Tickets are now on sale for Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s 75^th season, featuring renowned soloists, masterworks by Ravel, Beethoven, Grieg, Dvořák, Sibelius, Tchaikovsky, Holst

Special events include Día de los Muertos concert on Nov. 2 and popular “Holiday Spectacular” concerts Dec. 14, 15

(August 21, 2024, Elgin, IL) – Single tickets are now on sale for the Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s 75^th anniversary season, which opens the weekend of Sept. 28 and 29 with a Spanish-music-themed program that includes Ravel’s “Bolero”, guest guitarist Ana Vidovic performing Rodrigo’s “Fantasia para un gentilhombre”, Falla’s Suites from “The Three-Cornered Hat”, and Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz’s “Kauyumari”. Tickets start at $20, and student tickets are available for $10.

The celebratory season, led by ESO Music Director Chad Goodman, will showcase the virtuosity of the award-winning ESO through performances of masterworks including Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 “Pathetique”, Vaughan Williams’ Symphony No. 5, Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5, and Holst’s “The Planets”. Furthermore, the ESO continues its tradition of bringing world-renowned soloists to Elgin. In addition to Vidović, who is making her second appearance with the ESO, guest soloists this season will include violinist Stella Chen, who was named the 2023 Gramophone Young Artist of the Year, for a performance of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto; Sphinx Competition winner violinist Samuel Vargas, performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto; a return appearance of Grammy-nominated pianist Joyce Yang, who will perform Grieg’s Piano Concerto; and the ESO’s own Principal Cellist Matthew Agnew, featured on Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 1.

The season will also include a Día de los Muertos concert on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 2:30 p.m., and the ESO’s annual Holiday Spectacular concerts on Dec. 14 and 15, which include performances by the Elgin Master Chorale and Integrity School of Dance. These concerts, and the ESO’s 75^th Classics Series, are held at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, in Elgin.

Tickets for all events are now on sale at www.elginsymphony.org or by calling the ESO Box Office at (847) 888-4000. The Box Office is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Subscriptions to the ESO’s six-concert Classics series are also available.

For more information about the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, visit www.ElginSymphony.org.

###

About the Elgin Symphony Orchestra

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra, one of the preeminent regional orchestras in the United States, is celebrating its 75^th anniversary season in 2024-25.

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra 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 Orchestra of the Year four times (1988, 1999, 2005 and 2016).

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

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