ISO Guild of Bloomington-Normal
The Illinois Symphony Orchestra Guild of Bloomington-Normal has a decades-long tradition of support for the symphony. Now numbering over 120, the guild keeps busy year-round with a wide range of activities that spotlight the ISO, including sponsoring the annual Candlelight Concert performance by the Illinois Chamber Orchestra and the Family Concert. Music education activities are a specialty of the guild, which works with local schools, Maestra Karen Deal and Assistant Conductor Richard Haglund to coordinate the Step-by-Step education program and pre-concert school visits featuring Haglund and high school musicians. Popular fund-raisers include the Tea & Togs high tea and fashion show and bus trips to Ravinia. This past year the guild raised over $48,000 for the ISO from events such as those and our award-winning Symphony Celebrities, a joint effort between the guild and the Board of Advisors. Our fabulous cookbook, Encore Recipes, is a great seller—copies are available prior to all concerts and during intermissions. The guild also participated in the July 2 band concert at Franklin Park in Bloomington selling cookies and ice cream under the big blue tent. It was truly a lot of fun both selling our goodies and listening to the music performed by a local band. Plans will soon be underway for a couple of new events that will support our orchestra—a Fairy Tale and Pajama Party for children of all ages, and a wine and cheese tasting event. Other fund raising activities include our Book Club, Bridge Group, and, new this year, Mah Jong. Book Club participation is year-round. Be sure to contact us if you are interested in any of these activities. We stay busy and have fun with our projects for the symphony. We’d love to have you join us. Click here for a list of current officers. |
