Underwriting Opportunities Booklet - The John F. Kennedy Center ...

national
symphony
orchestra
underwriting
opportunities

TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Welcome from the Music Director Page 1
Why Support the NSO? Page 2-3
Underwriting Opportunities:
Artistic Programming Page 4-7
Family Programming Page 8-9
Education & Outreach Programming Page 10-11
Sample Underwriting Benefits Page 12-13

WELCOME FROM THE
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Dear Friends,
It is an honor to serve as the Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra.
Throughout my tenure, I have been grateful for the opportunity to work with an
ensemble as passionate as the NSO, which provides an exceptional offering of artistic
and educational programming for adults, children, and families each year.
This season, the NSO and its musicians will once again welcome acclaimed guest
soloists and conductors to the Kennedy Center Concert Hall stage for a diverse array
of Classical and Pops presentations. We will also offer popular initiatives for young
people, including Family Concerts, Kinderkonzerts, Connections Ensemble Concerts,
and Young People’s Concerts.
Through these many programs, the NSO strives to instill a lifelong appreciation for
orchestral music among audiences locally, nationally, and around the world.
I hope you will consider supporting one of the many NSO programs highlighted in this
booklet. By partnering with the Orchestra in this capacity, you will assist us in furthering
our mission to make symphonic music of the highest quality available for all to enjoy.
1

WHY SUPPORT THE NSO?
· The NSO plays an integral role in the classical music
community in the United States and around the world,
offering a full season of high caliber, engaging programming
for audiences of all demographics each year.
· Designated underwriting presents the opportunity for
you to have a closer connection to a particular NSO
project or initiative.
· Prominent visibility at the Kennedy Center—our nation’s
leading performing arts center—and throughout the
Washington, D.C. region.
2

· Exclusive networking opportunities at the Center’s many
special events including The Kennedy Center Honors
Gala, the NSO Season Opening Ball, the Kennedy Center
Spring Gala, and The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
· Extensive recognition in all printed materials and
advertisements related to the underwriting, as applicable.
· Special advance ticket eligibility for the annual Kennedy
Center Honors.
· Unique hospitality opportunities to reward or entertain
employees, clients, and other special guests.
3

ARTISTIC PROGRAMMING
OPPORTUNITIES
SUBSCRIBER SERIES
The National Symphony Orchestra’s Classical Season features two unique Subscriber
Series available for underwriting: the Red Series and the Green Series. Comprised
of approximately 21 concerts or 7 concert weeks of programming evenly spread
throughout the Classical Season, each series features performances of some of the
finest symphonic works by Maestro Eschenbach and guest artists from around the
world. Past performers who have participated in these series include conductors
John Adams and Helmuth Rilling, violinists Gidon Kremer and Leonidas Kavakos,
singers Nathalie Stutzmann and Matthias Goerne, and pianists Yuja Wang and
Nelson Freire. As the underwriter of the Orchestra’s Green or Red Series, you will
gain extensive visibility from October through June, reaching the greater Washington,
D.C. metropolitan area.
CHRISTOPH ESCHENBACH
CONCERT WEEK
This season, NSO Music Director Christoph
Eschenbach leads the National Symphony
Orchestra in several thrilling concert weeks on
the Center’s Concert Hall stage. A conductor in
great demand both nationally and internationally,
the Maestro has held previous posts with the
Orchestre de Paris, the Philadelphia Orchestra,
the Houston Symphony Orchestra, and the
Ravinia Festival. A prolific recording artist over
five decades, he also boasts an impressive
discography as both conductor and pianist on
a number of prominent labels. In past seasons,
Maestro Eschenbach has conducted classical
works by Beethoven, Schubert, Shostakovich,
Tchaikovsky, Liszt, Widmann, Pintscher, Mozart,
Thomas, Britten, Dvořák, and Bruckner, as well
as performances in conjunction with Kennedy
Center festivals and special celebrations.
Support of a Christoph Eschenbach Concert
Week would associate you with three
performances led by this renowned conductor.
4

