Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra announces $24.6M total revenue for FY21

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra announced total revenues of $24.6 million for the 2021 fiscal year, including a surplus from operations of $13.6 million. In the annual report released this week, the ISO announced $3.2 million in earned revenue, $7 million in annual fund contributions and $4.5 million in support from the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Foundation.

The largest single category of revenue took the form of funding from the federal government to ameliorate business losses and support employee retention during the pandemic. Altogether, federal funding provided more than $9.8 million to the Indiana Symphony Society. As a result of this generous support, the Society enters 2022 with no outstanding debt and a strong base to rebuild after the pandemic. 

“These results could not have been achieved without the hard work and sacrifice of our musicians and staff,” said James M. Johnson, CEO, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. “We could not have maintained stability in a tumultuous year without the support of our stakeholders and the greater community in the form of numerous and significant contributions, sponsorships and grants. Providing oversight of our operations are the dedicated volunteers who serve on the boards of the Society and the Foundation. The ISO is grateful for the leadership and support of our constituents during the past year, and we are honored to continue working together to set the stage for future growth.”

The 2020-21 season featured the return of concerts performed in front of live audiences, including the Spring Inspirations Series and the resumption of full orchestra performances at Kroger Symphony on the Prairie during the summer and at Hilbert Circle Theatre in the fall. After celebrating the return of AES Indiana Yuletide Celebration in December, the ISO is offering a full slate of in-person events this spring, spanning the DeHaan Classical Series, the Printing Partners Pops Series and the Bank of America Film Series.

The ISO is continuing its important work in the community through impactful engagement and education programs. The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, the ISO’s flagship youth and family development program, brought nearly 200 children and their families together first through virtual means and then in live sessions made possible through the ISO’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

Guided by the goal of making the ISO a more inclusive organization, the ISO’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Committee of board members, musicians, and staff implemented internal and external diversity practices during the 2020-21 season. These included artistic programming that highlighted unheard voices in classical music to raise awareness of composers and musicians from diverse cultures who are less often centered in the western orchestra experience because of their gender, race, or ethnicity. In addition, the ISO deepened its partnership with the Sphinx Organization, a social justice organization dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts, with a series of concerts scheduled for spring 2022.

About the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, at home and thriving in the heart of Indianapolis, offers an exceptional artistic and musical experience. The orchestra is open to all and dedicated to creating an inclusive and innovative experiential environment that is inspiring, educational, and welcoming. The ISO celebrates historically beloved performances while engaging audiences by introducing new voices through programming including the DeHaan Classical Series, the Printing Partners Pops Series, the holiday traditions of AES Indiana Yuletide Celebration and the popular Bank of America Film Series. For more information, visit www.indianapolissymphony.org.