New Haven Symphony Orchestra Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Education programs: the new haven symphony orchestra's comprehensive education programs annually bring orchestral music to children throughout the state of Connecticut. Innovative education programs include: family concert series designed exclusively for small ensembles that allow for an intimate and interactive experience, the nhso offered two family concert programs, each performed in multiple neighborhoods and regional venues with nhso offering a sensory-friendly performance of each program. 2024-2025 offerings included a new orleans summer swing concert with nhso brass players, and an exploration of the animal kingdom with the program three little pigs and anansi the spider.young people's concerts young people's concerts have brought full orchestra performances to publicschool children for more than 90 years. These performances are produced in partnership with public schools across the state. The nhso welcomes thousands of young listeners to concerts designed expressly for elementary and middle school students, supported by an extensive curriculum guide that supports state and national teaching standards. Many of the schools host pre-concert visits to their classrooms by nhso teaching artists. A significant number of students hear live classical music for the first time through this program. This year, the nhso offered free, public performances of this program in new haven, as well as in-school field trip style performances.creating musical readerscreating musical readers highlights instruments from each of the four families of the orchestra in the context of literacy activities. Programs are performed at schools, community centers, libraries, and the Connecticut children's museum. Designed for pre-k through 2nd grade, music and storytelling are combined to encourage avid reading and begin a lifetime of musical awareness. Each 45-minute program features an nhso musician accompanying a storybook on their instrument, with book titles including mole music (violin), tubby the tuba (tuba), and ralph's secret weapon (bassoon). Presenting partners continue to bring nhso teaching artists back due to the program's positive impact on young readers.young composers projectthe project is a 2-year extracurricular program for talented and engaged high school students to participate in advanced musical study. Students complete music theory courses; participate in private composition lessons and monthly composition seminars; and workshop directly with professionals. The project culminates in an annual premiere performance of a chamber work with the musicians of the nhso, which is recorded for the students. The nhso's young composers project has won national recognition for both its depth of study and the prestigious personnel invested in the composers' growth.all participants from the previous cohorts have gained access to conservatory and higher-education music programs.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 84.1%; rating input score 84
• Program expense ratio: 76.7%; rating input score 77
• Fundraising efficiency: $6.03 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.1%; rating input score 94; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 1 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 17
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -9.1%; rating input score 14; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.72; rating input score 57; 57th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.04; rating input score 73; 73rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 7.3%; rating input score 40; 40th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 2.3% per year; rating input score 100; 24th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 3.4% per year; rating input score 100; 30th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 13% per year; rating input score 100; 69th percentile among comparable filings