Listen LIVE! to your Illinois Symphony Orchestra at the Star Wars & Beyond, The Best of John Williams concert

Get your seats now for an out-of-this-world experience as the talented musicians of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra led by Vince Lee take you to a galaxy far away as they perform some of the greatest cinematic hits written by John Williams! From the iconic music of Star Wars to Harry Potter to Jurassic Park and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, there’s something for everyone. Round up your friends and family and join us for Star Wars & Beyond!

Listen LIVE! to your Illinois Symphony Orchestra on Friday, March 10, 2023, at 7:30 PM at the UIS Performing Arts Center in Springfield, Illinois and Saturday, March 11, 2023, at 7:30 PM at the Center for the Performing Arts at Illinois State University.

Order your tickets and we’ll see you there! Tickets may be purchased in Springfield through the UIS Ticket Office at 217-206-6160 and in Normal through the ISU Center for the Performing Arts Ticket Office at 309-438-2535 or online at ilsymphony.org/starwarsandbeyond. Single ticket prices range from $6 for students (11 & under) to $66 for premium seating. Senior and group discounts are also available.

Star Wars & Beyond, The Best of John Williams is sponsored by season sponsors The Landmark Automotive Group and Debra & Daniel Brownstone, M.D., and concert sponsors CEFCU, Isringhausen Imports, Memorial Health, Sorling Northrup Attorneys, and Dennis & Cathy Wentworth, guest conductor sponsor The Music Shoppe, and music sponsors Richard & Phyllis Cheaney and Springfield Clinic.

With a Carnegie Hall debut described as “powerful” and “hefty” by the New York Times, American conductor Vince Lee is quickly rising as one of today’s top emerging talents. Known among his contemporaries for his dynamic performances and his razor-sharp ear, Mr. Lee’s diverse musical background provides him a flexibility and perspective that is unique in the conducting world. His firm belief in striving for the highest artistic standards, regardless of genre, venue, or audience, has made him a crowd favorite, and a popular hire for numerous orchestras and arts organizations throughout the country. Recent highlights include appearances with the Florida Orchestra, the Toledo Symphony, and the Korean Symphony Orchestra in Seoul, South Korea. Mr. Lee is currently the Music Director of the Ocean City Pops in Ocean City, New Jersey.

During his tenure with the Cincinnati Symphony, Mr. Lee revolutionized his role as Assistant Conductor for the orchestra. His symphonic concerts with the CSO received critical acclaim, and his Young People’s Concerts found unprecedented levels of success, combining elements of increased interactivity with high artistic standards. This tradition has continued in his activities as a guest conductor, designing and conducting innovative and engaging concerts for tens of thousands of concertgoers

The Illinois Symphony Orchestra is central Illinois’ largest professional orchestra serving over 35,000 patrons in the communities of Bloomington-Normal, Springfield and the surrounding region with symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra, and Concerts for Kids series in each community. In addition to concert performances, the Orchestra's music education and outreach programs serve pre-K and elementary schools through the Itsy Arts and Music Matters education programs and reach middle schools, high schools, universities, community organizations and senior centers through guest artist residencies and musician and ensemble performances. The ISO also has an active Around the Town Chamber Music Series and virtual Sunday at Six Recital Series. The Illinois Symphony Orchestra has a budget of approximately $1.3 million.

In July 2020, the ISO acquired the Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony (SVYS) organization that was started in the early 1970s by parents, music teachers and musicians to keep string programs and youth orchestra in Springfield and surrounding communities following the elimination of all school orchestra programs. Now, the Illinois Symphony Youth Orchestras (ISYO) programs consist of Starter and Junior Strings, Preparatory Orchestra, Concert Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra serving over 150 students. The ISO also has a partnership in education and community engagement (PEACE) with the UIS-School of Music and Illinois State University’s Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts and School of Music.

Additional information about the Illinois Symphony Orchestra is available at www.ilsymphony.org.

The ISO is partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

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