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ORPHEUS MALE CHORUS OF PHOENIX
PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 866053100 · Form 990 · FY2022 · NTEE A6BZ · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · www.orpheus.org
revenue
$246K
expenses
$214K
net assets
$698K
employees
5
volunteers
130
program ratio
0%
mission · from form 990

Formed in 1929 The Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix's mission is to present choral music that entertains and adds cultural value to Arizona communities by delivering quality performances and engaging in outreach activities while providing a rewarding experience for members.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix is Arizona's longest continuously performing choral arts organization, established in 1929. The chorus performs a wide repertoire of classical, sacred, and contemporary music, enriching audiences locally and internationally. They are dedicated to musical excellence and public service.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2022

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $8K
    Conducted a benefit concert sponsored by 72Sold for the benefit of the 100 Club of Arizona a 501c3 organization. Donations and revenues passed through the Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix.
  2. #2 $295
    Phoenix Children's Chorus collaborative concerts designed to build audience for both groups and provides positive role models for students aimed at lifelong singing.
named programs · 2 · from sources

what they call their work

Choral Performances
Regularly performs a repertoire ranging from classical and sacred to contemporary works in various venues, both nationally and internationally.
Phoenix Boys Choir Sponsorship (Historical)
From 1953-1972, Orpheus Male Chorus sponsored the Phoenix Boys Choir, providing risers, music, and uniforms, and performing together at annual Spring Concerts.
activities · 4 groups

what they do

  • Orchestral and Choral Concert Performances 7 activities
    • Choral Performances
      Performs nearly 20 concerts each season, including free programs for youth, veterans, the homeless, and people with dementia. Performances feature patriotic anthems, traditional folk songs, and soulful spirituals, and have taken place in various venues across the Valley, nationally, and internationally on four continents.
    • Choral Recordings
      Creates numerous recordings of its performances on both vinyl and digital media.
    • Music Recording and Archiving
      Creates numerous recordings of its performances on both vinyl and digital media, preserving its musical contributions.
    • Perform choral concerts locally, nationally, and internationally
      Performs nearly 20 concerts each season featuring patriotic anthems, traditional folk songs, and spirituals; concerts are held in venues across the Phoenix area, the U.S., Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and planned for the Baltics in summer 2026. The chorus has performed over 1,000 times since its founding in 1929, including at Carnegie Hall and for international dignitaries.
    • Perform choral concerts locally, nationally, and internationally
      Performs nearly 20 concerts each season across a variety of venues including concert halls, memory care homes, schools, and national and international stages; has performed on four continents, including at Carnegie Hall, and maintains a continuous performance history since 1929, making it Arizona’s longest continuously performing arts group.
    • Produce and distribute choral recordings
      Creates and distributes recordings of performances on both vinyl and digital media, preserving and extending access to its choral music.
    • Produce and distribute choral recordings
      Creates and distributes recordings of performances on both vinyl and digital media to preserve and share its musical repertoire.
  • Youth Choral Education Programs 4 activities
    • Sponsor youth choral development programs
      Sponsors the annual "Boys to Men" music festival to promote choral training for young male singers, supports the Phoenix Children’s Chorus by sponsoring a singer, and has performed for over 1,000 students in inner-city elementary schools through the Katzin Classical Music Program.
    • Sponsor youth choral development programs
      Sponsors the annual "Boys to Men" music festival to promote choral training for young male singers, supports the Phoenix Children’s Chorus by sponsoring a singer, and performs for students in underserved schools through outreach programs.
    • Youth Choral Development
      Sponsors the annual "Boys to Men" music festival to promote community-wide access to choral training and development for young male singers. The organization also sponsors a singer in the Phoenix Children’s Chorus.
    • Youth Choral Music Festival
      Sponsors "Boys to Men," an annual music festival designed to promote community-wide access to choral training and development for young male singers.
  • Adult Community Choir & Ensemble Programs 1 activity
    • Rehearse and maintain a regular performance schedule
      Rehearses weekly during the performance season from August to May to prepare for its concert series and tours.
  • Uncategorized 6 activities
    • Award music scholarships to Arizona students
      Provides need-based scholarships to K–12 students in Phoenix-area youth choirs (up to $250 per semester) and undergraduate students studying choral music (up to $1,000 annually, renewable for four years); formalized in 1976, with roots in the 1947 Murdock Memorial Scholarship.
    • Choral Performances
      Performs nearly 20 concerts each season, including free programs for youth, veterans, the homeless, and people with dementia, featuring patriotic anthems, traditional folk songs, and soulful spirituals. Performances occur in various venues locally, nationally, and internationally, including concert halls, memory care homes, high school festivals, and national stages.
    • Conduct regular chorus rehearsals
      Rehearses weekly every Tuesday evening from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m., from mid-August through early May, to prepare for performance seasons.
    • Music Education Scholarships
      Provides scholarships to qualified Arizona music students, primarily focusing on vocal music, to promote choral singing at all education levels. This includes need-based scholarships of up to $250 per semester for K-12 students in Phoenix-area youth community choirs and up to $1,000 per year for undergraduate choral music students, renewable for up to four years.
    • Music Education Scholarships
      Provides scholarships to qualified Arizona music students, primarily focusing on vocal music, to promote choral singing at all education levels. This includes need-based scholarships of up to $250 per semester for K-12 students in Phoenix-area youth community choirs and up to $1,000 per year for undergraduate choral music students, renewable for up to four years.
    • Provide music scholarships to Arizona students
      Offers need-based scholarships to K–12 students in Phoenix-area youth choirs (up to $250 per semester) and undergraduate students studying choral music (up to $1,000 annually, renewable for four years); the program began in 1947 with the Murdock Memorial Scholarship and was formalized in 1976.
financials · form 990 · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$246K
Contributions & grants$136K55%
Program service revenue$33K13%
Investment income$62K25%
Other revenue$15K
expenses
Total expenses$214K
Program expenses0%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$105K
Grants paid out$11K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$701K
Cash$62K
Investments$639K
Liabilities$2K
Net assets$698K
Liquid reserves39.2 mo
2 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue +49.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Brook C Larson Artistic Director Exofficio Board Member 30 $47K
Jeremy Harris Operations Director Exofficio Board Member 20 $5K
board members · 10
  • Bob Wenham — Member at Large
  • David Bickerstaff — Member at Large
  • David Schwarz — Non-Singing Member
  • Donald E Newsom — President
  • Doug McKenna — Member at Large
  • Drew Peterson — Member at Large
  • Karen McNally — Non-Singing Member
  • Mary Jo West — Non-Singing Member
  • Paula Strano Isobe — Non-Singing Member
  • Zak Tenpenny — Past President
relationships · 34

