Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Chicago, IL · Founded 1927

Major orchestra presenting classical music performances and educational programs

Primary audience
General Public
Work area
Arts & Culture
Topic
Cultural Programs
Contact
Riccardo Muti
Website Contact

About Organization

Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs symphonic concerts, operates training programs, and engages communities through music. Based in Chicago, IL, the orchestra operates with $89.6 million in annual revenue, maintaining one of the world's leading ensembles.

What They Focus On

Artistic Excellence

Presenting world-class performances and exhibitions

Arts Education

Providing learning opportunities and cultivating appreciation

Community Access

Making arts experiences accessible to diverse audiences

Financial Information

Form 990 data showing organizational financial health and growth.

Revenue (2021)

$125.5M

+22.5% vs 2021

Assets (2021)

$581.8M

+9.6% vs 2021

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Employees
2021 — — — —
2021 $102,432,097 $75,080,250 $530,890,156 785
2020 — — — —
2020 $109,905,535 $47,205,442 $576,700,123 927
2019 $73,806,692 $76,256,229 $475,390,554 1,159
2018 $72,050,421 $78,697,891 $503,065,284 1,321
2017 $81,820,078 $81,339,432 $508,805,441 1,209

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. All figures in USD.

How They Work

Learn more
  • 01

    Artistic Planning

    Selecting repertoire and programming to engage audiences

  • 02

    Production

    Rehearsing and preparing performances with professional artists

  • 03

    Presentation

    Delivering concerts, exhibitions, and cultural experiences

  • 04

    Community Engagement

    Connecting with audiences through education and outreach

Programs and Initiatives

Services and programs offered by Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Performances

