EIN 13-2838450

American Composers Orchestra (ACO)

IRS 501(c) type
501(c)(3)
Num. employees
175
Year formed
1977
Most recent tax filings
2023-06-01
Description
American Composers Orchestra (ACO) is the only orchestra in the world dedicated to the creation, performance, preservation and promulgation of music by American composers.
Total revenues
$1,974,579
2023
Total expenses
$1,950,844
2023
Total assets
$3,274,731
2023
Num. employees
175
2023

Program areas at ACO

Concert performances featuring American composersaco's 22-23 nyc season featuring its ensemble included 12 works by American Composers. 50% of the featured Composers were female or nonbinary, and 67% were bipoc. In addition, aco presented 12 events as part of its sonic festival in nyc. In-person concerts served over 2300 live audience in new york city. Aco's direct presentations included two concerts at zankel hall at carnegie hall in october 2022 and march 2023, as well as a colaboratory showcase in june 2023, which featured three works developed via aco's earshot colaboratory residency program.
Music education program in the 2022-23 season, aco directly served 350 students through in-school, after-school, and distance-learning programs for middle and high school students. Programs included sonic spark ensembles, middle and high school direct instrumental and voice instruction; compose yourself, high school composition classes; sonic spark lab, middle and high school composition and creativity classes. Programs included weekly school-based classes and project-based creative capacity building led by teaching artists, and direct music composition instruction with aco's education director. Aco's classes served seven public nyc schools with a population of 74% alaana/bipoc, 21% with a disability, 6% english language learner, 85% low income.
Earshot: opportunities for emerging Composers American Composers Orchestra's composer advancement initiatives, earshot is the first ongoing, systematic program for developing relationships between Composers and orchestras on the national level. Through orchestral readings, colaboratory fellowships, consortium commissions, and professional development, earshot ensures a vibrant musical future by investing in creativity today. Aco produced eight virtual professional development webinars on topics including networking, self-publishing, commissioning agreements and consortia, orchestration, fundraising, public speaking, and more, serving 1,127 individuals. Aco's earshot readings served 20 featured artists via its own june readings in nyc, and four others in partnership with symphony orchestras in dallas, tx, atlanta, ga, and naples, fl, as well as the next festival of emerging artists in nyc. Colaboratory provided commissions and workshops to six artists creating five works.

Who funds American Composers Orchestra (ACO)

Grants from foundations and other nonprofits
GrantmakerDescriptionAmount
The Howard Gilman FoundationFoundation Grant - General Operating Support$140,000
Altman FoundationFor Capacity Building in Support of Its Composer Advancement Initiatives$75,000
Macmillan Family FoundationGeneral Purpose$75,000
...and 20 more grants received totalling $614,549

Personnel at ACO

NameTitleCompensation
Melissa NganPresident and Chief Executive Officer$180,500
Lyndsay WerkingDirector of Development and Communications
Kevin JamesDirector of Education
Curtis StewartArtistic Director
Derek BermelDirector$2,000
...and 14 more key personnel

Financials for ACO

RevenuesFYE 06/2023
Total grants, contributions, etc.$1,697,021
Program services$247,923
Investment income and dividends$60,621
Tax-exempt bond proceeds$0
Royalty revenue$0
Net rental income$0
Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets$-55,453
Net income from fundraising events$0
Net income from gaming activities$0
Net income from sales of inventory$0
Miscellaneous revenues$24,467
Total revenues$1,974,579

Form 990s for ACO

Fiscal year endingDate received by IRSFormPDF link
2023-062024-05-03990View PDF
2022-062023-05-12990View PDF
2021-062022-05-12990View PDF
2020-062021-05-11990View PDF
2019-062021-01-21990View PDF
...and 9 more Form 990s
Data update history
August 11, 2024
Posted financials
Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2023
August 2, 2024
Updated personnel
Identified 2 new personnel
July 15, 2024
Received grants
Identified 10 new grant, including a grant for $65,000 from TD Charitable Foundation
May 17, 2024
Received grants
Identified 1 new grant, including a grant for $11,500 from The Aaron Copland Fund for Music
January 3, 2024
Received grants
Identified 5 new grant, including a grant for $140,000 from The Howard Gilman Foundation
Nonprofit Types
Arts, culture, and humanities nonprofitsPerforming arts organizationsMusical groupsCharities
Issues
EducationArts, cultural, and humanitiesCommunity improvementBusiness and industry
Characteristics
Fundraising eventsReceives government fundingEndowed supportCommunity engagement / volunteeringTax deductible donationsAccepts online donations
General information
Address
224 W 35th St 500
New York, NY 10001
Metro area
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
County
New York County, NY
Website URL
americancomposers.org/ 
Phone
(212) 977-8495
Facebook page
american.composers.orchestra 
Twitter profile
@amercomporch 
IRS details
EIN
13-2838450
Fiscal year end
June
Taxreturn type
Form 990
Year formed
1977
Eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions (Pub 78)
Yes
Categorization
NTEE code, primary
A03: Arts, Culture and Humanities Professional Societies and Associations
NAICS code, primary
711130: Musical Groups and Artists
Parent/child status
Independent
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