OSR: Orchestra Statistical Report

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The 2021-22 Orchestra Statistical Report (OSR) Survey is Open.

League member orchestras that participate in the 2021-22 OSR survey will receive a detailed benchmarking report containing financial and operating data about peer orchestras and the opportunity to request custom analyses. The survey also supports the League’s ability to advocate for the field and understand wider trends about the field’s financial health.

The OSR survey asks about 5 topics:

• Revenues (e.g., earned income, contributed income, investment income)
• Expenses (e.g., personnel expenses, fundraising expenses, program expenses)
• Balance sheet (e.g., assets and liabilities)
• Ticket sales (e.g., number of performances, total audience reached, free performances)
• Workforce (e.g., number of administrative staff, number of musicians, board size)

The deadline to complete the OSR22 survey is Friday, November 17, 2023.

Please contact the League’s Knowledge Center at knowledge@americanorchestras.org to find out how your orchestra can access and benefit from the OSR.

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About the OSR

The League has been collecting data from the orchestral field since 1946, and its Orchestra Statistical Report (OSR) is the largest and most comprehensive orchestra data set in the United States. Only League members have the opportunity to contribute to – and use – this unique resource, which many rely on for planning, fundraising, management, and case making.

I use the OSR to double check my knowledge of my orchestra’s finances—it reminds me of the details that I may lose track of and sometimes points out areas where we should refine the way we collect data. I find it a very good use of time to pour over everything now and then – it often results in an aha! moment.

When the report comes out, I check our numbers against the averages, and if there are variances, I analyze the reasons for that. It may point out where we can save money; where we can increase revenues. This helps prepare us for budgeting and collective bargaining. I often refer to the data in board, staff, and players committee meetings.

I also think it’s a responsibility we all have so that the League can use the data when it gets inquiries from funders and the media. It helps to tell the story of the orchestra field.

I’m really hopeful that orchestras will take time to look through the new OSR so that they’ll see that they can now afford the time to spend on it – which is about half the time it was before. I’m looking forward to those extra hours of time!

Alan Jordan, President and CEO, Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra