From the President

March 2010

I like to use this space to keep our patrons apprised of important developments at the SLSO.  As always, I appreciate your interest and am pleased to offer an update. 

The Plan

In June 2008, the SLSO launched Building Our Business, which takes a proactive, two-pronged approach: build audiences and re-invigorate the SLSO brand making the SLSO and Powell Hall the place to be; and build the base for enhanced institutional commitment and donations.  This is all part of a larger strategic plan adopted in May 2009 that includes new core ideology and a 10-year strategic vision focusing on artistic and institutional excellence, doubling the existing audience while making the SLSO top of mind, and revenue growth across all key operating areas. 

Progress to Date

In FY2009 we took important steps forward in achieving these goals with a 15% increase in ticket revenues and nearly 8% increase in attendance driven largely by the launch of successful new programming initiatives like SLSO Presents.  The success in ticket sales along with a modest increase in annual contributions began a turnaround following multiple years of decline, and resulted in further narrowing the structural operating gap even in a very challenging economic environment. 

Now in March 2010, in a date-to-date comparison with the prior year, total ticket revenues and tickets sold across the season are pacing well ahead.  Using this point in time as a “snapshot,” classical revenues are up 9% with classical tickets sold up 7.5 % while total ticket revenues including SLSO Presents are up 22.5% with total tickets up 14.5%.  As of March 1, the per-concert average for the Orchestral Series (classical) is up more than 11% to date, while per-concert average for all concerts is up 13.7% over last year.  And as attracting new audiences has been a major objective, it’s important to note that SLSO Presents audiences this season continue to be comprised of more than 50% new attendees, while single ticket purchasers for our core Orchestral Series are nearly 40% new.    

This means that our plan to diversify and broaden programming supported by new initiatives in marketing and communications is paying significant dividends for the SLSO.  Assuming positive trends continue through the remainder of the season, we will take another significant step forward this year in our strategic plan, particularly as it pertains to the big goals we’ve articulated around audience growth. 

In another important development, the first recording on a major label by the SLSO in more than 10 years has garnered an extraordinary reception.  The July 2009 Nonesuch CD of music by John Adams reached the #2 position on Billboard’s Classical charts.  Most recently, the recording was selected as “Classical Album of the Decade” by The Times of London, and named by iTunes as the “Best Contemporary Classical Album” for 2009. 

The strong progress in building revenues and attendance and the national and international accolades accorded the orchestra as demonstrated by the critical reception to the Nonesuch release, all demonstrates a strengthening of the SLSO brand through increased vitality and viability locally, coupled with growing recognition beyond St. Louis.  These trends go directly to the core of the goals articulated in Building Our Business and other elements of our strategic vision.  

The 2010-11 Season

A continued emphasis on building audiences was immediately apparent as the SLSO announced its 2010-11 Season - the 131st - at a Town Hall meeting on the stage of Powell Hall on January 28th.  It was our third Town Hall in 18 months and was carried live on television and streamed over the internet. 

The 2010-11 Wells Fargo Advisors Orchestral Series boasts a Russian theme that includes many audience favorites among a plethora of works by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Stravinsky, Scriabin, Schnittke as well as less familiar Russian composers such as Kalinnikov.  The season also celebrates the Mahler anniversary with performances of the second and sixth symphonies, while innovative works by Mackey, Adès, Ligeti, Eötvös and others add another creative dimension to the season. 

The highly successful SLSO Presents continues to grow and includes guest artists Bernadette Peters, Michael W. Smith, and Chris Botti among others and special theme shows such as ABBA: The Music.  Powell Hall once again will turn into a “movie house” with movie classics including Psycho, featuring the orchestra performing the Bernard Herrmann score live to the film, and City Lights, Charlie Chaplin’s masterpiece, makes an encore appearance. 

Finally, this season marked the first Gala in more than a decade at the SLSO with a spectacularly successful event featuring Yo-Yo Ma.  We build on this “new tradition” this next season with another great artist, the incomparable Renée Fleming.   

This is all part of a continuum of progress.  We are cognizant of the fact that there is much to do, but gratified by the fact that the progress is significant, the trends are positive, and our road map is clear.

Please continue to check this space for updates.  And, as always, I very much appreciate your interest in and support of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra.

Sincerely,

Fred Bronstein