9REPORTTO THE

COMMUNITY

North Carolina’s state orchestra, an orchestra achieving the highestlevel of artistic qualityand performancestandards, and embracing our dual legacies ofstatewide service and music education

GRANT LLEWELLYN, MUSIC DIRECTOR

SEASON SUCCESSES THAT COUNT!

1WORLD PREMIERE

3OO+PEOPLE AT SPECIAL NCS YOUNG PROFESSIONALS EVENTS

Sincerely,DON DAVISBoard Chair, North Carolina Symphony Society, Inc.

DEAR FRIENDS,An orchestra exemplifies collaboration and teamwork, with each person playing his or her part to create something remarkable. The North Carolina Symphony (NCS) makes an incredible team — our musicians inspire one another and

continually push their artistic excellence higher.

Critics have taken note of the results, writing that the Symphony “reached a new level of artistry this

season” and that “you might someday hear as good a performance but never a better.” Audiences across the state have taken note as well, evidenced by record-breaking ticket sales and significant fundraising growth. These economic and artistic benchmarks went hand-in-hand to again meet the State Challenge Grant — invaluable support from our state legislature.

A sense of collaboration and community is essential during challenging times, and our hearts have gone out to those affected by Hurricanes Florence and Michael. NCS responded with what we do best — music-making. It was our honor to bring emergency workers and others in North Carolina’s coastal communities into our concert halls as our guests, helping to restore spirits.

The Symphony’s artistry and educational mission reaches more than 250,000 children and adults each year — in the 2018/19 season, that included citizens from 92 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. The combined efforts of our incomparable Music Director, musicians, staff, volunteers, supporters, and patrons make all of this possible and have increased our financial stability, with our fifth straight year of balanced budgets in FY19. Guided by our strategic plan, Vision2020, we continue to strive toward long-term stability.

Approaching a new era of artistic leadership, with Music Director Grant Llewellyn becoming Music Director Laureate in the 2020/21 season, my fellow Trustees in the Society and Foundation Boards and I are confident in the strength of our North Carolina Symphony team and in our vibrant future. 1O%

INCREASE IN SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWING

5thSTRAIGHT YEAR WITH A BALANCED BUDGET

7O,OOOSTUDENTS REACHED THROUGH OUR EDUCATION PROGRAM

$94K+RAISED FOR MUSIC EDUCATION AT “FRIENDS OF NOTE” LUNCHEON

4OEDUCATION CONCERTS

8WOMEN COMPOSERS &

CONDUCTORS FEATURED

6% INCREASE IN FIRST-TIME SYMPHONY-GOERS (23,400+ PEOPLE!)

2 INTENSIVE EDUCATIONAL RESIDENCIES

4TH AND 5TH GRADERS AT AN NCS EDUCATION CONCERT

GUEST CONDUCTOR AKIKO FUJIMOTO

PRINCIPAL HORN REBEKAH DALEY AND GUESTS AT A YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NIGHT

(OUT OF 145 TOTAL EDUCATION EVENTS!)

GIVING VOICE TO NEW MUSICIn eight performances — including those given on our tour of Western North Carolina — the Symphony and the Cherokee Chamber Singers shared a message of hope through the world premiere of composer William Brittelle’s Si Otsedoha (We’re Still Here). The new work featured text written by the high school students of the Cherokee Chamber Singers, reflecting on their cultural identity; it was commissioned by NCS and supported by the Cherokee Preservation Foundation.

NCS co-commissioned a new piano concerto by composer Caroline Shaw, performed by pianist Jonathan Biss. Watermark was programmed together with the work that served as its inspiration, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3.

PARTNERING WITH NEIGHBORSIn our third collaboration with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, projected imagery of water from North Carolina locales accompanied the Symphony performing sea-inspired works by Debussy and Sibelius. Concerts took place in both Raleigh and Wilmington.

Joining museums and other organizations statewide as part of Lift Off NC — a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the moon landing — we put on a special space-themed program at UNC REX Healthcare Summerfest hosted by the Town of Cary, complete with activities with the Morehead Planetarium.

STAGING STAR SOLOISTSThe Symphony brings some of the world’s greatest soloists to our stages — including, in the 2018/19 season, violinists Joshua Bell and Augustin Hadelich, pianist Ingrid Fliter, Broadway veteran Michael Cavanaugh, and pop/rock star Ben Folds (for our best-selling UNC REX Healthcare Summerfest show of all time!).

