2025/26 Season
Annual Report
David Danzmayr, Jean Vollum Music Director
A Reflection from Our President
Earlier this spring, we were preparing to welcome the great cellist Yo-Yo Ma for a solo recital when we received an unexpected message from a local hospice care facility. One of the patients, we learned, had loved Yo-Yo Ma’s music for many years. She had always dreamed of hearing him perform but never had the chance. Was there any way she could attend?
The performance had been sold out for months. Yet there was never any doubt in our minds: this was a moment that would change someone’s life. Over the next several days, our staff and the Portland community came together in ways that were truly astonishing to witness. With some creative thinking, our ticket office secured seats for the woman and her caretakers. A local limousine company offered free transportation. A steakhouse near the concert hall planned a special dinner. And Yo-Yo Ma himself provided a handwritten note for his longtime fan.
For me, this evening encapsulated what a symphony orchestra should be: an institution that exists to bring music to its entire community—from the youngest to the oldest, from east to west, for people from all walks of life. Music heals. It inspires wonder. It gives us something to live for.
Over the last year, I’ve been inspired to witness this mission in action time and time again. We performed great works from the classical canon for packed audiences, teamed up with beloved musical icons like the Decemberists, and played the music of reggae pioneer Bob Marley. We sat cross-legged on a gym floor with elementary students and watched their eyes go wide when they heard an oboe for the very first time. We traveled across the state and worked with young musicians, preparing them for the next steps in their artistic journeys.
Your support this year allowed us to bring the joy of music to more than 1.5 million people across Oregon and beyond, present more than 300 concerts and community events, and change countless lives with moments of connection. The stories below are just a few such moments.
Paul Snyder
President & CEO
2025/26 Highlights
The Oregon Symphony’s 2025/26 season was a celebration of innovation and Portland talent. Led by Jean Vollum Music Director David Danzmayr, the orchestra was joined by hometown heroes like M. Ward, Jimmie Herrod, Pink Martini, and drag legend Jinkx Monsoon. Pulitzer Prize-winner Caroline Shaw’s string quartets came to life in a “concert crawl” across Portland’s East Side. We showcased our own musicians with solo appearances by our outstanding percussion section and Janet & Richard Geary Concertmaster Sarah Kwak. And we performed five exceptional pieces by local composers, including 15-year-old Alejandro Belgique.
Innovative shows like Dolly Parton’s My Songs in Symphony, The Music of Square Enix, and Peppa Pig’s My First Concert brought new audiences to experience the magic of live music. Presenter Paul Rissman joined us for the debut of Naked Classics, which took audiences on a narrated journey into the secrets of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Avi Avital reimagined Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons for mandolin, Storm Large brought a contemporary cheekiness to Kurt Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins, and the classic films Chicago and Clue received their live-in-concert debuts on our stage. Each of these performances placed us at the center of Portland’s cultural life, bringing thousands of people downtown to experience world-class art.
Spotlight Moments
A Blockbuster Opening
We celebrated the start of the season with two back-to-back examples of music at its finest. First, GRAMMY-nominated songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird made his Oregon Symphony debut, sharing a mesmerizing blend of jazz, folk, and pop with a sold-out crowd. Just a few days later, renowned soloist Joshua Bell dazzled the crowd with Saint-Saëns’ Violin Concerto No. 3. Together, these performances set the tone for the season—one in which the Schnitz was filled night after night with classical greats and contemporary stars alike.
Sounds Like Portland
In celebration of Portland’s delightfully eclectic artistic culture, we showcased the city’s most exciting creative voices with a three-week festival: Sounds Like Portland. Legendary local performers including esperanza spalding, The Decemberists, and The Dandy Warhols gave rave-reviewed performances on the mainstage. And the festival became a city-wide affair as partner organizations gave their own Portland-centric choral, indie rock, and chamber music concerts. In total, the festival spanned a dozen performances at eight different venues on both sides of the Willamette River and welcomed more than 16,500 concertgoers. Prominent local and national news coverage reached another four million people nationwide, proving that Portland thrives when we invest in the arts.
