holiday Pops Military Preview performance for more than 2,000 veterans, their families, and active service members, filling the Hall with a joy and sending a powerful message of appreciation for these men and women. This realization of one of Keith Lockhart's dreams will become an annual offering. The Pops gave a Holiday Pops performance for people with autism and those who care for them. The BSO made many accommodations to welcome this population so they and their loved one could share a quintessential New England tradition as a family. Musicians of the Boston Pops brought holiday cheer to patients at Boston Children's Hospital. 1,360 people from across Boston gathered as Symphony Hall opened its doors for a free Concert for the City that began with a celebration of local musicians performing before the concert and a performance by Boston Symphony Orchestra led by Andris Nelsons, Keith Lockhart, Thomas Wilkins, and James Burton-highlighting the orchestra's range and skill. The BSO forged connections with Boston Arts Academy, Project STEP, the Greater Roxbury Arts and Cultural Center, and in the Berkshires with Multi-Cultural Bridge, Kid 4 Harmony, and Latina413 and continued to work with Boston Public Schools and the Berkshires Superintendents Roundtable. Throughout the year, approximately 20,000 children, high school and college students, adults under the age of 40, veterans, MA public school teachers, health care workers, and people who are eligible for public benefits were able to attend concerts thanks to free and discounted tickets. At Tanglewood: Founded in 1940, the Tanglewood Music Center (TMC), the BSO's summer music academy welcome 133 Fellows from 31 U.S. states including Puerto Rico and 17 countries. During eight weeks, the TMC Fellows benefitted from coaching by 108 instructors who were BSO players, visiting artists, and TMC faculty as they prepared for more than 30 chamber and orchestra concerts. TMC Orchestra concerts were conducted by Andris Nelsons, Dima Slobodeniouk, Alan Gilbert, and Stefan Asbury. The two Conducting Fellows stepped in when Hannu Lintu canceled his appearance with the TMC Orchestra on August 19 due to an injury. In summer 2024, the Tanglewood Learning Institute (TLI) presented 39 programs last summer and three community concerts during the fall/winter/spring. These programs created opportunities for people to discover and connect with various artforms and to discover a sense of belonging at Tanglewood. Summer programs included a new series that brought families with young children to Tanglewood for an arts-rich experience that was offered in partnership with Norman Rockwell Museum and WBUR's Circle Round. TLI also programmed a new six-part series: The Art of Conducting where audiences gained an inside look at how conductors think about and teach their craft. Conductors Andris Nelsons, Dima Slobodeniouk, and Thomas Wilkins one worked closely with the two TMC conducting Fellows giving immediate and hands-on guida

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 80.1%; rating input score 80
• Fundraising efficiency: $5.12 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 23; 23rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 71st percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 6 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 100
• Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Yes; rating input score 100
• Public monitoring controls: 0 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 0
• Public policy transparency: 1 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 14
• Public financial transparency: 1 of 5 controls in place; rating input score 20
• Impact reporting controls: 2 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 29
• Public relationship transparency: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
• Public governance controls: 1 of 4 controls in place; rating input score 25
• Zakat policy transparency: Limited

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -5.7%; rating input score 14; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Operating reserve ratio: 5.5; rating input score 87; 87th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.09; rating input score 84; 84th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 4.3%; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 1.8% per year; rating input score 100; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 1.6% per year; rating input score 100; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2.7% per year; rating input score 100; 20th percentile among comparable filings