Article: Annual Report of the Philharmonic Society of New York

“The New-York Philharmonic Society, incorporated Feb. 17, 1853, has for its object the cultivation and performance of instrumental music. It gives every Winter six regular concerts, preceded by private and public rehearsals. The society consists of actual, associate, subscribing, and honorary members. Actual members must be professors of music and officient performers on some instrument. They are elected by ballot and pay an initiation fee of $10 and an annual tax of $3 each. Associate members are those who have the right of admission to the public rehearsals and concerts of the Society on payment, in advance, of a certain amount to be fixed by the Society at the beginning of each season. Subscribing members are those who are entitled to three tickets for each regular concert, on payment, in advance, of a certain amount, similarly stipulated. Honorary members are eminent musical artists, and honorary associate members are persons who, not belonging to the profession of music, have shown themselves worthy of the regard of the Society.

The orchestra of the Society at their concerts must consist of at least 66 actual members. After the last regular concert of each season the net proceeds from the concerts are public rehearsals are divided among the actual performing members. The Society has a sinking fund chiefly for rehoving [?] actual members when in distress. The officers of the Society, elected at their annual meeting, May 23, 1870, are [lists officers]. The office of the Librarian was vacated by death a few weeks ago. Carl Bergmann has been elected conductor of the concerts of the Society for this season.

 

During the twenty-eighth season, ending last May, the gross receipts amounted to $16,739.76, and the net proceeds or orchestral dividends to the actual performing members to $12,750. During the same season the Society [illeg.] 100 actual members, [illeg…] 21 honorary members, 2 honorary associate members, 1,089 associate members, and 45 subscribing members.”