Designing a Symphony Website That Performs

By Jeff Ficker

As symphonies work to attract new audiences while retaining longtime patrons, their digital presence has never been more important. A website is no longer just a place to check concert dates — it’s a hub for storytelling, education and engagement. With the right approach, an orchestra’s website can help bridge generations, introducing younger audiences to the magic of classical music while making it easier than ever for seasoned supporters to stay connected. The challenge? Designing a site that feels as timeless as Beethoven yet as intuitive as a social media app.

1. Create a Seamless User Experience

A well-designed symphony website should provide an intuitive user experience that mirrors the elegance of the music it represents. Clear navigation, fast load times and accessibility features ensure that users can easily explore concert schedules, purchase tickets or learn about the orchestra’s history. Two key considerations:

• Action-Oriented CTAs: Highlight ticket sales, donations and event sign-ups prominently throughout the site by using large, easy-to-find buttons with clear labels like “Buy Tickets,” “Donate Now” or “Join Us,” strategically placing them at key touchpoints such as homepage banners and event pages, and ensuring they are visually distinct yet cohesive with the overall site design. Include urgency phrases like “Limited Seats Available” to drive immediate action.
• Visual Consistency: Use harmonious colors and typography that align with the orchestra’s brand identity. For example, Casual Astronaut’s redesign for the Tucson Symphony Orchestra website organizes information into simple categories and pairs desert-inspired colors with deep black backgrounds to create a visually compelling experience.

2. Blend Tradition with Modern Design

Symphonies often grapple with the challenge of staying true to their classical roots while embracing contemporary needs trends. By incorporating visuals that reflect the organization’s rich history alongside contemporary design elements, a website can appeal to traditional patrons and attract younger, diverse audiences:

• Contemporary Design Elements: Incorporate bold, clean layouts and dynamic color schemes that feel current while complementing classical aesthetics.
• Inclusive Photography: Showcase people of all ages enjoying the music and the spaces to create a welcoming and relatable impression.
• Event Diversity: Feature both traditional and modern performances, such as film scores or pop concerts, to attract a wider audience.
• Dynamic Visuals: Leverage big, bold images and vibrant colors, as seen in the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s approach, to create a dynamic, energetic experience.

3. Optimize for a Variety of Screens

Responsive design goes beyond mobile-first; it ensures a seamless experience for audiences of all ages and preferences, whether they access performing arts websites on phones, tablets or desktops. Performing arts websites should look stunning and function smoothly across all dimensions, accommodating varying screen sizes and orientations. Key considerations for holistic responsive design include:

• Device-Agnostic Aesthetics: Ensure the site’s layout, fonts and imagery adapt beautifully to any device, maintaining visual consistency.
• Optimized Media Display: Use scalable images and videos that adjust resolution based on device capabilities.
• Prioritizing Accessibility: Incorporate features like adjustable font sizes, high-contrast options and clear tap targets for users with diverse needs.

4. Drive Ticket Sales with Smart Website Features

Streamlining the ticket purchasing process is essential for increasing revenue. A user-friendly approach ensures patrons can easily find and buy tickets. Key strategies for driving ticket sales include:

• Dynamic Event Filters: Allow users to sort events by date, genre or venue to quickly find their preferred performance.
• Simple Checkout Process: Minimize the number of steps and offer multiple payment options to reduce friction.
• Discount and Subscription Options: Highlight special packages, student discounts and season subscriptions prominently.
• Email Reminders: Integrate automated reminders for abandoned carts or upcoming performances to drive conversions.

5. Tell Your Symphony’s Story

A symphony’s website is a storytelling platform that can convey the passion behind the performances and the connection to its community. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Experience and Seattle Symphony’s Beyond the Stage exemplifies this content hub approach with rich storytelling, including behind-the-scenes articles, videos and playlists that bring the music and musicians to life.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic adds another dimension with big, bold visuals that feature vibrant colors, photos of the community and people of all ages, creating a dynamic and welcoming digital presence. Their Watch & Listen content hub takes it further, offering multimedia like podcasts, interviews, recordings and broadcasts, engaging users on multiple levels. This strategy deepens audience engagement and fosters a sense of connection to the orchestra.

6. Connect With Your Community

The inclusion of bilingual content and imagery representing diverse communities fosters inclusivity. For symphonies, designing for their local audiences’ unique characteristics ensures a deeper connection. The Tucson Symphony Orchestra provides an excellent example by highlighting nontraditional shows like pops, family and ¡Celebración Latina! performances in its menu. These offerings make it easy for newcomers to find engaging events, broadening the audience base and creating welcoming pathways into the world of symphonic music. By integrating thoughtful programming into their digital presence, the symphony fosters deeper engagement and a sense of community connection. Strategies for fostering community engagement include:

• Multilingual Content: Offer content in multiple languages to reflect the community’s diversity.
• Local Stories and Profiles: Feature interviews with local musicians, staff, or patrons to highlight the symphony’s connection to its region.
• Interactive Community Calendar: Share not just symphony events but also partner activities and educational programs.
• Educational Content: Provide resources like study guides, behind-the-scenes videos and classroom tools to engage schools and families.

Similarly, the Colorado Symphony’s Plan Your Visit section is another standout feature. This section includes a comprehensive First-Timer’s Guide and a Before & After Concert page that outlines pre- and post-concert events, such as Preludes, Talkbacks and HalfNotes activities. These features enhance the overall performance experience and provide engaging opportunities for attendees to connect with the symphony beyond the concert itself.

7. Create a ‘Wow’ Factor

Performing arts websites can benefit from features that go beyond basic functionality to engage users and mirror the richness of a live performance. Virtual concert experiences, which allow users to stream high-quality recordings, can make performances accessible to broader audiences. Video previews and interactive program notes offer insight into the music, composers and performers, enriching the audience’s appreciation. Best practices for performing arts websites include:

• Dynamic Visuals and Animations: Subtle, elegant animations, such as transitions or hover effects, can enhance the browsing experience without overwhelming the user.
• Interactive Calendars: Allow filtering by genre, composer or family-friendly events to help users quickly find performances that interest them.
• Integrated Social Sharing: Enable users to share event details directly from the site to social platforms, boosting visibility and excitement.

8. Engage Donors, Meaningfully

A symphony’s website should make it simple for patrons to give back. Prominent calls to action, testimonials, and transparent impact reporting can boost donations.

Key strategies for donor-friendly design include:

• Compelling Pages: Highlight must-attend events with engaging descriptions, enticing visuals, and easy RSVP options. Showcase events like parties and galas with vibrant, celebratory imagery that captures the excitement of attending.
• Transparent Impact Reporting: Include stories and statistics showing how contributions directly support the organization’s mission.
• Streamlined Donation Processes: Ensure that giving is simple and accessible with multiple payment options and clear instructions.
• Personalized Donor Recognition: Feature testimonials or create donor spotlights to show appreciation and inspire others to give.

The New York Philharmonic exemplifies these strategies with fundraising visuals that feel polished and dynamic, transforming galas and parties into aspirational experiences. This approach ensures that donors feel valued and inspired to contribute.

Creating a symphony website that balances tradition and innovation while driving ticket sales, community engagement and donor contributions requires expertise and strategy. Casual Astronaut specializes in helping performing arts organizations and nonprofits navigate the complexities of a website redesign. From optimizing SEO to creating integrated ticketing and donation systems, we focus on blending creativity with functionality.