DSO Breaks New Fundraising Ground

DETROIT -- The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the fourth-oldest symphony orchestra in the United States, broke new fundraising ground, finishing its Community Support Month initiative with more than $1.5 million in donations to the 2011-12 Annual Fund.

"Each audience member has the power to help shape the future of the DSO and the formula is straight-forward: frequent ticket purchases and generous annual giving" said Paul Hogle, executive vice president. "We are a community-supported orchestra, which means we boldly invite, indeed literally depend on, the entire community to play their part.

"Today's announcement is a tribute to our DSO patrons – the most engaged orchestra fans in the country!"

Community Support Month festivities greeted some 15,000 Orchestra Hall audience members during nine orchestra concerts in May; the "Let's Build A Community Message" was also broadcast world-wide as part of each "Live from Orchestra Hall" webcast. Patrons were invited to make contributions via envelope, pledge card, on-line or by phone. Each donor received access to the Herman and Sharon Frankel Donor Lounge on the evening of their gift and a parking voucher.

By season end, the DSO is on target to increase the number of individual donors by 35 percent over 2010's pre-strike levels. Community Support Month is aimed at greatly expanding the Annual Fund donor base and providing each ticket buyer with more meaningful opportunities to make Annual Fund gifts to the DSO.

The DSO offers a performance schedule that includes Classical, Pops, Jazz, Young People's, Neighborhood concerts and festivals. The DSO makes its home in historic Orchestra Hall, one of America's most acoustically perfect concert halls, and actively pursues a mission to impact and serve the community through music. For more information visit www.dso.org.