Presenting concerts, exhibitions, and cultural events

Education

Offering classes, workshops, and educational programs

Community Outreach

Bringing arts experiences to underserved communities

Team & Leadership

Meet the people behind Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

RM

Riccardo Muti

Music Director
Full-time
Compensation: $952,263
JA

Jeff Alexander

President
Full-time
Compensation: $529,441
JA

Jeff Alexander

President
RC

Robert Chen

Concertmaster
Full-time
Compensation: $379,024
DH

Dale Hedding

VP for Development
Full-time
Compensation: $265,794
JS

John Sharp

Principal Cello
Full-time
Compensation: $234,272
VM

Vanessa Moss

VP for Operations
Full-time
Compensation: $232,843
SW

Stephen Williamson

Principal Clarinet
Full-time
Compensation: $232,425
EB

Esteban Batallan Cons

Principal Trumpet
Full-time
Compensation: $217,995

Milestones

2017

Community Partnerships

2017

Enhanced services and organizational capabilities

2023

Leadership Expansion

2023

Grew leadership team to enhance organizational capacity

2025

Program Innovation

2025

Launched new initiatives to deepen community impact

Associated People

Board members, advisors, and key contributors

Board of Directors

SM
Stacie M Frank Assistant Treasurer 40.00 hrs/week · $249,994
RS
Renay Slifka Secretary (until 09/08/21) 40.00 hrs/week · $78,141
KS
Kristine Stassen Secretary (as of 09/09/21) 40.00 hrs/week · $21,813
AT
Anthony T Dean Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
AM
Arnold M Berlin Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
AC
Arthur C Martinez Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
BW
Brian W Duwe Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
BM
Britt M Miller Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
BE
Bruce E Clinton Life Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
BX
Burton X Rosenberg Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
CW
Carl W Stern Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
CA
Charles Ashby Lewis Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
CD
Charles Douglas Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
CE
Charles Emmons Jr Trustee 0.30 hrs/week
CA
Chester A Gougis Vice Chair 0.50 hrs/week
CJ
Col Jennifer N Pritzker Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
CR
Craig R Williams Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
CM
Cynthia M Sargent Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
CF
Cyrus F Freidheim Jr Life Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
DE
Daniel E Sullivan Jr Trustee 0.30 hrs/week
DE
David E McNeel Life Trustee 0.40 hrs/week
DP
David P Hackett Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
DW
David W Fox Sr Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
DL
Dean L Buntrock Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
DD
Debora de Hoyos Life Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
DA
Debra A Cafaro Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
DG
Dietrich Gross Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
DG
Donald G Kempf Jr Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
DG
Donald G Lubin Life Trustee (until 06/30/22) 0.10 hrs/week
DL
Donna L Kendall Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
DD
Dr Don M Randel Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
DE
Dr Eugene Stark Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
DI
Dr Irwin Press Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
DM
Dr Mohan Rao Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
ES
E Scott Santi Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
EJ
Earl J Rusnak Jr Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
EF
Eva F Lichtenberg Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
FA
Frank A Rossi Life Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
FH
Frederick H Waddell Trustee 0.50 hrs/week
GD
George D Kennedy Life Trustee (until 06/30/22) 0.10 hrs/week
GP
George P Colis Trustee 0.30 hrs/week
GP
Gerald Pauling Trustee 0.50 hrs/week
GK
Geraldine Keefe Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
GR
Gifford R Zimmerman Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
GC
Graham C Grady Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
HL
H Laurance Fuller Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
HR
H Rigel Barber Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
HZ
Helen Zell Vice Chair 1.00 hrs/week
HL
Howard L Gottlieb Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
JB
James B Fadim Life Trustee 0.40 hrs/week
JJ
James J O'Connor Life Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
JK
James Kolar Trustee (until 06/30/22) 0.10 hrs/week
JD
Jane DiRenzo Pigott Life Trustee 0.30 hrs/week
JL
Jay L Henderson Life Trustee 0.30 hrs/week
JR
Jerry Rose Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
JW
Joan W Harris Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
JA
John A Edwardson Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
JA
John Aalbregtse Trustee 0.60 hrs/week
JD
John D Nichols Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
JF
John F Manley Life Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
JH
John H Hart Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
JM
John M Pratt Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
JR
John R Schmidt Life Trustee 0.30 hrs/week
JS
John S Lillard Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
JW
John W Rogers Jr Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
JL
Jose Luis Prado Trustee (until 06/30/22) 0.10 hrs/week
JL
Josef Lakonishok Life Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
JB
Joseph B Glossberg Life Trustee 0.30 hrs/week
JE
Judith E Feldman Trustee 0.30 hrs/week
JW
Judith W Istock Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
JW
Judith W McCue Life Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
KB
Kay Bucksbaum Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
KS
Keith S Crow Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
KC
Kristen C Rossi Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
LO
Laurence O Booth Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
LH
Leslie Henner Burns Trustee 0.60 hrs/week
LH
Lester H McKeever Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
LZ
Ling Z Markovitz Life Trustee 0.40 hrs/week
LT
Lisa Thomas Trustee 0.90 hrs/week
LJ
Lori Julian Trustee 0.40 hrs/week
LC
Louis C Sudler Jr Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
MA
Marion A Cameron-Gray Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
MR
Marlon R Smith Trustee 0.30 hrs/week
ML
Mary Louise Gorno Chair 2.00 hrs/week
MP
Mary Pivirotto Murley Trustee 0.30 hrs/week
MW
Mary Winton Green Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
MA
Michael A Perlstein Trustee (until 06/30/22) 0.30 hrs/week
MA
Mrs Albert Pawlick Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
MJ
Mrs John C Kern Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
MR
Mrs Robert A Beatty Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
MR
Mrs Robert W Galvin Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
MR
Mrs Roger B Hull Life Trustee (until 06/30/22) 0.10 hrs/week
NT
Nasrin Thierer Trustee 0.30 hrs/week
NT
Neil T Kawashima Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
PL
Patty Lane Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
PC
Paul C Gignilliat Life Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
PR
Paul R Judy Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
PR
Paul R Wiggin Life Trustee 0.30 hrs/week
PS
Paul SWatford Trustee 0.40 hrs/week
PV
Penny Van Horn Life Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
PJ
Peter J Barack Trustee 0.40 hrs/week
RE
R Eden Martin Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
RS
Randall S Kroszner Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
RL
Randy Lamm Berlin Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
RM
Renee Metcalf Treasurer 0.60 hrs/week
RB
Richard B Kapnick Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
RC
Richard C Godfrey Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
RH
Richard H Cooper Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
RJ
Richard J Franke Life Trustee (until 06/30/22) 0.10 hrs/week
RL
Richard L Thomas Life Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
RP
Richard P Toft Life Trustee 0.30 hrs/week
RW
Richard W Colburn Life Trustee 0.40 hrs/week
RA
Robert A Wislow Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
RC
Robert C Spoerri Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
RJ
Robert J Buford Trustee 0.30 hrs/week
RK
Robert Kohl Life Trustee 0.40 hrs/week
RB
Roderick Branch Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
RW
Roger W Stone Life Trustee (until 06/30/22) 0.10 hrs/week
SS
Scott Swanson Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
SO
Shelley Ochab Trustee (until 06/30/22) 0.20 hrs/week
SV
Stephen V D'Amore Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
SS
Steven Shebik Vice Chair 1.00 hrs/week
SC
Susan C Levy Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
SN
Sylvia Neil Trustee 0.30 hrs/week
TJ
Terrence J Truax Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
TC
Thomas C Heagy Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
TC
Thomas C Sheffield Jr Life Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
TG
Thomas G Kilroy Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
TJ
Thomas J Eyerman Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
TA
Timothy A Duffy Trustee 0.30 hrs/week
WS
Walter Snodell Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
WA
William A Goldstein Life Trustee 0.30 hrs/week
WA
William A Osborn Life Trustee 0.30 hrs/week
WA
William Adams IV Life Trustee 0.60 hrs/week
WG
William G Brown Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
WH
William H Strong Life Trustee 0.10 hrs/week
WR
William R Jentes Life Trustee 0.20 hrs/week
WW
William Ward Trustee 0.20 hrs/week

Information compiled from IRS Form 990 and organizational materials.