Extraordinary NCS artists were also spotlighted as soloists in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Wilmington, and Southern Pines. Concertmaster Brian Reagin was featured in Chausson’s Poème, Associate Concertmaster Dovid Friedlander shared selections from Swan Lake and a tango encore on a Valentine’s program, and Assistant Concertmaster Karen Strittmatter Galvin and Principal Second Violin Jacqueline Saed Wolborsky were soloists in Anna Clyne’s ethereal Prince of Clouds.

RECORDING A NEW ALBUMCellist Zuill Bailey and violist Roberto Díaz joined NCS for performances of Strauss’ Don Quixote, which was recorded live for future release. The album will be the Symphony’s sixth recording project with Music Director Grant Llewellyn.

ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE ECHOES FAR & WIDE Energy

Standing Ovation

Joy

Virtuosity

Words of praise for Symphony performances have rung out in publications across North Carolina!

“The orchestra’s playing has reached a new level of artistry this season…”

GEOFFREY SIMON, CVNC

STUNNING

Delight

IMPRESSIVE

ALIVE

DRAMAEXPRESSION

SOULFUL

BEAUT Y

MAGICAL

ARTISTRY

EXCELLENTSUPERB

AUTHENTIC

RECORDING WITH ZUILL BAILEY

KAREN GALVIN AND JACKIE WOLBORSKY

WORLD PREMIERE IN CHEROKEE

JOSHUA BELL

COLLABORATION WITH NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCES

CREATING AN ARTIST AMBASSADORS PROGRAMSupported by the National Endowment for the Arts, NCS launched our Artist Ambassadors initiative, inviting pianist Michelle Cann, composer Caroline Shaw, and cellist Zuill Bailey to share their expertise at educational and community events designed to make the arts inclusive and accessible.

Our 2018/19 Artist Ambassadors visited students at The Governor Morehead School for the Blind and special-needs adults at Able to Serve; worked with young musicians of Kidznotes, Philharmonic Association, North Carolina Chamber Music Institute, Meredith College, UNC-Chapel Hill, and public schools; and welcomed students to NCS rehearsals.

CULMINATING TWO MULTI-YEAR RESIDENCIES Our residencies in Sampson County (supported by the Simple Gifts Fund) and Cherokee (in partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and supported by the Cherokee Preservation Foundation) proved what is possible when communities have frequent access to live music and professional musicians.

In Sampson County, our three-year residency culminated with band students performing alongside NCS musicians in a community concert. A 12th grade bassoonist shared that her opportunities with NCS over the past three years inspired her to pursue a music education degree, while an 8th grade horn player noted that the Symphony taught her self-expression and the value of hard work.

In Cherokee, the capstone of our three-year residency was an eight-concert tour featuring Cherokee choral students in Si Otsedoha (We’re Still Here). The students who sang and helped create the new work stated that their experiences with NCS gave them a sense of confidence and cultural pride.

MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAM ORCHESTRATES THE FUTURE

Education Concerts Full-orchestra performances that teach the fundamentals of music

Ensembles in the Schools Interactive performances by small groups of NCS musicians

Instrument Zoos Children (and sometimes adults!) try out the instruments of the orchestra

Music Discovery Music and literacy program for preschoolers and families — part of PNC’s Grow Up Great initiative

Ovations, Concerto Competition, and Master Classes Opportunities for middle school, high school, and college students to work with NCS musicians and perform for NCS audiences

Programs for Lifelong Learners Pre-concert talks, lectures at community and residential venues, and continuing studies programs

Teacher Workshop Annual training where music educators share lesson ideas that will prepare students for Education Concerts

Virtual Interactive Stage An interactive distance-learning program that uses technology to bring Education Concerts into classrooms

What Defines the Most Extensive Music Education Program of Any Symphony Orchestra?

