Illinois Symphony Orchestra (ISO)

Fukumura will continue to serve as Music Director of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra and remains deeply committed to the vision and mission of our organization, according to a statement from the organization.

Music Director Taichi Fukumura from the Illinois Symphony Orchestra spoke to Community Voices about the upcoming concert titled "Passion and Pulse," which features soloist Anna Geniushene on piano. The performances will take place on May 2 at the UIS Performing Arts Center in Springfield, Ill. and May 3 at the ISU Center for Performing Arts in Normal, Ill., both at 7:30 p.m. Concert Comments will take place at 6:30 p.m. before each performance. For more information visit: ilsypmhony.org

The Illinois Symphony Orchestra presents its "Magical Music of Harry Potter" concert on March 7 at the UIS Performing Arts Center and March 8 at the ISU Center for the Performing Arts. Music Director Taichi Fukumura spoke to Community Voices about the concert which will feature music from each of the Harry Potter films. For more information visit: https://www.ilsymphony.org/

Ken Lam is director of orchestral studies at The Tianjin Juilliard School and resident conductor of the Tianjin Juilliard Orchestra. He was also music director of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra from 2017 to 2022. Ken is returning to Illinois as guest conductor of the ISO's upcoming concert Romantic Reflections. The concert takes place Friday Feb. 7 in Springfield and Saturday Feb. 8 in Bloomington-Normal. He spoke to Community Voices about The Tianjin Juilliard School, what people can expect to hear at the concert, and about guest pianist for the concert, Aristio Sham. Tickets and information about the concert can be found here.

The Performing Arts Center will undergo a 15-month plumbing system replacement

The Illinois Symphony Orchestra will perform its annual holiday concert Friday Dec. 13 in Springfield and Saturday Dec. 14 in Bloomington-Normal. ISO Music Director Taichi Fukumura and Founding Executive Director of Springfield Youth Performance Group Taryn Grant, spoke to Community Voices about the various collaborations featured in the concert and how they keep holiday traditions fresh. For more information and ticket details click here.

The Illinois Symphony Orchestra will present its next concert, “Paris Impressions” on Friday Nov. 8, at the UIS Performing Arts Center in Springfield, Ill. and Saturday Nov. 9, at the ISU Center for the Performing Arts in Normal, Ill. Grammy-nominated conductor and the former Music Director of ISO Alastair Willis will conduct the orchestra. The concert will also feature actor Robert R. Mangialardi who is currently an Emeritus Assistant Professor of Voice and former Director of the Opera Theatre program at Illinois Wesleyan University. The program includes:Selections from Franck Symphony in D minorDebussy Prelude to the Afternoon of a FaunStravinsky Firebird – Petrushka – Rite of SpringPoulenc Les BichesRavel La ValseFor ticket information visit: ilsymphony.org

The Illinois Symphony Orchestra (ISO) begins its 2024-2025 season with “Festive Fanfare.” The concert, conducted by ISO music director Taichi Fukumura, will feature Walton's Spitfire Prelude and Fugue, Coleridge-Taylor's Violin Concerto with violinist Braimah Kanneh-Mason, and Dvořák's Symphony No. 8.The ISO performs in Springfield on Friday Oct. 18, at 7:30 p.m. and in Normal on Saturday Oct. 19, at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information visit: ilsymphony.org

A special performance will take place September 14.

After a two-year search, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra has found its new music director. Taichi Fukumura will conduct the Illinois Symphony Orchestra in its next season. Fukumura and Executive Director Trevor Orthmann spoke to Community Voices about the search process, the vision for the Illinois Symphony Orchestra moving forward and the Sip & Sounds series offered June through September.