Thank You.
Dear Friends of the Indianapolis Men’s Chorus,
It is with immense pride that I reflect on the 2023-2024 season—one of the most transformative and historic years for the Indianapolis Men’s Chorus. This season has been defined by growth, new connections, and milestones that will shape our future.
A major highlight this season was the hiring of the IMC’s first Executive Director—a role I was honored to step into. This pivotal moment is the result of years of strategic planning by our Board of Directors. Their dedication has been crucial in ensuring the IMC’s stability and sustainability. The Board’s careful planning has laid a strong foundation for continued growth, positioning us to deepen our impact and elevate our mission. Their guidance during this period of expansion has ensured we have the infrastructure needed to support our vision.
Equally important is the unwavering commitment of our singers. Their dedication extends beyond the stage. In addition to countless hours of rehearsing and performing, our singers have taken an active role in fundraising and promoting ticket sales, helping to ensure our success. Their efforts have expanded our audience and kept the IMC thriving, making each production and initiative a true achievement.
This season, we also unveiled new branding that honors our legacy while embracing a bold, forward-looking vision. We’ve increased awareness of the IMC locally and made strides in becoming a chorus with national reputation that other organizations look to for inspiration.
I am deeply grateful for the support of our patrons, singers, volunteers, and partners. Your belief in our mission enables us to continue moving forward with confidence and creativity. The IMC is thriving because of your involvement, and I look forward to the exciting things we will accomplish together in the future.
Thank you for being part of this incredible journey. We can’t wait to share what’s next with you.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Stephen McCoy
Executive Director
2023-2024 YEAR IN REVIEW
Financial Stability and Growth
The 2023-2024 season was a milestone year for the Indianapolis Men’s Chorus, not only in terms of artistic achievement but also in financial growth and stability. Thanks to strong fiscal management, increased ticket sales, and a rise in contributed income, the IMC finished the season in a better-than-forecasted financial position, continuing to build a strong foundation for future growth.
The IMC’s contributed income saw a significant increase of 21.4% compared to the previous year. Growth in ticket sales was especially remarkable, rising by 71.49%, driven by our expanded programming and increased audience engagement. This financial success allowed us to further strengthen our strategic reserves, ensuring greater organizational stability and the ability to weather future uncertainties.
Additionally, one of the most impactful outcomes of this financial success was our ability to reduce singer fees by 75%, making participation in the IMC more accessible for our singers. This reduction reflects our commitment to supporting our singers and ensuring that financial barriers do not stand in the way of artistic participation.
The Executive Director role was a key investment in strengthening the organization’s leadership, allowing for greater focus on strategic initiatives, fundraising, community outreach, and branding. Recognizing the importance of this role, the board strategically saved funds over several years to support the new position.
As a result, the Board-approved budget for the 2023-2024 season, which initially projected a $22,000 deficit, was carefully planned to account for these investments. However, due to a combination of increased ticket sales, higher contributions, and effective financial management, we ended the year with a surplus of $35,482. This outcome highlights the positive financial direction of the IMC and reflects the community’s growing support for our mission and vision.
The financial accomplishments of this past season position the IMC for sustained growth. Through careful stewardship, the IMC will continue to build on this success, ensuring that we can pursue bold programming, increase our outreach, and create meaningful connections with our audiences and supporters.