“In chamber music groups coached by Symphony musicians, I’ve learned things like leadership and communication.” CATHERINE, 8TH GRADE STUDENT, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA

“I learned that there are all different types of music around the world.” JU’TIEYA, 4TH GRADE STUDENT, HENDERSON, NORTH CAROLINA FROM TOP: Caroline Shaw (second from left) at UNC-Chapel Hill, Zuill Bailey

coaching a master class, concert with Cherokee Chamber Singers, Michelle Cann at The Governor Morehead SchoolCLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Education Concert in Clinton, side-by-side concert with Sampson

County students, Instrument Zoo at Marbles Kids Museum, Education Concert in Raleigh, Instrument Zoo at Meymandi Concert Hall

COMPLETING MEYMANDI CONCERT HALL Thanks to the generosity of many Symphony friends, Meymandi Concert Hall is now complete. With the installation of an acoustical canopy above the stage, our musicians now have an acoustical soundscape and performance space that matches their talent. The canopy allows them to more effectively hear each other as they rehearse and perform, and positions the Symphony to deliver an even higher level of performance excellence for generations to come.

WOOLNER STAGE During the 2018/19 season, to honor the extraordinary generosity of Ed and Darliene Woolner over the course of more than four decades, Meymandi Concert Hall’s stage was named Woolner Stage.

DRIVING MUSIC EDUCATION ACROSS THE STATEA grant from the SECU Foundation provided funding for a new vehicle to carry music education programming across North Carolina. The van is custom-designed to transport Symphony musicians and their instruments for programs statewide, such as Ensembles in the Schools, Music Discovery, and the Instrument Zoo — including to areas of the state that otherwise would have little or no access to music education.

SUPPORT MAKES A CRESCENDO

FINANCES HIT A HIGH NOTE

Special events help us say “thank you” to some of our most loyal Symphony friends.

RECORD TICKET SALES

FY19 was our best-selling season of all time, with 20 sold-out concerts and ticket revenue exceeding $4.4 million.

We achieved record-breaking ticket sales for our Pops and Summerfest series.

Season-ticket subscription sales increased by 3%, defying national trends for orchestras.

FUNDRAISING EXCELLENCE

Our Annual Fund (gifts from individuals) increased by 5% compared to FY18.

70% of FY18 donors continued their support in FY19 — a rate far above the national average.

We saw a 27% increase in recruitment of new donor households.

+ = AN EVEN GREATER IMPACTNCS again met the State Challenge Grant, which provides $2 million once we have earned $9 million through ticket sales and fundraising — an additional 22 cents for every dollar of your investment in the Symphony.

NCS achieved a balanced budget for our fifth straight year, with a small surplus.

INCOME BY CATEGORY

LAMAR STRINGFIELD SOCIETY (LSS) HOUSEHOLDS

As a percentage of the Total Operating Budget

TOTAL ENDOWMENT ASSETS

The North Carolina Symphony endowment ensures long-term sustainability.

Ticket Sales & PerformancesContributions State of NC • Grant Funding & AdministrativeState of NC • Challenge GrantAnnual Distribution from Endowment

EXPENSES BY CATEGORYAs a percentage of the Total Operating Budget

Statewide Service & Music Education ProgramsAudience ServicesAdministrativeFundraising

71%9%

6%

14%

31%

30%

8%

18%

13%

FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19

$8,49

1,210

$10,6

72,90

0

$11,2

65,10

0

$13,1

28,30

0

$17,0

30,50

0

$18,6

30,40

0

$19,5

55,40

0

$30,309,000

The Lamar Stringfield Society (LSS) celebrates individuals who have included the Symphony in their estate plans or established endowed chairs or special funds.

218

6TOTAL LSS HOUSEHOLDS

NEW LSS HOUSEHOLDSADDED IN FY19 +

CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE TRIP TO FRANCE CONCERTMASTER’S CIRCLE RECEPTION PRE-CONCERT PICNIC DINNER IN NEW BERN

ONSLOW Jacksonville teacher Perry Ditch received the Maxine Swalin Award for Outstanding Music Educator.

FORSYTH Violinist Luca Kevorkian of Winston-Salem won the Kathleen Price and Joseph M. Bryan Youth Concerto Competition.

SAMPSON Middle and high school students learned from NCS musicians as they prepared for and performed a side-by-side concert.

HERTFORD During a Music Discovery program at a Winton library, NCS double bassist Erik Dyke and intern Jay Attys led a jazz improvisation.

SWAIN Students collaborated on the composition of Si Otsedoha (We’re Still Here), performed in the Cherokee language.

