Chad Goodman renews Music Director contract with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra

(February 6, 2026, Elgin, IL) – The Elgin Symphony Orchestra today announced it unanimously approved a three-year contract extension with Music Director Chad Goodman. 

“We are thrilled to extend Chad Goodman’s position as Music Director for another three years so that we can continue to build on the terrific work that he has done on stage and in the community, creating synergy between our audience and musicians, and growing our lists of subscribers and donors each year,” said Marc Thayer, CEO of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra.

Goodman, the fifth music director in the Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s 76-year history, joined the ESO in May 2023. He has led the ESO premieres of more than a dozen works and has worked to increase community engagement through efforts including the orchestra’s first ever Día de los Muertos concert which united the symphony with folkloric dance and vocals in a city-wide cultural celebration. In July 2025, the Illinois Council of Orchestra honored Goodman with its Professional Conductor of the Year Award and awarded the Elgin Symphony Orchestra Professional Orchestra of the Year.

“Since beginning my tenure as Music Director of the ESO in 2023, I have been inspired by the remarkable artistry that our orchestra brings to every performance and by the boundless enthusiasm, trust, and love of our community. I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together, and I am honored to continue serving this extraordinary organization and community,” said Goodman.

As a guest conductor, Goodman has led orchestras including the Minnesota Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, and Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de Puebla (OSEP).

Goodman holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music and a Master of Music degree from San Francisco State University. His mentors include Michael Tilson Thomas and Alasdair Neale.

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About the Elgin Symphony Orchestra

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra is one of the preeminent regional orchestras in the United States, and is led by Chad Goodman, who was named the ESO’s Music Director – the fifth in the Orchestra’s history – in May 2023.

Since its founding in 1950, the organization has developed a reputation for artistic excellence, and innovative programming as demonstrated through its long history of highlighting the works of world-renowned conductors, composers, and musicians, and of promoting the advancement of women in the arts.

The ESO became a professional ensemble in 1985 in good part due to the leadership of the late Margaret Hillis, who served as the ESO’s music director from 1971 to 1985. Hillis was one of the first females to break through the male-dominated world of conducting and is credited with being the impetus behind the creation of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra Association, the formation of the ESO’s volunteer core – the Elgin Symphony League, and the start of the ESO’s commitment to music education and enrichment for youth.

Today, the ESO continues to draw its creativity and artistry from the Elgin area and gives back to the community through its Adopt-a-School program that provides supplemental music education and in-school performances to local schools; Musicians Care program that brings live music performances to local hospitals, hospices, and retirement homes; informational Listener’s Club events and other free programs at public libraries; In Harmony Program in places of worship; Ainsworth Concerts for Youth; free tickets for youth under 18; open rehearsals; and free community concerts throughout the region.

The Illinois Council of Orchestras has named the ESO “Professional Orchestra of the Year” five times (1988, 1999, 2005, 2016, and 2025) and named Goodman “Professional Conductor of the Year” in 2025.

The ESO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

To learn more or to support the ESO, visit www.elginsymphony.org.

About Chad Goodman

Since his appointment as Music Director of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra in 2023, Chad Goodman has been praised for elevating the orchestra to new artistic heights and dramatically expanding its impact in the community. In his first two seasons he led the ESO premieres of more than a dozen works, increased community engagement through run-out concerts and captivating presentations, and spearheaded the orchestra’s first ever Día de los Muertos concert, uniting the symphony with folkloric dance and vocals in a city-wide cultural celebration. In recognition of his committed work, Goodman was named Conductor of the Year by the Illinois Council of Orchestras in 2025.

As a guest conductor, Goodman has led orchestras including the Minnesota Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, and Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de Puebla (OSEP). His 2025-2026 season includes debuts with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Utah Symphony.

From 2019 to 2023, Goodman served as the Conducting Fellow of the New World Symphony and Assistant Conductor to Michael Tilson Thomas. In addition to leading the orchestra on subscription, education, and special event programs, he collaborated with videographers, animators, and light designers to push the boundaries of how classical music can be presented. Goodman has also served as an Assistant Conductor to the San Francisco Symphony, working with Esa-Pekka Salonen, Herbert Blomstedt, Michael Tilson Thomas, Elim Chan, Manfred Honeck, Daniel Harding, and Simone Young, among others.

Goodman additionally leads workshops that teach young musicians the business skills needed to successfully navigate the music world. Forbes praised the conductor’s bold strides both on and off stage and hailed him as “An entrepreneur bringing innovation to classical music.” In 2022 he published the book You Earned a Music Degree. Now What?

Goodman holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music and a Master of Music degree from San Francisco State University. His mentors include Michael Tilson Thomas and Alasdair Neale.