Elgin Symphony Orchestra opens its 77th season with Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto, works by Copland and Stravinsky
Elgin Symphony Orchestra opens its 77th season with Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto, works by Copland and Stravinsky
Contact:
Elgin Symphony Orchestra opens its 77th season
with Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto,
works by Copland and Stravinsky
(September 8, 2026, Elgin, IL) – The Elgin Symphony Orchestra opens its 77th Season Classics Series with a program of bold energy, rhythmic drive, and sweeping romanticism under Music Director Chad Goodman. Aaron Copland’s Four Dance Episodes from “Rodeo” sets the tone with lively charm and distinctly American spirit, followed by the propulsive intensity and striking contrasts of Igor Stravinsky’s “Symphony in Three Movements”. The program concludes with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s iconic Piano Concerto No. 1, performed by acclaimed pianist Drew Petersen, who brings both power and lyricism to a beloved masterpiece and is making his second appearance with the ESO and its Music Director, Chad Goodman.
Performances take place Saturday, Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 11, at 2:30 p.m., at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin.
A Pre-Concert Talk by ESO Music Director Chad Goodman will take place one hour prior to each concert.
Tickets are available at ElginSymphony.org. Tickets start at $20. Continuing its commitment to making performances affordable and accessible to the community, the ESO offers discounts for groups of 10 or more, student tickets for $10 for those with a valid student ID, and a free youth ticket for children age 17 and under with a paid adult ticket. Call the ESO Box Office at 847-888-4000 for more information and to include free youth tickets in your order. The ESO Box Office is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is located at 20 DuPage Court, Elgin, Ill.
The Elgin Symphony Orchestra was named Professional Orchestra of the Year in 2025 by the Illinois Council of Orchestras, which also awarded Goodman the Professional Conductor of the Year award.
The ESO’s 77th Season is made possible through the generous support of donors, including Season Sponsors OTTO®, Willow Springs Charitable Trust, and an anonymous sponsor; Concert Sponsors the Illinois Arts Council, The Pepper Family Foundation, and John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc.; Contributing Sponsors Elgin Symphony League, Barrington Area Community Foundation, Seigle Foundation, Florence B. & Cornelia A. Palmer Foundation, Richard & Carol Leonard Foundation, and W.R. Meadows; and Community Sponsors Elgin Cultural Arts Commission, Donald & Kathleen Brungard Family Foundation, Epic Real Estate Group, and ARK Technologies.
###
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 three seasons he led the ESO premieres of more than twenty 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. In 2026, it was announced that his contract was extended for 3 years through the 2028/2029 season.
As a guest conductor, Goodman has led orchestras including the Minnesota Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Utah Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Pacific Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, Baton Rouge Symphony, Greensboro Symphony, Chicago Philharmonic, San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, and Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de Puebla (OSEP).
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, 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.
About Drew Petersen
Drew Petersen is an acclaimed New York-area based American pianist celebrated for his compelling and poetic performances across a diverse repertoire, from Bach to Zaimont. Recognized as a sought-after soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician, he has earned numerous accolades, including the 2018 Avery Fisher Career Grant, the 2017 American Pianists Awards, and the Christel DeHaan Classical Fellowship.
The 25/26 season includes recitals in series from San Diego, CA to Westfield, NJ with a program ranging from Mozart to Liszt and John Adams, as well as concerto debuts with the Baltimore and Hartford Symphonies. 2018 marked the release of his first solo recording of music by Barber, Carter, and other American composers on the Steinway & Sons label for which BBC Music Magazine acknowledged his presence as a rising star.
A frequent radio contributor, Petersen has performed on platforms such as McGraw-Hill Young Artists Showcase, From the Top, and Performance Today. His performances and profiles have been featured in The New York Times, New York Magazine, and the award-winning documentary Just Normal by Kim Snyder. An enthusiastic chamber musician, he has appeared on France Musique as part of a Verbier Festival piano trio.
His inclusion in Andrew Solomon’s bestseller Far From the Tree sparked a national dialogue on raising extraordinary and different children. Dedicated to advocating for classical music and the arts, he was awarded the 2006 Davidson Fellows Award for his project, Keeping Classical Music Alive. He has also collaborated with Young Audiences NY to bring performances to New York City’s public schools.
Petersen is also a passionate traveler whose career takes him all over the world, where he explores new cuisines and connects with locals just as eagerly as he performs for fresh audiences. A Harvard graduate, he earned his Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Social Science with honors at just 19 years old. He also completed both his undergraduate and graduate music studies at the prestigious Juilliard School, where he was awarded the renowned Kovner Fellowship. Deeply committed to the role of music in today’s global society, Petersen has gained a unique perspective on how musical performances can uplift and enrich humanity. Through his extensive concert experience, he hopes to share his musical journey with others, inviting audiences to witness the transformative power of the arts firsthand.
Images
