Illinois Symphony Orchestra (ISO)

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.

Alejandro Gómez Guillén is one of the candidates vying for the music director position at the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, and he is set to conduct the final performance of the season "Opposites Attract," which features Grammy-nominated pianist Joyce Yang. Guillén spoke to Community Voices about his interest in music and explained what audiences can expect to hear at the upcoming concert.The concerts take place at 7:30 p.m. on May 3 in Springfield and May 4 in Bloomington-Normal. Concert Comments are before the performances at 6:30 p.m. and there’s a play on after party following the performances. For more information and for tickets visit ilsymphony.org.

Several events are planned from Feb. 22-24.

Tania Miller is one of the candidates for the open Music Director position at the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. She'll conduct the upcoming concert "Captivating Contrasts," on Feb. 16 in Springfield, Ill. and on Feb. 17 in Bloomington-Normal, Ill. Miller spoke to Community Voices about the performance which will feature works by Beethoven, Barber and Nielsen.For more information visit ilsymphony.org

Whether you love Bugs Bunny or "Beauty and the Beast," the Illinois Symphony Orchestra (ISO) will bring the music from animation to the stage at their upcoming concert "Tunes from the Toons!" The performance will be conducted by music director candidate Yaniv Dinur and will feature music you heard in Saturday morning cartoons and animated feature films. The ISO will perform in Springfield, Ill. on Jan. 26 and in Bloomington-Normal on Jan. 27. For more information visit: ilsymphony.org

The Illinois Symphony Orchestra will perform its annual holiday concert Friday Dec. 15 in Springfield and Dec. 16 in Bloomington-Normal. Taichi Fukumura returns to conduct the concert which features several community organizations and soloist Megan Koch. Fukumura and Jacobsen Woollen spoke to Community Voices about the concert and how it will all come together. For more information visit: https://www.ilsymphony.org/

Taichi Fukumura is a finalist in the Illinois Symphony Orchestra's search for a new conductor. He spoke to Community Voices about his interest in orchestral music and the importance of incorporating contemporary pieces into concerts he conducts. Fukumura will conduct the Oct. 20, concert in Springfield, Ill. titled "Fire & Fanfare."

The 2023-24 season will be a mix of classical, contemporary and popular works, with each candidate for music director leading the orchestra twice.

The Illinois Symphony Orchestra is wrapping up its season with its final concert titled “Epic Ending.” Conductor Andrew Joon Choi and soloist Joshua Roman spoke to Community Voices about the pieces that the orchestra will perform which include music by composers Michael Torke, Antonín Dvořák and Béla Bartók.