who they work with

  • Arizona Alzheimer’s Association Partner — Performed at their Annual Gala.
  • Arizona Children’s Center Partner — Held benefit concerts for this organization.
  • Arizona Governor Paul Fannin Partner — Recognized Orpheus as the “Arizona Cowboy Ambassadors” for sharing Arizona’s spirit globally.
  • Carnegie Hall Partner — Performed on prestigious stages like Carnegie Hall.
  • Channel 8 (PBS) Partner — Assisted with their pledge drive.
  • Church on the Street Partner — Provided shoe donations to this organization.
  • Cross Roads United Methodist Church Partner — Meets and rehearses at the church from August through May.
  • Cross Roads United Methodist Church Partner — Rehearsals are held at this church.
  • Cross Roads United Methodist Church Partner — Rehearses at the church in Central Phoenix.
  • Echo Magazine Partner — Featured a photo of the chorus in its Local Voices section.
  • Feed My Starving Children Partner — Engages in community and humanitarian outreach with this organization.
  • Friendship Village Retirement Community Partner — Provided outreach performances to this community.
  • Habitat for Humanity Partner — Engages in community and humanitarian outreach with this organization.
  • Hospice of the Valley Partner — Performed at their "Light Up a Life" event.
  • KTAR Partner — Performed on Phoenix radio station KTAR for its debut and regularly in early years.
  • Lyric Opera of Chicago Partner — Two previous scholarship recipients now perform with this organization.
  • Maricopa Integrated Health System Partner — Held benefit concerts for the Arizona Children's Center, which is part of this system.
  • Mount of Olives Lutheran Church Thrift Store & Food Closet Partner — Engages in community and humanitarian outreach with this organization.
  • Phoenix Children’s Chorus Partner — Sponsors a singer in the chorus.
  • Phoenix Chorale Partner — Two previous scholarship recipients now perform with this organization.
  • Phoenix Junior College Partner — Officially associated with Phoenix Junior College as part of their Adult Education program in spring 1938.
  • Phoenix Musicians Club Partner — Began singing regularly with the Phoenix Musicians Club by 1934.
  • Phoenix Symphony Partner — Began singing regularly with the Phoenix Symphony by 1934.
  • Phoenix Symphony Partner — Regularly performed with the Phoenix Symphony.
  • Phoenix Woman’s Club Partner — Began singing regularly with the Phoenix Woman’s Club by 1934.
  • Pope John Paul II Partner — Performed for Pope John Paul II.
  • President John F. Kennedy Partner — Performed for President John F. Kennedy.
  • Rosie’s House Partner — Engages in community and humanitarian outreach with this organization.
  • Ryan House Partner — Performed at their "White Christmas" Gala & Run for Ryan House.
  • State Teachers College Partner — Performed at State Teachers College (now Arizona State University) during the 1936-1937 concert season.
+ 4 more