Illinois Symphony Orchestra Guilds Earn National and State Honors for Volunteer Excellence

The volunteer guilds that support the Illinois Symphony Orchestra (ISO) have capped a banner year of recognition, earning top honors from both the League of American Orchestras (LAO) and the Illinois Council of Orchestras (ICO).

The Illinois Symphony Guild of Springfield received the Gold Award of Excellence from the League of American Orchestras for its electronic newsletter, the Guild Gazette. Redesigned by Donald Tallman, the publication was honored at this year's LAO Annual Conference in Baltimore, where ISO Board President Dan Brownstone accepted the award on the Guild's behalf. The Guild Gazette has become a model for orchestra communications nationally, combining strong design with strong reader engagement: the newsletter has posted a 60% open rate, a 93% reader connection rate, and an 8.5-out-of-10 reader value score.

The Springfield Guild's win follows a similar honor for the Illinois Symphony Guild of Bloomington-Normal. At the 2025 LAO conference in Salt Lake City, Elaine Cousins presented on the Bloomington-Normal Guild's work on the ISO’s Concert for Kids and the New York! New York! Gala. Both projects received the Gold Award of Excellence.

In 2026, the Bloomington-Normal Guild added a third honor closer to home, receiving the Illinois Council of Orchestras' Guild of the Year award. The recognition, presented at the Guild's Annual Meeting in May, celebrates sustained excellence and community impact built through volunteer commitment. Elaine Cousins prepared the nomination.

“These awards reflect the extraordinary dedication of our Guild volunteers, whose work strengthens the connection between the Illinois Symphony Orchestra and the communities we serve,” said Trevor Orthmann, ISO Executive Director. 

The Illinois Symphony Orchestra (ISO), under the inspiring leadership of Music Director Taichi Fukumura, is the premier professional orchestra of central Illinois—bringing world-class music to life for more than 35,000 patrons across Bloomington-Normal, Springfield, and surrounding communities. With thrilling symphony, Pops, and chamber performances, engaging Concerts for Kids, and intimate and immersive chamber experiences like the Sips & Sounds, Around the Town and Beyond the Stage performances, the ISO is redefining what a regional orchestra can be.

The ISO’s reach goes far beyond the concert hall. Through transformative education programs like Itsy Arts and Music Matters, the orchestra sparks creativity in pre-K and elementary classrooms, while guest artist residencies and ensemble visits connect with middle schools, high schools, universities, and senior centers—building lifelong relationships with music.

In 2020, the ISO expanded its mission by acquiring the Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony, now the Illinois Symphony Youth Orchestras (ISYO), serving over 300 young musicians through five progressive ensembles. With strong partnerships through its’ PEACE (Partnership in Education and Community Engagement) with UIS-Music and Illinois State University, the ISO is cultivating the next generation of artists, educators, and arts advocates. ISO’s annual operating budget is $1.6 million.

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

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

###