Executive Compensation

Top compensated officers & key employees from IRS Form 990

Total Reported (2021)

$3.9M

Highest Paid

$952K

Riccardo Muti

Compensated Officers

11

Name Title Base Other Total Hrs/Wk
Riccardo Muti Music Director $952,263 — $952,263 40
Jeff Alexander President $529,441 $39,517 $568,958 40
Robert Chen Concertmaster $379,024 $110,417 $489,441 40
John Sharp Principal Cello $234,272 $87,612 $321,884 40
Stephen Williamson Principal Clarinet $232,425 $64,200 $296,625 40
Dale Hedding VP For Development $265,794 $20,308 $286,102 40
Stacie M Frank Assistant Treasurer $249,994 $33,975 $283,969 40
Esteban Batallan Cons Principal Trumpet $217,995 $61,152 $279,147 40
Vanessa Moss VP For Operations $232,843 $33,424 $266,267 40
Renay Slifka Secretary (Until 09/08/21) $78,141 $14,977 $93,118 40
Kristine Stassen Secretary (As Of 09/09/21) $21,813 $6,417 $28,230 40

Source: IRS Form 990 filings. Compensation includes base and other reported compensation.

Individual Political Donors

People from this organization who contributed to political campaigns

$5K Total Given
Democratic $4,501 (83%)
Other/PAC $643 (12%)
Republican $263 (5%)
100 Contributions
$54 Avg Each

Top Individual Donors

17 Individual Donors
DK
Daniel Katz 4 contributions • $200 avg
$800
AH
Alexander Hanna 2 contributions • $400 avg
$800
GS
Gary Stucka 9 contributions • $71 avg
$637
DM
Diane Mues 3 contributions • $198 avg
$595
SL
Stephen Lester 12 contributions • $42 avg
$500

Other Individual Contributors $2,075 combined

#6
MS

Mark Swanson

Chicago, IL

$453 Total
7 Contributions
HARRIS VICTORY DCCC
#7
MK

Mark Kraemer

Wilmette, IL

$376 Total
9 Contributions
ACTBLUE WHITEHOUSE FOR SENATE
#8
MS

Mary Sauer S. Hannenberg

Highland Park, IL

$263 Total
2 Contributions
NRCC
#9
WB

William Buchman

Chicago, IL

$200 Total
2 Contributions
HARRIS FOR PRESIDENT
#10
RS

Rachel S. Goldstein

Chicago, IL

$194 Total
32 Contributions
ACTBLUE JAMIE RASKIN FOR CONGRESS
#11
RG

Rachel Goldstein

Chicago, IL

$150 Total
6 Contributions
MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION
#12
RK

Robin Kessler

Berwyn, IL

$100 Total
1 Contribution
HARRIS FOR PRESIDENT
#13
KS

Kristine Stassen

Chicago, IL

$100 Total
2 Contributions
HARRIS FOR PRESIDENT
#14
SA

Susan A. Green

Oak Park, IL

$100 Total
2 Contributions
HARRIS FOR PRESIDENT
#15
RS

Rachel S Goldstein

Chicago, IL

$52 Total
2 Contributions
MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION
#16
DC

Daniel Carson

Chicago, IL

$47 Total
1 Contribution
HARRIS VICTORY
#17
BC

Brooke Carlson

Grayslake, IL

$40 Total
4 Contributions
POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE OF TH...

Quick Insights

🏆
Most Active Donor Rachel S. Goldstein with 32 contributions
💰
Highest Avg per Contribution Alexander Hanna at $400 each
🎯
Top Recipient ACTBLUE — $1,966

Data from Federal Election Commission • Individual contributions only

Partners & Funders

Grant funding relationships from IRS Form 990 filings

$4.8M Grants Received
13 Organizations

Top Funders

13 total
FI
Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund
$2.1M
TC
The Chicago Community Trust 2 grants
$1.7M
TD
The Dupage Community Foundation 2 grants
$508K
NC
Ncrc Community Development Fund Inc.
$250K
GD
Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund
$67K
CA
Charities Aid Foundation America
$31K
GC
Greater Cedar Rapids Community
$29K
TA
The Ayco Charitable Foundation
$28K
MS
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc.
$20K
UL
Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
$15K
+3 more funders
Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund The Chicago Community Trust The Dupage Community Foundation Ncrc Community Development Fund Inc. Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund Charities Aid Foundation America Greater Cedar Rapids Community The Ayco Charitable Foundation Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc. Underwriters Laboratories Inc. American Online Giving Foundation Inc. American Endowment Foundation Bny Mellon Charitable Gift Fund
Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund The Chicago Community Trust The Dupage Community Foundation Ncrc Community Development Fund Inc. Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund Charities Aid Foundation America Greater Cedar Rapids Community The Ayco Charitable Foundation Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc. Underwriters Laboratories Inc. American Online Giving Foundation Inc. American Endowment Foundation Bny Mellon Charitable Gift Fund

Source: IRS Form 990 Schedule I filings. Amounts may span multiple tax years.

Contact

Get in touch with Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Phone

(312) 294-3333 (312) 294-3000

Social

Visit Website
220 S Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 606042559