Savannah Philharmonic Corporation

SAVANNAH PHILHARMONIC, AN INNOVATIVE AND INFLUENTIAL ARTS ORGANIZATION, WILL ENTERTAIN, INSPIRE AND BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY: ESTABLISHED 2008, THE SAVANNAH PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA (SPO) A 501 (C) 3 HAS GROWN TO A NEARLY 1.7 MILLION OPERATING BUDGET, WITH 5 FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBERS, 60 CONTRACT-AND FEE-BASED MUSICIANS, 50 VOLUNTEER CHORISTERS, AND 19-MEMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS. SPO HAS BEEN CONTRIBUTING TO THE SAVANNAH- METROPOLITAN AREA FOR NEARLY A DECADE THROUGH ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCES RANGING FROM CLASSICS TO POPULAR SHOW TUNES. SPO HAS PERFORMED IN A MULTITUDE OF LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT SAVANNAH INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE LUCAS THEATRE, CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, TYBEE POST THEATRE, JOHNNY MERCER THEATRE, THE BAND SHELL IN HISTORIC FORSYTH PARK, AND AREA NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY CENTERS. AT ITS LARGEST CAPACITY, SPO HAS PLAYED FOR OVER 20,000 INDIVIDUALS CATERING TOWARDS AN INCLUSIVE AUDIENCE. SINCE ITS INCEPTION NEARLY 13 YEARS AGO, SPO HAS STRENGTHENED THE ARTS AND CULTURE IN THE SAVANNAH-METROPOLITAN AREA THROUGH CONTINUAL WORK TO EXPAND PROGRAMS OFFERED AND ADAPT TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. OUTSIDE THE CONCERT HALL, SPO OFFERS A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS INCLUDING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, PHIL THE PARK, AND PHIL THE SQUARES. EACH OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC OFFERING A FUN, FAMILY-FRIENDLY EXPERIENCE. SPO ALSO TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT TAKE PLACE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SAVANNAH CHATHAM PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. MISSION STATEMENT: SAVANNAH PHILHARMONIC, AN INNOVATIVE AND INFLUENTIAL ARTS ORGANIZATION, WILL ENTERTAIN, INSPIRE AND BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE REGION. COMMUNITY: THE SAVANNAH PHILHARMONIC "SOUNDTRACK OF SAVANNAH" IS MORE THAN SIMPLY CONNECTING WITH OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH MUSIC. IT'S AN OPEN INVITATION TO ENJOY MUSIC WITH OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WHILE EXPLORING THE UNIQUE PLACES, FLAVORS, AND EVENTS OF OUR REGION. IN FY20 THE SPO WAS ONE OF FEW ORCHESTRAS TO PERFORM IN THE COMMUNITY. THROUGH CREATIVE COLLABORATION, VENUES, AND PROGRAMMING THE SPO PROVIDED CONCERTS EACH MONTH FOR SOCIALLY DISTANCED AUDIENCES. IN ADDITION THE SPO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN WHICH IT LIVES AND BUILD A 3 YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN. THIS PLAN SETS GOALS FOR FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND ARTISTIC INTEGRITY SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE SPO TO BE A PILLAR IN THE COMMUNITY WELL INTO THE FUTURE. SPO CONTINUED TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF SAVANNAH TO PRODUCE AND PRESENT PICNIC IN THE PARK - CREATIVELY THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH WTOC THE CONCERT WAS BROADCAST WITH A VIEWERSHIP OF OVER 20,000.