In partnership with Parker’s Kitchen and the City of Savannah, we welcomed over
15,000 people to our annual Phil the Park on October 5th. This event always sparks
interest and questions from the community about the Savannah Philharmonic and
our role in it.
The Savannah Philharmonic, a professional nonprofit orchestra, provides world-class
performances and impactful community programming, both in our neighborhoods
and local schools. We proudly balance artistry with a deep commitment to the
region in which we live.
Hiring top-tier professional musicians is a defining aspect of the Savannah
Philharmonic. These musicians, from over 12 states, are dedicated to performing
for Savannah, in addition to other renowned regional orchestras across the country.
When in town, they not only perform on our concert stage—they work with music
teachers and support students as they learn to play instruments in our schools and
perform small concerts in our hospitals and community centers. In addition, the
Savannah Philharmonic is proud to have a dedicated 85 member, volunteer chorus
that rehearses every week to prepare for the concerts. We are grateful for these
individuals to be some of the organization’s biggest ambassadors in the community.
Our work in the community is as important as our ticketed performances. To us,
community involvement and high artistic quality are inseparable.
In addition to the work our musicians, guest artists, music director, and teaching
artists do in our schools, our small dedicated administrative staff ensure that
everything runs smoothly.
Like most orchestras, our business model is designed to support our artistic and
community efforts. Ticket sales provide approximately 30% of our revenue, while
the remaining 70% comes from donations, sponsorships, and grants. With a limited
number of seats available in our concert halls and regional income considerations
determining ticket prices, the Philharmonic depends on the generosity of its
supporters to maintain its operations.
Roughly 50% of our total budget funds our high-quality artistic programs. Another
30% is dedicated to our community programs—everything from school visits to
performances in neighborhoods and community centers. Finally, just 20% of our
budget covers administrative costs, which allows us to focus on the programs truly
making an impact.
Our work in the community not only educates; it builds future Philharmonic
audiences and creates our City’s future leaders. Many people who encounter us
through our neighborhood programs later buy tickets, and become donors or are
ambassadors of what we do, creating impactful partnerships. This creates a full
circle of support—people experience our programs, enjoy the performances, and
then want to give back to ensure we can continue doing this important work.
Savannah is growing rapidly, and we’re constantly making strategic decisions to
sustain our operations and grow with the city. We’re not only focused on the
day-to-day operations of conducting concerts and community programs, but also
our future.
I look forward to sharing more about our strategies and plans for the future. Thank
you for your continued support of the Savannah Philharmonic—together, we’re
creating community.
Amy Williams
Executive Director, The Savannah Philharmonic