PASQUOTANK & GATES An Education Concert was streamed into classrooms, with Associate Conductor Wesley Schulz hosting live via digital technology.

CRAVEN NCS provided complimentary tickets to our Holiday Pops concert in New Bern for those affected by Hurricanes Florence and Michael.

CUMBERLAND More than 500 people attended our free community concert at Methodist University in Fayetteville.

JACKSON Students from every elementary school in Jackson County learned the fundamentals of music at an Education Concert at Western Carolina University.

WATAUGA NCS musicians, composer William Brittelle, and Symphony staff members held master classes and lectures for Appalachian State University music students.

EDGECOMBE We welcomed more than 400 people to a free summertime Concert in Your Community on the Tarboro Town Common.

BOARDS OF TRUSTEESSTATEWIDE IMPACT

Mr. Don Davis, Chair, Raleigh Dr. Wm. Charles Helton, Vice Chair, RaleighMr. Joe Bastian, Treasurer, Chapel Hill Mr. Terry L. Stevens, Assistant Treasurer, RaleighDr. Sally C. Johnson, Secretary, RaleighMs. Sandi M. A. Macdonald, President & CEO, Raleigh

NORTH CAROLINA SYMPHONY FOUNDATIONThe Foundation Board holds the permanent endowment of the Symphony, solicits additions to the endowment, safeguards and invests assets, and prudently expends funds for the exclusive use and benefit of the Symphony Society.

Mr. Larry Wilson, President, RaleighMr. D.S. (Steve) Hodges, Vice President, Durham Col. Matt Segal, Treasurer, Cary Ms. Dianne C. Sellers, Secretary, Raleigh Mr. Thomas H. Roberg, Past President, Raleigh

Mr. Chip Anderson, Raleigh Ms. Catharine Biggs Arrowood, Raleigh Mr. Richard L. Daugherty, Raleigh Mr. Don Davis*, Raleigh Dr. Robert N. Eby, Chapel Hill Dr. Warner Hall, Raleigh Dr. Wm. Charles Helton, Raleigh Dr. Ted Kunstling, Raleigh Mr. Henry Mitchell, Raleigh Dr. Shaler Stidham, Jr., Raleigh Mr. Josiah Stevenson IV, Pinehurst

*Ex Officio Member

NORTH CAROLINA SYMPHONY SOCIETY, INC.The Society Board is the governing, policy, and operating board of the Symphony Society. It secures financial resources, approves program goals, engages in strategic planning, and oversees budgets, continuing the Society’s mission to achieve the highest level of artistic quality and performance standards, and embrace the dual legacies of statewide service and music education.

LIFETIME TRUSTEESThe Society and Foundation Boards gratefully recognize these individuals as a Lifetime Trustee for extraordinary involvement and leadership of the Symphony over a significant period of time.

Dr. Assad Meymandi • 2015 Inductee, RaleighMr. Edward O. Woolner • 2016 Inductee, Cary

Trustees as of June 30, 2019

Presenting 300 concerts, education programs, and community engagement events annually, no other orchestra in America serves its state to the extent that the North Carolina Symphony does.

Ms. Deborah M. Aiken, RaleighDr. Tim Altman**, Laurinburg Dr. Trude R. Bate, Cary Mrs. Janie W. Bird, Raleigh Mr. Jud Bowman, Durham Ms. Patty Briguglio, Holly Springs Mr. Steve Burriss, Raleigh Mr. Tim Clancy, Raleigh The Honorable Roy Cooper*, Raleigh Mr. Jeffrey A. Corbett, RaleighMr. David R. Crabtree, Raleigh Mr. Richard L. Daugherty, Raleigh Mr. Robert C. Doherty, RaleighMr. Keith Donahue**, Raleigh Mrs. Ruth Dzau, Durham Mr. Rick Gardner, Raleigh Mr. Mike Golden, Raleigh Mr. Michael Gering, Raleigh Mr. Donald A. Haile, Raleigh Mr. David Haines, Cary Secretary Susi H. Hamilton*,

WilmingtonMrs. Elaine Bryant Hayes, Fayetteville Mr. Richard E. Hinson, Chapel Hill Mr. Douglas C. Hornberger, Raleigh Mr. Kevin Howell**, RaleighMr. Michael P. Hughes, RaleighThe Honorable Mark Johnson*,