GREAT SOLOISTS SERIES
Each year, the NSO collaborates with some of the world’s most talented artists in
exciting concert performances, which collectively form the Great Soloists Series.
These performers are amongst the finest in their respective fields and, in previous
seasons, have included violinists Gil Shaham, Midori, and Leila Josefowicz, pianists
Emanuel Ax, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and Lang Lang, cellists Claudio Bohórquez and
Yo-Yo Ma, and sopranos Marisol Montalvo and Dawn Upshaw. Support of these
concerts will display your commitment to providing Washington, D.C. area residents
access to symphonic music of the highest quality.
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC SERIES
The NSO has a longstanding tradition of promoting and presenting contemporary
orchestral works and commissions throughout each season. Forming a Contemporary
Music Series, these concerts offer audiences the opportunity to experience today’s
finest new orchestral music, including both U.S. and World Premieres. Previously,
this series has featured the Orchestra in performances of music by Sean Shepherd,
George Benjamin, Anna Clyne, Steven Mackey, Detlev Glanert, Jörg Widmann, and
Bill Banfield. These concerts are led by notable contemporary music interpreters such
as Oliver Knussen, Leonard Slatkin, and the NSO’s own Christoph Eschenbach. This
series seeks the support of those who value the ambitious, innovative, and creative
process of the arts. Underwriting this series will allow you to further your association
with some of the most progressive names in contemporary music.
5

ARTISTIC PROGRAMMING
OPPORTUNITIES
SEASON OPENING BALL
The Kennedy Center’s season begins in September with the spectacular NSO Season
Opening Ball. This event is a cultural highlight for residents in the Washington, D.C.
region and includes an NSO concert performance led by Maestro Eschenbach, followed
by dinner and dancing on the South Plaza. In previous years, the concert performance
has showcased the talents of exceptional musicians such as violinist Joshua Bell,
pianist Lang Lang, and soprano Renée Fleming. Each year, this celebration attracts
many Fortune 500 company executives, government officials, prominent politicians,
members of the diplomatic corps, and philanthropic leaders from across the nation. The
Ball is the perfect opportunity to gain prime visibility and networking opportunities with
an elite group of business and social leaders in the greater Washington metropolitan
area. Single tables at this event are also available for purchase, should you wish to
entertain guests in this manner.
6

POPS SEASON
Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke leads the NSO in a six-week series of Pops
programming that spans from October to May. The series often presents performances
infused with elements from musical genres such as jazz, musical theater, and swing.
Programs from past seasons have included A Date with Idina Menzel, Ben Folds Rocks
the Pops, Sondheim at 80, Disney in Concert, Some Enchanted Evening: The Music
of Rodgers and Hammerstein, An Unforgettable Tribute to Nat King Cole, Cirque de
la Symphonie, and What’s Going On featuring John Legend. These performances are
some of the Center’s best-selling events each season and reward underwriters with
steadily increasing visibility and an association unlike any other in Washington.
HANDEL’S MESSIAH
As an annual holiday tradition, the Orchestra presents Handel’s famous Messiah each
December. The performances of this beloved masterpiece have been heralded as a
season favorite among the Washington, D.C. community, and have recently featured
the talents of conductors Matthew Halls and Rinaldo Alessandrini, several famous
singers, and The University of Maryland Concert Choir. For many years, the NSO
has welcomed volunteers from the Capital Area Food Bank to collect canned-good
donations prior to the concert, raising awareness of hunger in America during the
holiday season. As one of the Center’s most widely-anticipated events, the Messiah
provides widespread visibility and the potential to establish an annual presence at the
Kennedy Center.
7