Holidays in the Concert Hall
From Elf in Concert to the return of Merry-achi Christmas, audiences from across the region flocked to downtown Portland to create holiday memories with their loved ones. New traditions were established with our first annual Holiday Pops program. A time-honored classic, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, was given a fresh twist with live acrobatics by circus company Troupe Vertigo. And Portland darlings Pink Martini ended the holiday series with two sold-out shows, ringing in the New Year with their worldly blend of jazz, classical, and pop.
Bang It!
Percussion took center stage in the spring with our Bang It! Festival. Held in honor of percussionist and Composer-in-Residence Andy Akiho, this multi-week celebration featured a diversity of drumming styles on the main stage, from Wadaiko drumming by guest artists Drum Tao to Danny Elfman’s funky, film-inspired orchestral writing. In partnership with Portland Taiko, we held a free downtown event featuring Aztec, Korean, Ghanian, and Japanese drum performances, exploring the ways that drumming transcends cultures and unites us through a collective heartbeat. Chamber music and education partners across the city also joined us for the festival, hosting concerts and masterclasses that spanned our region from Portland State University to an outdoor performance at Hagg Lake.
Beneath Lighted Coffers
In tandem with the Bang It! festival, we released Andy Akiho: Beneath Lighted Coffers; Concerto for Steel Pans & Orchestra, our first recording project with Jean Vollum Music Director David Danzmayr. You can order the CD here.
“Whether you’re five years old or eighty years old, music touches us in ways we can barely express in words. It opens our hearts and our imaginations and inspires us to dream.”
—David Danzmayr, Jean Vollum Music Director
Education & Access
From block parties in downtown Portland to correctional facilities in Wilsonville and youth orchestras in Newberg, Oregon Symphony musicians brought world-class music to 41,401 Oregonians outside the concert hall last season—transforming our entire region through culture and connection.
We partnered with Gather:Make:Shelter and SoundsTruck NW to provide live music for a fashion show exhibiting the work of unhoused designers. Our musicians led masterclasses and audition coaching across the region for students preparing for the next steps in their artistic journeys. We celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Burnside Bridge with a live brass band, played at TedX Portland, serenaded Winter Light festivalgoers, and performed “O Fortuna” along with 7,000 recorder-wielding fourth graders in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Each of these experiences brought our community together, enriching lives and creating a shared sense of belonging.
Music Belongs Everywhere
Portland’s New Artist-In-Residence
In her first season as Artist-in-Residence, violinist and Pacific Northwest native Simone Porter has already become a beloved member of Portland’s artistic landscape. In addition to two showstopping performances of concertos by Mendelssohn and Philip Glass, Porter generously engaged with Portlanders through masterclasses, community performances, lectures, and more. She coached and performed for members of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Portland Youth Philharmonic, and BRAVO Youth Orchestras. She held a public recital and Q&A at Literary Arts inspired by her passion for reading. And she took center stage at our April Celebration Concert, a free performance in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall that welcomed a full house of 2,700 community members.
“It is amazing how a great musician and a wonderful human being can inspire and shape the life of a young person.” —BRAVO Youth Orchestras staff member, on Simone Porter
Bringing Joy to Children’s Hospitals
In December, we traveled to Randall Children’s Hospital for a joyful holiday concert—our first-ever live performance at the facility. In the face of hardship and pain, 45 children and their families lit up with smiles as festive music was performed, reminding us of the comforting and healing power of the arts. Simultaneously, we livestreamed the performance to patients at more than 50 children’s hospitals across the country, allowing patients to request their favorite carols from afar and interact with the musicians online.
Songs of Hope
This season, we expanded our annual Lullaby Project to reach incarcerated mothers at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility. Six mothers and mothers-to-be residing in the facility joined local teaching artists and Oregon Symphony musicians to compose beautiful songs of hope and love for their children. A group of musicians and songwriters returned to Coffee Creek in May to perform these powerful songs for an audience of nearly 100 women, including the mothers that participated in the project. This tearful and inspiring performance reflected the heartwarming care and dedication that each mother brought to their writing sessions.
