Victoria Symphony Society

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Tax ID 119285286RR0001 Canada 🇨🇦
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About Victoria Symphony Society

Overview

The Victoria Symphony Society (VSS) enriches lives through sharing the experience of extraordinary music. It provides concerts, educates people through its outreach programs, and contributes to the artistic and cultural scenes of different communities on Vancouver Island. In the 2019/2020 fiscal year, despite canceling their season in the last quarter, they held over 55 concerts and events with over 93,000 in attendance. With the worldwide pandemic, VSS was required by provincial health authorities to cancel its F2019/20 season in March 2020. It will not be able to perform live again until there is a vaccine or treatment available for Covid 19 as it is in Phase 4 of the BC reopening plan. The organization has decided to pivot to a virtual program, which will begin in September 2020.

Mission

The Victoria Symphony Society exists to inspire, educate, and captivate its community through the transformative power of music. It fulfills this purpose by delivering professional orchestral performances, running extensive youth and community education programs, and contributing to the artistic and cultural life of communities across Vancouver Island.

Vision

The Victoria Symphony Society envisions music as essential to a vibrant community and a well-rounded education, working toward a future in which more people across Vancouver Island can experience the transformative power of live orchestral music. It strives to be a cultural anchor for its region — championing Canadian new music, fostering accessibility through free and affordable programming, and placing the orchestra at the centre of a collaborative, thriving arts ecosystem.

Unique value proposition

The Victoria Symphony Society distinguishes itself through the breadth and depth of its community integration on Vancouver Island. It is recognized as a national leader in promoting Canadian new music, hosts Symphony Splash — one of the largest annual symphony events in North America, performed on a barge in Victoria's Inner Harbour — and directs over 95% of its expenditures to local musicians, employees, and businesses. Its robust education programs reach students from kindergarten through young adulthood across multiple school districts, and its extensive collaborative partnerships with organizations such as Pacific Opera Victoria, Ballet Victoria, and the Victoria Native Friendship Centre position it as the connective hub of Greater Victoria's cultural community.

Financial overview

Revenue (2025)
$6,993,925
Expenses (2025)
$6,475,170
Total assets
$2,574,835
Liabilities
$1,768,593
Year Revenue Expenses Program Admin Fundraising
2025 $6,993,925.00 $6,475,170.00 $4,928,493.00 $1,317,772.00 $219,692.00
2024 $6,080,562.00 $6,137,127.00 $4,524,119.00 $1,254,095.00 $217,814.00
2023 $5,992,739.00 $6,020,566.00 $4,057,892.00 $1,034,423.00 $468,824.00
2022 $4,475,567.00 $5,029,454.00 $3,765,264.00 $970,038.00 $174,365.00
2021 $5,326,104.00 $4,632,083.00 $2,110,811.00 $957,111.00 $62,601.00
2020 $5,035,854.00 $4,786,031.00 $3,490,981.00 $1,081,571.00 $213,479.00

Financial data sourced from the Canada Revenue Agency.

Revenue, expenses and assets

Revenue sources

Assets and liabilities

Spending mix by year

Leadership team

MW

Matthew White

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

CK

Christian Kluxen

Music Director

AH

Alan Hollingworth

President, Board of Directors

RG

Richard Greenwood

Board Member

CS

C. Stephen Smith

Board Member

Trusted by

NWM Acts of Grace Charis CNCF

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