AUDIENCE NUMBERS UP AND FINANCES IN GOOD SHAPE …

… AS TSO RECORDS AN EXCELLENT YEAR IN 2014

The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra has released its Annual Report for 2014 which cites a 34 per cent increase in paid attendances on the previous year, including a substantial jump in subscriptions, a very significant outcome for the award-winning orchestra which has been a Tasmanian institution since 1948.

TSO Chair, Patricia Leary said the considerable increase in paid attendances was felt across all areas of the TSO’s activities, notably in School and Family Classics concerts, and throughout the state.

“The strong box office result for 2014 is excellent – thank you ticket buyers! – and we are delighted to have brought orchestral music to Tasmanians of all ages in all corners of the state, from Huonville in the south to George Town in the north, to Burnie and Somerset in the north-west, as well as our concert seasons in Hobart and Launceston,” Ms Leary said.

“Additionally, we deepened our collaborative engagement with MONA, giving performances in MONA FOMA, Dark Mofo and Synaesthesia+.

“We gave a Helpmann Award-winning concert for Hobart Baroque and, in a world first, released a double CD of the complete piano concertos of Australian composer and Master of the Queen’s Music, Malcolm Williamson (1931-2003) which has already achieved international critical acclaim.

“We also made substantial gains in reaching non-traditional audiences in 2014 through the AccessTix program (which is made possible through the support of Hydro Tasmania, Principal Partner of the TSO).

“Our community outreach program included performances at hospitals, libraries, child care centres and aged care facilities.

“The fact that we were able to achieve all of these things and finish the year in robust financial shape by posting a small but by no means trivial surplus is especially pleasing.”

In addition to posting a surplus of $183,820, which accounts for just 1.7per cent of turnover, the TSO met all of its financial Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

In his summary in the 2014 Annual Report, TSO Managing Director, Nicholas Heyward, highlighted the artistic achievements of the year.

“The year 2014 will be remembered for full halls and standing ovations whether for concert pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk, coloratura soprano Julia Lezhneva, our Dark Mofo concert In Praise of Darkness, our Night in Vienna concert with Chief Conductor Marko Letonja or Ben Folds with the TSO, our last concert for 2014 and one of our most successful non-classical concerts ever,” Me Heyward.

The 2014 Annual Report for Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Holdings Limited, the parent company of Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Pty Ltd, can be read in full at tso.com.au simply follow the link at “About/Annual Reports”.
John Pugsley Deputy CEO, Marketing and Human Resources