“Music has a way of reaching our inner soul…listening to the words of all these songs that you guys wrote should give you the strength to fight the good fight…and fight for your children.” —Coffee Creek Correctional Officer, in an address to the Coffee Creek Lullaby Project audience
Young People’s Concerts
111 elementary and middle schools across Oregon joined us for this year’s Young People’s Concerts, “Sounds of Home.” The program explored the ways that music is shaped by the cultural and geographical backgrounds of a composer, and included selections by Sibelius, Florence Price, Ginastera, and more.
We are especially proud to have brought such a diversity of musical styles to students who may not otherwise have access to live orchestral music. Two-thirds of this year’s students identified as low-income or were enrolled in Title I schools, and 40% of participants lived or attended school in a rural area.
The Lullaby Project
The Lullaby Project uses the creative process of songwriting to bring parents and children closer together and strengthen families during challenging periods of life. The songs from this year’s Lullaby Project are now available to stream on SoundCloud.
People of the Drum
Rhythm took hold in the heart of Portland with People of the Drum, a free day of drumming featuring Mexica Tihuai, Oregon Korean Performing Arts, Alex Addy & Woshishijee, and Portland Taiko.
“Thank you so much for...the opportunity to see the incredible talent of the [Oregon Symphony] live in the beautiful Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. I know for many of my students, it is their only opportunity to witness such beauty.”
—Elementary School Teacher, Link Up program participant
Financial Facts
The Oregon Symphony continued its upward momentum in 2025/26, bringing hundreds of thousands of people into downtown Portland and beyond, and adding tens of millions of dollars to Oregon’s economy. Thank you to everyone who attended a concert, made a donation, volunteered at an event, or advocated for the importance of live music in our community. We are proud to call Oregon our home.
2025/2026 Season
Donor Honor Roll
The generosity of our community makes our work possible. We are grateful for the thousands of donors who provide support each year, and we want to especially thank the following donors for their leadership support. Explore the benefits of giving to the Oregon Symphony at orsymphony.org/benefits.
This list includes gifts received between July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026. We apologize for any omissions or misspellings. Please notify us of any adjustments.
JAMES DEPREIST SOCIETY
$50,000 AND ABOVE
Anonymous
A Symphony Friend
Courtney* & David Angeli
Tim & Mary Boyle
The Brookby Foundation
City of Portland Arts Access Fund
Truman Collins, Jr. & Nancy Ives**
Drs. Cliff* & Karen Deveney
Daniel* & Kathleen Drinkward
Karen & Bill+ Early
Fred W. Fields Fund of OCF
Dr. Thomas & Alix Goodman
Elizabeth N. Gray Fund of OCF
Wendy & Paul Greeney
Robert* & Dorothy Haley
Robert* & Janis Harrison
Heatherington Foundation for Innovation and Education in Health Care, LLC
Jeff Heatherington*
The Heathman Hotel
Rick* & Veronica Hinkes
Keller Foundation
Kristen* & Michael Kern
Estate of Leonard Kuhl
Estate of Laura S. Meier
James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation
Peggy* & Gilbert Miller
M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust
Estate of Elizabeth Ann Olson
Oregon Community Foundation
The Oregonian
