2025-2026 Season Dates | Illinois Symphony Orchestra
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2025-2026 Season Dates

Join us for an unforgettable 2025–2026 season with your Illinois Symphony Orchestra! This year, we celebrate the spirit of community and history with a musical journey inspired by the iconic Route 66 and the 250th anniversary of American independence. From timeless masterpieces by Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, and Mozart to the bold, expressive voices of American composers like Williams, Copland and Bernstein—and a thrilling world premiere by Michelle Isaac—every concert promises to uplift, inspire, and connect.

As many of you know, the UIS Performing Arts Center in Springfield will undergo a major plumbing project this season. The ISO will perform four Symphony Orchestra concerts and our Family Pops concert at the First United Methodist Church. Additionally, two Chamber Orchestra concerts will remain at First Presbyterian Church, and our Holiday Pops in the Heartland concerts will be held at the beautiful Illinois State Library.

In Bloomington, concerts will continue to be held at ISU's Center for the Performing Arts and Second Presbyterian Church.

Season tickets will go on sale for current season ticket holders in July and new subscribers later this summer! 

Mark your calendars to join us for the 2025-2026 season!

Vince Lee Star Wars 2023

Star Wars Greatest Hits - Family Pops

Vince Lee, Guest Conductor

Journey to a galaxy far, far away for an out-of-this-world experience.

Friday, October 10, 2025 @ 7:30 PM
First United Methodist Church, Springfield, IL

Saturday, October 11, 2025 @ 7:30 PM 
ISU Center for the Performing Arts, Normal, IL

Pouliot Main 2022c Lauren Hurt 02

Hero's Journey - Symphony Orchestra

Taichi Fukumura, Music Director | Blake Pouliot, Violin

Bartók Romanian Folk Dances - Rózsa Violin Concerto - Beethoven Symphony No. 3 “Eroica”

Friday, November 7, 2025 @ 7:30 PM 
First United Methodist Church, Springfield, IL
Concert Comments @ 6:30 PM

Saturday, November 8, 2025 @ 7:30 PM 
ISU Center for the Performing Arts, Normal, IL
Concert Comments @ 6:30 PM

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Taichi Holi Pops

Holiday Pops in the Heartland - Pops

Taichi Fukumura, Music Director 

Celebrate the holidays with festive music & holiday songs!

Saturday, December 13, 2025 @ 7:30 PM 
ISU Center for the Performing Arts, Normal, IL

Sunday, December 14, 2025 @ 3:00 PM & 7:30 PM 
Illinois State Library, Springfield, IL
Springfield: Please note the Springfield concert date & times.

Jake Conducting 2 PC Christine Call

Crown Jewels - Chamber Orchestra

Jacobsen Woollen, Associate Conductor 
Springfield Choral Society

Chen Yi Shuo - Stravinsky Pulcinella Suite - Mozart Coronation Mass

Friday, January 16, 2026 @ 7:30 PM 
First Presbyterian Church, Springfield, IL
Coda Conversations will immediately follow

Saturday, January 17, 2026 @ 7:30 PM 
Second Presbyterian Church, Bloomington, IL
Coda Conversations will immediately follow

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Bijoux Saxophone Duo 1

Love Notes - Symphony Orchestra

Taichi Fukumura, Music Director
Valentin Kovalev, Soprano Saxophone | Aiwen Zhang, Alto Saxophone

Bernstein Three Dance Episodes from On the Town - Carr Concerto for Two Saxophones - Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 

Friday, February 13, 2026 @ 7:30 PM 
First United Methodist Church, Springfield, IL
Concert Comments @ 6:30 PM

Saturday, February 14, 2026 @ 7:30 PM 
ISU Center for the Performing Arts, Normal, IL
Concert Comments @ 6:30 PM

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Madison Leonard Landscape

Visions & Vitality - Symphony Orchestra

Taichi Fukumura, Music Director | Madison Leonard, Soprano

Flagello Vitality - Theofanidis Rainbow Body - Mahler Symphony No. 4 

Friday, March 6, 2026 @ 7:30 PM 
First United Methodist Church, Springfield, IL
Concert Comments @ 6:30 PM

Saturday, March 7, 2026 @ 7:30 PM 
ISU Center for the Performing Arts, Normal, IL
Concert Comments @ 6:30 PM

Preview Flagello's Vitality Preview the Music
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Simple Gifts - Chamber Orchestra

Taichi Fukumura, Music Director 

Walker Lyric for Strings - Bloch Concerto Grosso No. 1 for String Orchestra and Piano - Copland Appalachian Spring

Friday, April 10, 2026 @ 7:30 PM 
First Presbyterian Church, Springfield, IL
Coda Conversations will immediately follow

Saturday, April 11, 2026 @ 7:30 PM 
Second Presbyterian Church, Bloomington, IL
Coda Conversations will immediately follow

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Carissa 2024c TBD05

Fabulous "Finnish" - Symphony Orchestra

Taichi Fukumura, Music Director | Janice Carissa, Piano 

Michelle Isaac World Premiere! - Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini - Sibelius Symphony No. 2

Friday, May 1, 2026 @ 7:30 PM 
First United Methodist Church, Springfield, IL
Concert Comments @ 6:30 PM

Saturday, May 2, 2026 @ 7:30 PM 
ISU Center for the Performing Arts, Normal, IL
Concert Comments @ 6:30 PM

Preview the Music
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