Image of The Shell venue. Includes 'The Future is Hear' logo, accompanied by the text 'The Time has come to Begin Listening Again. The future is here. And with your help, it will sound even better.'

The Future is Hear

The San Diego Symphony is proud to launch its “The Future Is Hear” campaign, a $125 million initiative to support our mission of changing lives through music. The cornerstone of this campaign is the construction and launch of The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, an $85 million permanent outdoor venue and public park that will serve as a cultural hub for expanded year-round programming for our community.

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

The crowning achievement of our campaign is the The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, which represents an $85M philanthropic investment.

Scheduled to open to the public in summer 2021, this will be the first permanent open-air performance venue in the San Diego Symphony’s century-long history.

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park is state of the art. With world-class acoustics, video screens, and broadband streaming capability that will elevate performances to new levels, this amazing outdoor entertainment space will attract top musicians and artists from around the world while accommodating a wide range of audience sizes. It will also provide new rental opportunities for neighboring hotels, civic organizations, local universities, music festivals, business partners, and other non-profits.

A structure that complements the beauty of San Diego and elevates the status of the city, The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park will provide an experience for San Diegans and visitors that is unlike any other.

We cannot wait to welcome all of San Diego to this stunning new outdoor venue – and to the return of live music.

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Image of The Shell venue from across the bay, beneath the skyline of downtown San Diego

THE SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY STABILIZATION FUND

As a performing arts organization, we will feel the impact of public health concerns for years to come. In order to compensate for the loss of earned revenue from live concerts and events, we have creatively responded to COVID-19 challenges by reimagining the ways in which we fulfill our mission while also conserving our expenses.

However, the financial implication of the COVID-19 crisis has been of unprecedented magnitude for the San Diego Symphony, as it has been for arts organizations around the country.

The Stabilization Fund is a philanthropic fund to address these financial losses so we may continue supporting our musicians during these difficult times, ensuring we'll have a strong and healthy Orchestra when we return to live performances. This fund includes salaries for the musicians and administrative staff, costs to run Copley Symphony Hall and The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, costs to produce Learning and Community Engagement programs, and costs for inviting guest artists of extraordinary caliber to perform on our stages when we reopen.

A gift to the Stabilization Fund is a gift to sustaining your San Diego Symphony Orchestra as we persevere through these challenging times so we can bring the music back to our community.

The Financial Impact of the Pandemic

Chart demonstrating Covid's negative impact on the Symphony's earned revenue

Campaign Tracker

Follow Our Progress
Graphic showing the progress of this campaign

“The Future is Hear” is a $125 million capital campaign that has surpassed the 75% milestone, having achieved $98.7 million to date.

Campaign Status

“The Future is Hear” is a $125 million capital campaign. Having achieved $98.7 million to date, we have surpassed the 75% milestone. Thanks to the pillars of San Diego’s philanthropic and cultural community, and impressive additional patron support, the Symphony is poised to bring music to more people in our community and make an incredible cultural treasure accessible to all.

“The Future Is Hear” campaign now enters its public phase, and the Symphony invites all members of the community to join the campaign and become a part of this transformational new community resource for San Diego.

With your help, the future will sound even better.

Your support of “The Future is Hear” campaign is an investment in your Symphony and your city. We invite you to make a gift today and be part of a generous group of San Diegans who believe in the importance of both music and community.

Gifts of all sizes make a significant impact. Contributions of $10,000 and above will be listed on the Donor Appreciation Wall and contributions of $100,000 and above will receive recognition opportunities at various locations around The Rady Shell and Jacobs Park. Gifts can be made over 3 to 5 years.

Benefits

For Gifts of $10,000 and above

Inspired by the sparkling water of the San Diego Bay that surrounds The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, the Donor Appreciation Wall is a sculptural assembly of custom designed and personalized discs, creating a permanent celebration of all individuals who helped make the The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park possible.

The San Diego Symphony will forever be grateful to those listed on the wall.

We would be honored to acknowledge your contribution to The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park and Stabilization Fund with the following additional benefits:

  • Your name on a tile displayed on the Donor Appreciation Wall at The Shell
  • A replica of your tile as a memento of your gift
  • An exclusive invitation to one of our soft opening events at The Shell
  • Recognition in printed and virtual program listings
  • Annual fund donor benefits*

*”The Future is Hear” Campaign Donors: In the year the gift is received and any associated years during gift payments (recognized up to 5 years at the level of amount payment), campaign donors will receive benefits associated with annual fund donations excluding any naming, sponsorship, and recognition benefits of annual fund donors.

For more information about the various levels of giving to the campaign and the associated benefits, please email us at campaign@sandiegosymphony.org.

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Image of two women looking at the donor wall at The Shell

Thank You for your Support

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