Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Reports Healthy Financial Results For 24–25 Season
The orchestra posts a budget surplus and reaches more than 37,000 households.
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra announced that the 2024–2025 season closed with a preliminary surplus of $2.3 million, supported by a combination of increased earned revenue, one-time fundraising initiatives, and savings from unfilled positions. The PSO reports that more than 37,000 households attended performances at Heinz Hall during the fiscal year, which ran from September 1, 2024, through August 31, 2025. Final audited results are forthcoming.
President & CEO Melia Tourangeau said the season reflected strong audience engagement and a sustained commitment to the orchestra’s artistic profile. Board Chair Anthony Bucci noted that the results align with the organization’s long-term strategy to invest in programming and community partnerships. Earned revenue, which includes ticket sales and hall rentals, accounted for 23.5% of total income; contributed revenue from individuals, foundations, corporations, and government sources represented 52.8%; and the remainder came from endowment draw and investment income.
The PSO also released its 2024–2025 Annual Impact Report, outlining education initiatives, community programs, and major artistic milestones. Total ticket sales reached $9.48 million—up 17% from FY24 and the highest total since before the pandemic—with paid attendance surpassing 165,000. The season welcomed 15,351 new households, the largest number in a decade. Flexible ticket packages saw marked growth, while single-ticket sales for the BNY Classical Series rose nearly 20%. Education attendance increased through Schooltime Concerts and the expansion of Digital Schooltime resources. The PNC Pops Series recorded an 18% revenue increase, including a new record for Highmark Holiday Pops, and the Fiddlesticks Family Concerts posted a 22% increase.
Onstage, the orchestra’s 129th season featured an Opening Night Gala with Itzhak Perlman, a special concert with Yo-Yo Ma and Lang Lang, and the naming of the Simmons Family Stage at Heinz Hall. The PSO presented new works and world premieres by Lera Auerbach, Hannah Ishizaki, Reza Vali, and Music Director Manfred Honeck, alongside performances by visiting artists including Vikingur Ólafsson, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Elim Chan, and Lorenzo Viotti. The organization also released Requiem: Mozart’s Death in Words and Music, the latest addition to its Pittsburgh Live! series.
Beyond Heinz Hall, the orchestra expanded its regional and community presence with performances at venues across Pennsylvania and neighboring states, free public concerts, and the launch of PSO Go, a student ticket program presented by S&T Bank. Schooltime on the Road brought live performances directly to districts unable to travel to Heinz Hall, while neighborhood programs and partnerships continued to grow throughout the region.
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