FAMILY PROGRAMMING
OPPORTUNITIES
FAMILY SEASON
The Orchestra’s Family Season includes Family Concerts, Kinderkonzerts, Teddy
Bear Concerts, and Connections Ensemble Concerts. The subject matter of these
performances is often tied to school curriculum, teaches important life lessons and
skills for everyday use, and provides an enjoyable and entertaining experience for
children and adults alike. Underwriting the Family Season affords you the unique
opportunity to provide young people and families access to the finest in classical
music entertainment, and further enhance their quality of life and appreciation for the
performing arts.
FAMILY CONCERTS SERIES
Family Concerts bring favorite stories to life through lively narration, multimedia, and
music in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. The NSO offers three Family Concert
programs, each performed twice, for a total of six performances each season. Family
Concerts offer a wonderful opportunity for families with children aged five and up
to attend a full-orchestra performance by the NSO. Past Family Concerts include
Spooky Sounds and Scary Tales, Peter and the Wolf with the Oscar®-winning film by
Suzie Templeton, Orchestra from Planet X, Magic Circle Mime Company: The Mozart
Experience, and Go, Team, Go! Prior to a performance, young concertgoers can
participate in a musical instrument “Petting Zoo,” where they have the chance to try out
a variety of musical instruments and explore making different sounds. Young audience
members can also stay after the 3:00 pm performances for a Kids’ Chat where they
ask questions and hear engaging stories in an up-close-and-personal discussion with
the concert artists. Underwriting opportunities for one Family Concert program (two
concerts each) are also available.
8

KINDERKONZERTS SERIES
Designed to acquaint young children with symphonic music and the instruments of
the Orchestra, Kinderkonzerts feature small groups of NSO musicians who perform
short pieces of music, both classical and contemporary. These performances involve
children as participants as well as observers in an interactive concert setting. Previous
Kinderkonzerts have included Strings and Stories and Making Music with Friends,
both featuring the Kennedy String Quartet, and Got Rhythm?, an exploration of where
rhythm comes. Young people can also engage in musical instrument “Petting Zoos”
prior to each Kinderkonzert. The NSO presents approximately 16 performances of two
to three different Kinderkonzert programs each season. Underwriting opportunities for
single programs are also available.
TEDDY BEAR CONCERTS SERIES
Teddy Bear Concerts, based upon the
European tradition of young children bringing
their favorite stuffed animals to a concert,
are extremely popular among children aged
three to five and their families. Teddy Bear
Concerts showcase small ensembles of
NSO musicians who share stories, sound
effects, children’s songs, and pieces from
the classical musical repertoire. Prior to each
performance, families can elect to take part
in “Musical Playtime,” consisting of music and
movement activities for small children. Recent
seasons have featured programs such as The
Tale of Teddy and the Ten Hats and Tunes ‘n’
Tales, programs that showcase how different
sounds, melodies, rhythms, and instruments
can be used to bring a story to life. The NSO
presents approximately nine performances of
three different Teddy Bear Concert programs
each season. Underwriting opportunities for
single programs are also available.
CONNECTIONS ENSEMBLE CONCERTS SERIES
Designed for young audiences aged nine and up, Connections Ensemble Concerts
integrate educational curriculum with music in innovative ways. Yvonne Caruthers,
NSO cellist and the Connections series creator, leads these popular educational
concert programs. Connections Concerts utilize multimedia technology as a method
to engage students and help them understand music as it correlates to subjects such
as math, science, history and language. During past seasons, the Connections series
has included presentations of MORE Science and Music, MORE Math and Music, and
MORE History and Music. The NSO presents approximately eight performances of the
chosen Connections Ensemble Concert program each season.
9

EDUCATION & OUTREACH
PROGRAMMING
OPPORTUNITIES
YOUNG PEOPLE’S CONCERTS SERIES
Young People’s Concerts bring thousands of students and teachers to the Kennedy
Center Concert Hall for approximately 16 performances each season. Designed for
children in grades three through six, Young People’s Concerts aim to provide children
with access to classical music they may not otherwise experience, while promoting
learning, discipline, and creativity. The concerts feature informative student and
teacher Cuesheets, educational tools distributed six months prior to the performance
to enhance the concert experience, and are presented with a live video image of the
musicians’ performance projected onto a large screen above the stage. In previous
seasons, the series has included Beethoven Rocks!, Sounds of Time, and Sound
Science, with the works of Beethoven, Debussy, John Williams, and others to illustrate
the relationship between various curriculum topics and music.
IN-SCHOOL ENSEMBLES SERIES
Through the In-School Ensembles program, the NSO aims to enhance the musical
education of young people in the Washington, D.C. region through outreach in schools
throughout the year. This initiative brings small groups of NSO musicians into elementary
and middle school classrooms, and features over ten different programs that teachers
can choose from for presentation in their classrooms. Ensembles introduce musical
concepts and symphonic works, and relate them to curriculum topics including science,
history, and cultural heritage. Programs offered each season include Dynamic Duo, a
violin and viola team; Presto!, a string trio; and Follow That Fiddle, a one-man show by
NSO musician Glenn Donnellan that follows the development of the violin and fiddle
around the world.
10

NSO IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
NSO in Your Neighborhood is an initiative of the National Symphony Orchestra that
strives to broaden access to and appreciation for live symphonic music among local
communities. To advance these efforts, the Orchestra is building deeper relationships
with local communities by presenting performances and providing educational activities
in neighborhood venues, and by encouraging community involvement in activities
at the Kennedy Center. This week-long residency program includes full-orchestra
performances, chamber music concerts, in-school visits, instrument “Petting Zoos,”
and educational activities throughout a selected D.C. area neighborhood. In January
2012 this residency took place throughout Columbia Heights, where the Orchestra
participated in 35 education and outreach activities in 25 venues, impacting over 5,000
people.
SUMMER MUSIC INSTITUTE
The Summer Music Institute is a four-week, full scholarship, orchestral training program
for exceptionally gifted high school musicians from around the world that takes place
every summer at the Kennedy Center. The Summer Music Institute includes individual
coaching by members of the National Symphony Orchestra, master classes, and
seminars on practicing and ensemble skills. In addition to these training sessions, the
students also give a series of free concerts on the Center’s Millennium Stage, a program
that offers free, accessible, and innovative local and international performances to the
Washington, D.C. community. Single student scholarship underwriting opportunities
are also available.
YOUNG SOLOISTS’ COMPETITION
Held each spring, the Young Soloists’ Competition encourages the development of
high school instrumentalists in the Washington metropolitan area. Ten students are
selected to compete in the final round of competition which is free and open to the
public, and held in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. The winner of the competition
has the opportunity to perform with the NSO in a future season, and receives a small
cash award.
YOUTH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
The Youth Fellowship Program selects approximately 20 high school instrumentalists
from Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia by audition each season to study
with NSO musicians. This initiative is a full-scholarship, year-long orchestral training
program that affords participants access to performances, master classes, rehearsals,
and question-and-answer sessions with guest artists, among other activities. In the
past, Fellows have been able to interact with many acclaimed musicians and guest
artists including violinist Gil Shaham and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Throughout the season,
the young musicians showcase their talent on the Kennedy Center’s Millennium
Stage. Several NSO Youth Fellowship Program participants have gone on to achieve
great success with orchestras throughout the country, including those in Philadelphia,
Atlanta, Cleveland, and Houston, as well as our own National Symphony Orchestra.
11

