The Phoenix Symphony has unveiled Crescendo: The Campaign for The Phoenix Symphony, a $60 million fundraising effort aimed at supporting symphonic music in Arizona. This initiative coincides with the Symphony’s approach to its 80th season and is its most ambitious philanthropic endeavor to date, focusing on artistic excellence, community engagement, and sustainability.
Phoenix Symphony President and CEO Peter Kjome expressed optimism about the campaign, stating, “Crescendo embodies our shared vision for the Phoenix Symphony as we move together toward a bright future for our great orchestra, enriching our community today and for generations to come.” Kjome noted that the campaign has already raised over $10 million, attributing this success to significant contributions from Jeanne Herberger and other key leaders.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego highlighted the Symphony’s long-standing role in the community, saying, “The Phoenix Symphony has been a vital part of our city for nearly 80 years as a cornerstone of our community’s cultural and civic identity.” She emphasized the campaign’s potential to “elevate the spirit of Phoenix and a more connected, vibrant future for all who call this city home.”
The campaign’s funding goal allocates $40 million to build the Symphony’s endowment, labeled Building a Lasting Legacy, which supports the orchestra’s mission. The remaining $20 million, categorized under Strengthening and Expanding Our Programs, aims to enhance and grow the Symphony’s programming and community engagement efforts.
Leadership for the campaign includes Sharon and Ollie Harper and Kathleen and John Graham as Honorary Co-Chairs. Additionally, Michele and Matt Feeney, along with Edie and Eric Bieber, serve as Campaign Chairs. These leaders play a crucial role in shaping a new era for the Symphony.
The public debut of the campaign was marked by an event held at Symphony Hall on April 29, featuring remarks from Mayor Gallego and other notable figures. It was announced during this event that the “Classics Series” would be renamed the “Jeanne L. Herberger Classical Series” in honor of Herberger’s $4 million contribution to the campaign.
In the coming months, the Symphony plans to share stories of impact, showcase donor contributions, and invite community involvement in this initiative. Campaign Co-Chair Matt Feeney described Crescendo as “an investment in the cultural vitality of our entire community,” while Co-Chair Eric Bieber stated that the campaign would help sustain the Symphony’s artistic excellence for future generations.
The Symphony has also announced that its ticketing system will experience a temporary downtime on May 1 from 9:00 PM until 6:00 AM on May 2.
