Single tickets go on sale today for the award-winning Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s 76th Season Classics Series, opening the weekend of October 11–12 with a vibrant program featuring Carlos Simon’s “Motherboxx Connection,” Howard Hanson’s Symphony No. 2, and George Gershwin’s jazz-infused Concerto in F with guest pianist Orion Weiss.
Tickets start at just $20, with $10 student pricing, and free tickets for youth 17 and under with a paying adult.
Led by Music Director Chad Goodman, the 76th Season offers a rich blend of orchestral favorites and thrilling new works. The season includes iconic pieces such as Brahms’ Symphony No. 3, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, Mendelssohn’s “Italian” Symphony, and Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition,” alongside powerful contemporary voices like Valerie Coleman, Quinn Mason, and Angélica Negrón.
The ESO continues its tradition of showcasing extraordinary soloists, including violinist Geneva Lewis performing Barber’s Violin Concerto, cellist Oliver Herbert featured in Schumann’s Cello Concerto, and hornist Greg Flint appearing in Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 4.
In March 2026, the ESO joins forces with the Elgin Master Chorale for a dramatic and soul-stirring program featuring Gabriel Fauré’s “Requiem,” Valerie Coleman’s “Seven O’Clock Shout,” and hand-picked selections from Edvard Grieg’s “Peer Gynt.”
Pre-Concert Talks with ESO Music Director Chad Goodman take place one hour prior to each Classics performance and are free for ticketholders. All Classics Series performances are held at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way in Elgin.
In addition to the six-concert Classics Series, a special Día de los Muertos concert will take place on Oct. 30, Vocalist José Carlos Díaz and Elgin’s own BFH once again join the ESO in this unique collaboration commemorating the Day of the Dead. The ESO’s popular Holiday Spectacular concerts return on Dec. 13 and 14, featuring festive favorites, seasonal surprises, and performances by the Elgin Master Chorale and Integrity School of Dance.
Single tickets for all events can be purchased 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 3 p.m. Subscriptions to the ESO’s six-concert Classics series are available now, and start at just $98 for the six-concert series.
Last month, the Illinois Council of Orchestras named the ESO Professional Orchestra of the Year and Goodman was awarded Professional Conductor of the Year. This is the fifth time the ESO has received the highest orchestra honors (1988, 1999, 2005, 2016, and 2025) and the fourth time the ESO has received top conductor honors (2001, 2009, 2015, 2025).
For the complete 2025-26 concert listings, artist bios, and program details, visit www.ElginSymphony.org.
ESO 2025-26 Classics Concert Season
Saturday, October 11, 2025, 7:30pm
Sunday, October 12, 2025, 2:30pm
Chad Goodman, conductor
Orion Weiss, piano
CARLOS SIMON “Motherboxx Connection”
HANSON Symphony No. 2
GERSHWIN Concerto in F
Saturday, November 8, 2025, 7:30pm
Sunday, November 9, 2025, 2:30pm
Chad Goodman, conductor
Greg Flint, horn
MOZART Symphony No. 13. K. 112
MOZART Horn Concerto No. 4. K. 495
C. SCHUMANN Three Romances
MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 4, “Italian”
Saturday, February 7, 2026, 7:30pm
Sunday, February 8, 2026, 2:30pm
Chad Goodman, conductor
Geneva Lewis, violin
DVOŘÁK “Othello”
BARBER Violin Concerto
BRAHMS Symphony No. 3
Saturday, March 7, 2026, 7:30pm
Sunday, March 8, 2026, 2:30pm
Chad Goodman, conductor
Elgin Master Chorale
VALERIE COLEMAN “Seven O’Clock Shout”
GRIEG Selections from Peer Gynt
FAURÉ Requiem
Saturday, April 11, 2026, 7:30pm
Sunday, April 12, 2026, 2:30pm
Chad Goodman, conductor
Oliver Herbert, cello
QUINN MASON “A Joyous Trilogy”
R. SCHUMANN Cello Concerto
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5
Saturday, May 2, 2026, 7:30pm
Sunday, May 3, 2026, 2:30pm
Chad Goodman, conductor
ANGÉLICA NEGRÓN “Moriviví”
R. STRAUSS “Death and Transfiguration”
MUSSORGSKY “Pictures at an Exhibition”