SAMPLE
UNDERWRITING BENEFITS
Please find sample underwriting benefits below for your reference. Benefits are
tailored to each underwritten program and scaled to the level of support.
NAME VISIBILITY AND MEDIA EXPOSURE
Text and/or logo ID included in all NSO media related to the underwriting, as
applicable. Examples include:
· Logo ID and/or text recognition in season banners, window displays, and
posters displayed at the Kennedy Center.
· Logo ID and/or name recognition in print advertisements for NSO concerts in
The Washington Post and other media outlets.
· Text recognition on single performance tickets.
· Program page credit and listing among donors in PLAYBILL®, the program
books for each Kennedy Center performance, with an annual circulation of
more than 3.7 million.
· Name recognition in the Kennedy Center News, a bimonthly glossy magazine
that is distributed to 350,000 households and businesses throughout the
Washington metropolitan area each year.
· Text recognition in the Kennedy Center Corporate Fund brochure and on various
press releases and brochures associated with the underwriting, if applicable.
· A listing among donors in The Kennedy Center Honors commemorative
program book.
· Logo ID and text on appropriate NSO concert webpages, and the Kennedy
Center’s contributors webpage with hyperlink to the company’s community
support webpage, if applicable.
CROSS-PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
· Prominent mention in programming/underwriting special press release
announcement and all NSO and Kennedy Center printed materials and
announcements, as appropriate, related to the underwriting.
· The right to incorporate the National Symphony Orchestra and Kennedy
Center name, marks, and logo into appropriate packaging and advertising to
promote its association with the name and image of the NSO and Kennedy
Center, with prior approval of the NSO.
12

ENTERTAINMENT & HOSPITALITY
VIP privileges at the Kennedy Center for designated benefit recipients, including:
· Invitations to special events, admittance to the high-level donor lounges in the
Concert Hall, Opera House, and Eisenhower Theater (each lounge offers full
bar services), and exclusive reserved parking in the Kennedy Center garage.
· A bank of complimentary tickets to Kennedy Center performances throughout
the year of the underwriting.
· An NSO-hosted dinner for twelve (12) in conjunction with one of the Kennedy
Center performances to include: complimentary premium seats, free parking,
special recognition in PLAYBILL®, and a post-concert backstage visit.
· A priority advance invitation to purchase tickets to the acclaimed Kennedy
Center Honors held in early December each year which could include a
complimentary invitation for the host couple to attend the Chairman’s
Honorees Luncheon during Honors weekend.
· The opportunity to host private receptions or dinners for your guests in one
of the Kennedy Center’s many elegant function rooms. The Kennedy Center
staff will provide personalized assistance in arranging your event. Room rental
fees will be reduced or waived and the Kennedy Center will extend its
preferred rate on catering.
· Premium opportunities for entertaining at exclusive NSO and Kennedy Center
events, which could include:
· Tickets to the NSO Season Opening Ball held in September.
· Tickets to the Center’s various additional special events during the season
including: Washington National Opera’s Opening Gala in September,
The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor held in November, the Kennedy
Center Spring Gala held in early May, the Opera Ball in June, and the
Center’s annual Fourth of July Celebration.
Contributions to the National Symphony Orchestra, a program of the
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, are tax-deductible.
The National Symphony Orchestra welcomes the opportunity to
customize the above benefits, as appropriate, to accommodate
your individual needs, objectives, and interests.
For additional information regarding corporate underwriting
opportunities or foundation support, please contact the NSO
Development Department at (202) 416-8091. For more information
regarding individual support, please call (202) 416-8071. To e-mail
your inquiry, please contact corporatefund@kennedy-center.org.
National Symphony Orchestra
Development Office
P.O. Box 101510
Arlington, VA 22210
Fax: (202) 416-4881 13

National Symphony Orchestra
Development Office
P.O. Box 101510
Arlington, VA 22210
Fax: (202) 416-4881
DESIGN BY HITCHCOCK CREATIVE
PHOTOGRAPHS BY CLIVE BARDA, MAURICE JERRY BEZNOS, MARCO BORGGREVE,
FELIX BROEDE, ANDREW ECCLES, J. HENRY FAIR, PHILIP GLASSER, KRISTIN
HOEBERMANN, HARALD HOFFMAN, JAMIE JUNG, KASSKARA, MARGARETTA MITCHELL,
MICHAEL O’NEILL, CAROL PRATT, JAVIER DEL REAL, MARGOT SCHULMAN, DANIEL
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