Milestones for Music Campaign
Celebrating 50 Years of Impactful Arts and Music

Celebrating 50 years of artistic excellence and community engagement, the Ocala Symphony Orchestra has launched its Milestones for Music campaign, to benefit the orchestra and its home, the Reilly Arts Center. After a decade of historic growth and expansion in both facilities and programming, this initiative will help to preserve the orchestra and its home as a strong community asset for generations to come. 

This comprehensive, multi-year campaign aims to raise $5 million to secure a strong future for the organization and its programs. Your contribution will support the organization in four priority areas: achieving financial sustainability, strengthening musical & artistic excellence, expanding education and community engagement programs, and enhancing the Ocala Metro’s cultural arts scene.

Campaign Priorities Goals & Progress Leadership Committee Support

Campaign Priorities 

Your partnership will ensure that the Ocala Symphony Orchestra and its home, the Reilly Arts Center, continues to inspire, educate, and connect our community with the arts for generations to come. 

Achieving financial sustainability – With ticket sales covering just 50% of operating expenses, your philanthropic support ensures the organization has stable operational funding, reserves to weather future challenges, and a strong endowment to support the orchestra for years to come.

Strengthening Musical & Artistic Excellence – The Reilly Arts Center is dedicated to providing an exceptional experience for our patrons. Led by Music Director and Conductor, Matt Wardell, the Ocala Symphony maintains a commitment to retain top regional talent, engage diverse guest soloists, and elevate the quality and variety of our performances. 

Expanding Education and Community Engagement  – We will continue breaking barriers to music education by offering scholarships and expanding opportunities at the Ocala Symphony Orchestra’s Community Music Conservatory. Increasing access to live performances is also at the heart of our mission. We will increase access through open rehearsals, free performances, and strengthening our partnerships with local arts groups, nonprofits and schools.

Enhancing the Ocala Metro’s Cultural Arts Scene   – The campaign will help support and amplify efforts to inspire and engage people from many backgrounds with a diverse array of programming and experiences and cross genres, engage top talent, and position Ocala as a regional arts destination. 

Goals & Progress

After a decade of remarkable growth—including expanded facilities, increased programming, and the addition of Ocala’s Marion Theatre and the Community Music Conservatory—we have reached a pivotal moment. With your support, we can secure the future of this beloved community asset. 

Our $5 million campaign will focus on three key fundraising priorities:
 Operational Support & Reserves: $3,500,000
 Ocala Symphony Endowment – $1,000,000
 Music Education & Community Outreach – $500,000

Ocala Symphony Endowment
The Ocala Symphony Orchestra Endowment was established at the Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County with $10,000 in seed funding. After a period of exceptional growth, the organization looks towards growing this fund to help build and sustain a strong foundation for the orchestra for decades to come.

Leadership Committee

We are grateful to these community leaders for serving as ambassadors for the Milestones for Music Campaign in the community. Through their gifts of time, expertise, and resources they are leading the charge and inspiring others to get involved. 

Erin Buss, Frank & Angela DeLuca, Gerald Ergle, Tom Ingram, R.J. Jenkins, Pete Lee, Angie Lewis, Beth McCall, David Midgett, Sonya Nasser, Bob Reilly Honorary, Rebecca Rogers, David Treitel, Cindy VanHyde, David Velez, Chester Weber.

Support

You can support the Milestones for Music Campaign in a variety of ways to achieve your gift planning goals and impact the organization for years to come. Gifts can be made in full, or in installments over a term of several years. You can also consider the tax advantages of giving:

  • Appreciated securities
  • Giving through a Donor Advised Fund
  • Making a charitable distribution from your IRA
  • Utilizing one of the many other types of planned giving vehicles. 

Increase your Annual Giving Support

Consider increasing your annual gift or Reilly Arts Center membership during the campaign. Multi-year commitments will allow the organization to have sustainable funding and be better prepared for changing economic conditions.

Make A Gift Today 

Support the Ocala Symphony by Naming the Music Director, Concertmaster, one of the Principal Instrument Chair Positions

Make a five year commitment to name of the key positions in the Ocala Symphony Orchestra, or explore naming rights in perpetuity with a gift to the Ocala Symphony’s Endowment Fund. 

Support the Reilly Arts Center through a Building Naming Opportunity

A number of impactful spaces are still available that would provide recognition opportunities for you, your family, or your business. These spaces are available for five year naming rights or in perpetuity with a gift to the Ocala Symphony’s Endowment Fund. Spaces include the east lobby, balcony, east entrance courtyard, box office and green room.

Join the Legacy Circle

There are a variety of ways you can include the Ocala Symphony in your estate plans to achieve your own personal, financial, and philanthropic goals. When you make your intentions known, you will be recognized as a part of the Legacy Circle. In pledging support that extends beyond your lifetime, you are inspiring others to follow in your footsteps and in many cases having a large impact with your future support. Click here to learn more about planned giving. (link goes to Legacy Giving page)

Help us preserve the orchestra and its home as a strong community asset for generations to come.

Contact:

Natalie McComb, CFRE

Executive Director

Email: natalie@reillyartscenter.com

Phone: (352) 351-1606 ext. 102