Susan Phinney & Walter Weyler*
Pat Reser & Bill Westphal
James and Shirley Rippey Family Foundation
Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation
Jordan Schnitzer
MJ Steen*
Patrick* & Vicki Stone
Estate of Milan and Jean Stoyanov
Travel Oregon
Rose E. Tucker Charitable Trust
Jay and Diane Zidell Charitable Foundation
Pat Zimmerman & Paul Dinu
NORMAN LEYDEN SOCIETY
$25,000 –$49,999
Anonymous (3)
Evona Brim
Cascadia Foundation
The William G. Gilmore Foundation
Jerry* & Beth Hulsman
Estate of Sheila Jakobsen
Kun* Beckham Fund of OCF
Michele Mass* & Jim Edwards
Kaizad Mistry* & Leslie Armijo
National Endowment for the Arts
Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation
Bill & Debra Nippert
Oregon Arts Commission
Marcia H. Randall Foundation
Bonnie* & Peter Reagan Fund of OCF
Reser Family Foundation
Charlene & John+ Rogers
Lane* & Francine Shetterly
The Standard
TREL Foundation
The Jean Vollum Fund
Priscilla Bernard Wieden in loving memory of Dan Wieden
BEETHOVEN SOCIETY
$15,000–$24,999
Anonymous (2)
Robert & Jean Bennett
Sherry & Alan+ Bennett
Janice Bleibaum
Karl & Rebekah Choltus
Clark Foundation
John Cummings & Lori Rizzo-Cummings
Devil’s Food Catering
Hampton Family Foundation
Clayton* & Sudee Hering
Jackson Foundation
Emily Karr*
Maureen* & Brett Murphy
Roscoe* & Debra Nelson
Nike Employee Matching Gifts
Diane* & Herbert Rankin
Dick & Anne Schneider
Paul‡* & Amy Snyder
Sokol Blosser Winery
Steven Smith Teamaker
Liz* & Jason Walker
Washington Trust Bank
MOZART SOCIETY
$10,000–$14,999
Anonymous (6)
Anonymous, In Memory of Mayer D. Schwartz
Anonymous Fund of Salem Foundation
Carole Alexander
All Classical Portland
Art Of Catering
Celia & Ken Austin
Rich & Rachel Baek
Brent Barton*
Maureen Andrews Bradley*
Marcus & Emily Breuer
Rex Breunsbach & Alice Brocoum
William M. Brod Fund of OCF
Richard Louis Brown & Thomas Mark
Buchanan Angeli Sullivan & Ferrer LLP
Vincent & Katherine Cahill
Capital Manor
Rick Caskey & Sue Horn-Caskey+
Patrick Clark*
Susan & Mark Cooksey
COR Disposal and Recycling
Michael Davidson
Documart Portland
Wayne & Julie Drinkward
Kenneth & Ann Edwards
Robert & Mercedes Eichholz Foundation
Linda Euler
Cynthia Fellows
Kevin & Debbie Fillo
Lauren Fox & John Williamson
Christina* & Dan Friedhoff
Barbara Ghrist
Globe Foundation
Judith Goldsmith
Jonathan** & Yoko Greeney
Paul Hamilton
Jamey Hampton & Ashley Roland Fund of OCF
Tige* & Peggy Harris
Kelly Hibler
Robert & Marilyn Hodson
Pam Horan
Hank & Judy+ Hummelt
Humphreys Family Foundation of Scottsdale
Jon V. Jaqua & Kimberly B. Cooper Fund of OCF
Barbara Kahl & Roger Johnston
Harry & Marguerite Kendall Fund of OCF
Steve Kenney
Andrew Kern
Magaurn Video Media
Ruth Manary Fund at The Samuel S. Johnson Foundation
Darren* & Inge Marshall
Michael & Susan Mueller
The Olive Bridge Fund of OCF
Susan Olson & Bill Nelson
Franklin & Dorothy Piacentini Charitable Trust
Charles & Jennifer+ Putney
Shannon* & John Riggs
Dr. Don & Mrs. Sally Romanaggi
Salem Foundation
Frank & Karen Sampson
Michael Sands & Jane Robinson
Diana & Hal Scoggins
The Swigert Foundation
Karen Tozer
Shelly Valckenier-de Greeve & Jake Sullivan
Erica Van Baalen & David Hicks
Elizabeth Verner-Cole
The Wollenberg Foundation
Jeffrey Yandle & Molly Moran-Yandle
The Oregon Symphony receives support from the Oregon Arts Commission, a policymaking and advisory body with the Oregon Business Development Department, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
* Current Board Member
** Current Musician
‡ Current Staff
+ In Memoriam