RaleighMr. L. Dwain Joyce*, Fayetteville Mrs. Cecelia Eckert Kennedy,

Morrisville Dr. Robert Lacin, Raleigh Mr. Robert MacNeill, Jr., DurhamMr. Branford Marsalis, Durham

Mrs. Louise Miller, Cary Mr. James Morgan**, Raleigh Mr. Graham Mosely, Wilmington Mrs. Florence Peacock, Chapel Hill Dr. Emily Mann Peck, Raleigh Mrs. Ashley Matlock Perkinson,

Raleigh Ms. Margaret Smedes Poyner, Raleigh Dr. Ramachandra P. Reddy, Cary Mr. Richard H. (Dick) Robinson, Jr.,

Chapel Hill Mr. Jeffrey B. Sheehan, Raleigh Mr. Jason Smith, Raleigh Mrs. Tracey Fodor Smith, Farmville Mr. David Sontag, Chapel HillMrs. Linda J. Staunch*, New Bern Ms. Sandy Sully, CaryMrs. Jennie H. Wallace, Raleigh Mr. Dereck Whittenburg, RaleighMr. Larry Wilson*, Raleigh Mr. Tim Yull, Raleigh

*Ex Officio Members **Governor’s Appointee

The North Carolina Symphony, in grateful acknowledgement of its generous grant-in-aid and Challenge Grant, performs under the auspices of the State of North Carolina.

The North Carolina Symphony gratefully acknowledges financial support from the City of Raleigh and Wake County.

Pitt

Wake

Wilkes

Onslow

Moore

Union

Craven

Sampson

Iredell

Johnston

JonesAnson

Carteret

Wayne Harnett

Chatham

Macon

Rowan

Lee

Stokes

Martin

Stanly

Gates

Lenoir

Haywood

Franklin

Wilson

O

rang

e

Pamlico

Polk Cherokee

Yadkin

Clay

DavieEdgecombe

Avery

Lincoln Greene Graham

Gra

nvill

e

Cumberland

Vanc

e

Alam

ance

Dur

ham

Watauga

Henderson

Camden

Currituck

Mitchell

Alleghany

Washington

Perquimans

Hyde

Bladen

Pender

Bertie

Duplin

Robeson

Beaufort

Nash

Halifax

Columbus

Surry

Swain

Ashe

Brunswick

Burke Randolph

Guilford

Hoke

DareTyrrell

Buncombe

Jackson

Davidson

Person Warren Caswell

Caldwell

Forsyth

Madison

Gaston

Rutherford

Cleveland

Catawba

Rockingham

McDowell

Hertford

Cabarrus

Richmond

Yancey

Mecklenburg

Northampton

Montgomery

Scotland

Transylvania

Alexander

Chowan

Pasquotank

New Hanover

Counties served by NCS performances in 2018/19

Counties served by both NCS performances and NCS education programs in 2018/19

Counties served by intensive education residencies in 2018/19

2O18/19 HIGHLIGHTS

sta

te h

ead

qu

ar

ter

s 37

00 G

lenw

ood

Ave,

Sui

te 1

30, R

alei

gh, N

C 27

612

ncsy

mph

ony.

org

| 9

19.7

33.2

750

| 8

77.6

27.6

724

2O18

/19

SEA

SON

CO

RPO

RATE

SUP

PORT

Than

k yo

u to

the

gene

rous

indi

vidu

als,

busin

esse

s, fo

unda

tions

, and

com

mun

ity p

artn

ers

who

su

ppor

t the

Nor

th C

arol

ina

Sym

phon

y th

roug

h co

ntrib

utio

ns e

ach

seas

on. T

he s

ucce

sses

hig

hlig

hted

in

this

repo

rt, i

nclu

ding

our

ext

ensiv

e m

usic

edu

catio

n pr

ogra

m, c

omm

unity

eng

agem

ent i

nitia

tives

, an

d co

ntin

ued

artis

tic e

xcel

lenc

e, a

re m

ade

poss

ible

by

your

sup

port

. Tha

nk y

ou!

Prin

ting

of th

e 20

19 R

epor

t to

the

Com

mun

ity is

cou

rtes

y of

Jer

ry’s

Prin

ting

Serv

ice