2016–2017
Digital Annual Report
The 2016–2017 season was another exciting and defining year in Carnegie Hall’s storied history—a history that you help us write anew each and every year.
View full annual report (PDF) or jump to a section below:
Season Highlights | 125 Commissions Project | Digital Reach | Weill Music Institute
Ensemble Connect | Support | Financials | Thank You
Season Highlights
You made inspiring discoveries and experienced the world’s greatest artists.
- There were more than 130 concerts in a vast range of genres.
- The Neighborhood Concert series brought 32 free concerts to neighborhoods in each of the five boroughs.
You discovered the artistic legacy and unheard masterworks of the Venetian Republic.
Once again, a Carnegie Hall festival was a major event on the cultural landscape. For two and a half weeks in February, La Serenissima: Music and Arts of the Venetian Republic celebrated the dazzling artistic legacy of the unique city-state.
- There were 13 concerts in Carnegie Hall featuring such artists as Jordi Savall, Venice Baroque Orchestra, Concerto Italiano, and others.
- More than a dozen citywide partner institutions presented more than 18 events, including exhibitions, talks, films, and more.
You celebrated important milestones.
Series curated by internationally acclaimed artists provided wonderful musical journeys for concertgoers throughout the year.
- Steve Reich, the Richard and Barbara Debs Composer’s Chair, celebrated his 80th birthday by curating Three Generations, a four-concert series that explored the evolution of music from the mid–20th century to today.
- Daniel Barenboim marked the 60th anniversary of his Carnegie Hall debut leading the Staatskapelle Berlin in a complete cycle of Bruckner’s numbered symphonies paired with music by Mozart, which he conducted from the keyboard.
- Sir Simon Rattle returned for the second season of his two-year Perspectives series, including his final New York appearances as music director of the Berliner Philharmoniker.
125 Commissions Project
You invested in the future of music.
Carnegie Hall is a place where music history continues to be made, and the 2016–2017 season marked the second of its five-season 125 Commissions Project, ensuring that the future is heard today.
- More than two dozen new works from leading composers—both established and emerging—were premiered at Carnegie Hall.
- Steve Reich, Nico Muhly, Sofia Gubaidulina, Caroline Shaw, and many others debuted notable new works during the season.
Digital Reach
You shared the power of music on a global scale.
Carnegie Hall’s mission of bringing the gift of music to the greatest number of people was served during the 2016–2017 season through myriad digital initiatives.
- Carnegie Hall and WQXR-FM, in partnership with WFMT Radio Networks, launched the sixth year of the Carnegie Hall Live series with a broadcast of the Opening Night Gala. Listen On Demand
- WQXR and Carnegie Hall also hosted live conversations on Twitter with participants using the hashtag #CHLive.
- The partnership with medici.tv entered its third season with five webcasts that reached more than 1.7 million viewers. Watch On Demand
- The Google Cultural Institute remained a vital part of Carnegie Hall’s digital programming with exhibitions that complemented the season’s programming and more. View Exhibit: "An Evening of Fashion & Music at Carnegie Hall"
- Carnegie Hall’s dedication to sharing the transformative power of music was presented in “Because the Arts Matter,” a digital fundraising campaign on the Carnegie Hall website and social media channels.
- Carnegie Hall entered its second season as an Apple Music curator. Apple Music subscribers listened to playlists that explored Carnegie Hall season programming, sampled rare historical recordings, and enjoyed guest-curated playlists.
Weill Music Institute
You enriched lives through innovative music education and social impact programs.
More than half a million people in New York City, across the US, and around the globe enjoyed a remarkable range of music education and social impact programs from Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute (WMI) during the 2016–2017 season. WMI’s national and international partnerships, New York City school and community initiatives, innovative offerings at Carnegie Hall, and online curricula, videos, and other resources spread the joy of music throughout the season.
Family and Community
Students and Teachers
Ensemble Connect
You experienced the power of combining musical excellence, teaching, community engagement, and leadership through Ensemble Connect.
The 18 young professional musicians of Ensemble Connect—formerly known as Ensemble ACJW—began their two-year fellowship with performances at a number of New York venues and worked with partner music teachers in public schools across all five boroughs.
- 2016–2017 marked the 10th anniversary of Ensemble Connect.
- The ensemble opened its Carnegie Hall series with a performance of Schubert’s Winterreise—A Composed Interpretation by Hans Zender. Sir Simon Rattle conducted the work, which featured tenor Mark Padmore.
- Ensemble Connect traveled to Paris in December for a weeklong residency in cooperation with The Edmond de Rothschild Foundations.
- In June, Ensemble Connect launched its first Audience Engagement Institute, creating an opportunity for the fellows to share skills with a range of young professional musicians.
Support
You supported the continued expansion of artistic and education programs.
Carnegie Hall was born from the vision of a great philanthropist, and to this day the generosity of our donors is the bedrock of its continued success. We thank our generous Trustees and the nearly 11,000 donors who contributed more than $27 million for the Annual Fund during the 2016–2017 season, and strengthened Carnegie Hall’s capacity to serve broad new audiences for years to come. View donor listing (PDF)
Highlights of the year included the following:
- Carnegie Hall unveiled the newly named Blavatnik Family First Tier in recognition of a leading gift of $25 million to the Hall’s 125th Anniversary Campaign from Len Blavatnik and the Blavatnik Family Foundation.
- We launched our season on October 6, 2016 with a gala concert featuring the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, followed by a post-concert dinner and dancing at the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria.
- Adrienne Arsht was presented the 2017 Medal of Excellence by Carnegie Hall Chairman Robert F. Smith, becoming the first woman to receive the honor. Cocktails, dinner, the award ceremony, and performances by Liz Callaway, Storm Large, Daniela Liebman, Nova Y. Payton, Melissa Schott, and Bria Skonberg were held in the Grand Ballroom of The Plaza.
You helped the organization maintain a strong financial position.
