OMAHA, Neb. (October 17, 2001) - At the Omaha Symphony's annual meeting held on Friday, October 5, 2001, board
members celebrated a record-breaking year with $4.5 million in successful fundraising. This was followed with news of the
organization's fifth consecutive balanced budget, totaling $4.8 million during the 2000-2001 fiscal year that ended June 30,
2001. Two impressive feats for a nonprofit organization such as the Omaha Symphony in today's tight economy.

 "We work hard to use resources wisely and efficiently. Our rapidly growing base of contributed income represents a significant
portion of those resources. It is what makes it possible for us to have the kind of growth that we are now seeing in the way of
artistic quality, education, community engagement, and expanding regional impact. We also take very seriously the notion of
balancing the budget, and insist on a commitment to build programs and the institutional resources to support those programs
on parallel tracks," said Fred Bronstein, president and CEO of the Omaha Symphony.

In the first year of the Fund for a New Century campaign, $2.3 million was raised, bringing the market value of the endowment
to $8.5 million at the close of the 2000-2001 fiscal year, a 50 percent increase from the same time last year. The campaign is
continuing in support of a series of ambitious Symphony initiatives to be implemented as part of a new 10-year growth plan.

The Omaha Symphony's Annual Fund totaled $2.24 million in fiscal year 2001, a 19 percent increase over the prior year,
reaching well over $2 million for the first time in Omaha Symphony history. Over the two-year period since 1999, the Annual
Fund has grown 30 percent.

Ticket Sales
Overall 2000-2001 ticket sales totaled $1.62 million with subscription sales at  $1.126 million, exceeding the subscription goal
by $17,000 and showing an eight percent increase over fiscal year 2000 and a 20 percent increase since 1999. The
symphony's total earned income increased three percent to $2.15 million, up 11 percent over a two-year period.

Education and Community Involvement
The 2000-2001 season marked the first year of the organization's innovative Residency Partnership Program, a pilot program
developed in conjunction with Omaha Public Schools. The three-year pilot program at Omaha's Dr. Eugene Skinner
Mathematics, Computer, and Communication Arts Magnet Center proved to be a unique collaboration between teachers,
musicians, and students. In this new residency program, Omaha Symphony musicians and staff work with Skinner's faculty and
administration to create a dynamic, cross-curricular approach to the study of the arts and how the arts affect every aspect of
our daily lives. Future seasons will include expansion of this program, incorporating new classes, and grade levels.

Expanded community programs this year featured two highly successful free concerts, the 80th Anniversary concert and the
inauguration of the Symphony in the Parks series, both of which combined to reach 4,500 people.  The multi-cultural
Neighborhood series, completing its second season, continued to forge new partnerships and collaborations with Omaha's
increasingly diverse community base.

In addition, a dramatically expanded touring initiative brought the orchestra to 13 communities in four states, performing for
more than 7,000 people. The 2001-2002 tour season builds on that success with 13 scheduled tour concerts throughout the
season, including five concerts in western Iowa.

 "Our education programs share a great cultural resource with thousands of young people. Free concerts like those in this past
year reinforce the message that this orchestra belongs to the entire community; and our touring now brings great music to many
smaller communities while helping to build recognition for Omaha and develop a strong bond between our city and the region,"
said Bronstein.

Special Projects
In February 2001, the orchestra celebrated the memory of a beloved colleague through "A Song For Marsha" a very special
concert commemorating the life of Marsha Johnson, principal pianist of the Omaha Symphony until her death in June 1999. The
combined efforts of musicians, board, and staff helped raise nearly $90,000 toward the symphony's endowment to support the
naming of the principal keyboard chair in Marsha Johnson's memory.

In addition, the Omaha Symphony became the lead co-commissioner of a new work for viola and orchestra by internationally
known and award-winning American composer, Joan Tower. The Omaha Symphony's world premiere of this new work,
planned for the 2004-2005 season, will be another significant step toward building the orchestra's artistic stature.

Governance
The close of the 2000-2001 season marked the second complete year of a highly successful board restructure of the Omaha
Symphony Association that now includes a 13-member Board of Directors comprised of Omaha's top corporate and
community leaders, and a 31-member Governing Member group. The Annual Meeting marked the election of all Governing
Members to renewable one-year terms. The 2001-2002 Governing Members are chaired by Lance Munger, managing partner
of Deloitte and Touche. Six members of the Board of Directors whose terms had expired were reappointed. The Board of
Directors is chaired by Carl G. Mammel, community leader and philanthropist.

The not-for-profit Omaha Symphony presents more than 200 performances from September through May. In addition to the MasterWorks, SuperPops, Chamber Orchestra, Family Concert and Neighborhood series, the orchestra also performs on tour, in education and community engagement concerts, and other special events. Combined with radio broadcasts, the Omaha Symphony reaches an estimated 300,000 people annually.

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