The Future is Hear

We are excited to launch THE FUTURE IS HEAR, a $125 Million campaign supporting the San Diego Symphony and its many wide-ranging artistic and community programs. With our mission to change lives through music and our steadfast belief that music belongs to all of us, we are committed to continually engaging, supporting and learning from our diverse community, with the goal of enhancing our programs and our facilities for all of San Diego to enjoy. This campaign provides the financial foundation for a bright future for our Symphony by investing in our art, our home, our city and our audiences.

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park™

The crowning achievement of our campaign is The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park. Representing an $85M philanthropic investment, it is the first permanent open-air performance venue in the San Diego Symphony’s century-long history.

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park provides new opportunities for the Symphony’s expanded and diverse schedule of outdoor concerts, programmed by Music Director Rafael Payare. This amazing bayside entertainment space attracts top musicians and artists from around the world and accommodates a wide range of audience sizes. It is truly state-of-the-art with world-class acoustics, video screens and broadband streaming capabilities – elevating performances to new levels.

This site will also be open as a public park 85% of the year, giving San Diegans and visitors a place to gather and take in the beautiful views of the harbor and the city. The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park presents rental opportunities for neighboring hotels, civic organizations, local universities, music festivals, business partners and other nonprofits.

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

We are thrilled to welcome all of San Diego to this stunning outdoor performance venue and public park – and to the return of live music.

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Twilight Image of Orchestra On Stage and Audience
Full House at Copley Symphony Hall

Copley Symphony Hall
at Jacobs Music Center

One of the most beautiful and architecturally relevant theaters in San Diego, Copley Symphony Hall is ready to take its place as a performance home that will match the orchestra in its level of brilliance. Copley Symphony Hall at the Jacobs Music Center opened in 1929 as the Fox Theatre, and is one of the few remaining Fox Movie Theatres in the United States that still retains its original décor and design. THE FUTURE IS HEAR campaign supports facility infrastructure improvements of Copley Symphony Hall at Jacobs Music Center.

PROGRAMMING

Our musicians are our greatest asset. By investing in them, the San Diego Symphony will continue to attract the very finest musicians and deliver unsurpassed concert experiences. Under Rafael Payare’s leadership, the San Diego Symphony will be an ambassador of our city, reaching new and broader audiences through expanded performances. Rafael will elevate the Symphony to new levels of artistic excellence and cultural relevance, firmly establishing the institution as a critical orchestra in the ranks of leading orchestras across the United States. The San Diego Symphony presents music of the highest quality for everyone and gives back to our city through life-changing Community and Learning programs. We want to ensure these programs shape lives for generations to come. To achieve that goal, the Symphony must have a strong financial foundation that enables long-term stability, fosters innovation and encourages growth. THE FUTURE IS HEAR campaign ensures the future of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra and its world class musicians by serving all of San Diego’s diverse communities with transformative musical experiences.

Full House at Copley Symphony Hall

Campaign Tracker

Follow Our Progress
Graphic showing the progress of this campaign

THE FUTURE IS HEAR is a $125M capital campaign that has surpassed the 96% milestone, having achieved $120M to date.

Campaign Status

THE FUTURE IS HEAR campaign has achieved $120M  to date. 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 has entered 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.

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 a part of a generous group of San Diegans who believe in the importance of 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 at the venue, and large contributions will receive recognition opportunities at various locations at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park. Gifts can be made over 3 to 5 years.

A LASTING IMPACT

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 participated in THE FUTURE IS HERE campaign.

The San Diego Symphony will forever be grateful to those listed on the wall. We would be honored to acknowledge your contributionto the campaign with the following additional benefits:

  • Your name on a tile along the Donor Appreciation Wall at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
  • A replica of your tile as a memento of your gift
  • Invitation to a behind-the-scenes tour of The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
  • 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 of 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 e-mail us at campaign@sandiegosymphony.org.

Symphony circles icon serving as background image accent
Image of two women looking at the donor wall at The Shell

Thank You for your Support

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