RPO Strategic Plan

Over the past two years, the RPO has been quietly working on a new Strategic Plan to succeed the 2006 plan Ensuring a Vibrant Future. Culminating a process that engaged more than fifty members of the RPO family in its creation and an extensive period of vetting with many RPO constituencies, the Board of Directors unanimously voted the new plan into effect in July 2011. This new plan will guide the organization’s decision-making over the next three years, through 2014-2015, and is focused on the twin principles of financial stability and artistic growth.

The Core Strategy Committee was chaired by Patrick Fulford and comprised members of the Board, Honorary Board, musicians and senior staff. This group, in turn, charted the broad goals and synthesized the work of four sub-committees:
•    Artistic Growth, led by Charlie Owens and Josie Trubek;
•    Music Education, led by Bill Cahn and David Ackroyd;
•    Community Partners & Ambassadors, led by Greg Smith; and
•    Patron Experience, led by Patrick Fulford. 

This planning process reaffirmed the RPO’s Core Purpose…
 To inspire, educate and engage our community through the art of music

…and its Core Values…
•    Passionate dedication and outstanding musical performance at the highest artistic levels;
•    A unique tradition of musical versatility
•    Commitment to music education in its broadest sense
•    Deep and enduring engagement with the community
•    A culture that inspires staff, board, volunteers and musicians to excel
•    A commitment to grow while leaving within our means

…renewed its commitment to five Long-Term Goals (10 to 15 years)… 
•    Community service
•    National recognition
•    Financial stability
•    Organizational excellence
•    Attract and retain artistic talent 

…and identified seven Strategic Priorities that will be the focus of the RPO’s work through 2014-2015…
 
•    Grow our audience and enliven our programming.  The appointment of Arild Remmereit is the first step in achieving this goal. His bold vision to engage audiences through inspiring repertoire and themes is key to finding new ways to engage audiences and the broader artistic community.
•    Expand our reach.  Regionalization—regularly serving a broad range of communities in a two-hour radius from Rochester—and deepening the RPO’s hometown ties to Rochester neighborhoods, institutions, and community events will be key to the future of the RPO. To this end, the RPO begins a new relationship with Ithaca in February 2012 with a concert at Ithaca College.
•    Grow music education and its community impact.  In a broad sense everything the RPO does is about music education. For pre-schoolers to adults, RPO programs are designed to foster an understanding of orchestral music, while also supporting local schools in meeting national and state standards in music.
•    Increase contributed revenue.  Implement an aggressive plan to grow new donor revenue.
•    Enhance the patron experience.  Our goal is to provide exhilarating, inspiring experiences in every interaction.  Welcoming, innovative, and energetic service from every employee, musician, and volunteer will delight our patrons and enrich our relationships.
•    Modernize our technology infrastructure. Our ability to deliver first-class customer service, communicate with the public, and analyze results and trends hinges on keeping pace with evolving technology.
•    Grow the endowment.  A larger endowment is key to the long-term fiscal health and stability of the RPO, and endowment asks will become part of our ongoing development process.

While this plan is ambitious in the number of key priorities and their aims, the RPO believes that an aggressive plan of action is needed to build toward a sound financial future.