Concerts and Events
The RSO’s mission is to enlighten, educate, and entertain. Our many concerts and events throughout the year support this mission. Scroll through and find the ones that inspire you!
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View recordings of previous RSO performances
SoundBites with Mark Baldin
Join us as Music Director Yaniv Attar speaks with RSO Principal Trumpeter, Mark Baldin about his experiences, and what he is most excited about for the concert. RSVP requested. Lunch is available for purchase.
Symphonic Classics
Mozart’s iconic and beloved Symphony No. 40 alongside Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto makes for a program of Classical-era music that’s sure to delight.
RSYO Fall Orchestra Concert
Featuring the award-winning Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra in concert with conductor Linc Smelser.
Encore! Radio Broadcast (Symphonic Classics)
Join Classical WNIU host Eric Hradecky for this one-hour broadcast featuring excerpts from Symphonic Classics, recorded live on November 16, 2024, at the Coronado Performing Arts Center.
FIELD TRIP: The Nutcracker
The Rockford Symphony Orchestra and Rockford Dance Company are coming together to create a magical student matinee. This field trip opportunity at the Coronado Performing Arts Center is for students in grades 3-12.
Nutcracker
Join us for a holiday classic presented in partnership with the Rockford Dance Company and featuring professional lead dancers from the region's top ballet companies.
Nutcracker Matinee
Join us for a holiday classic presented in partnership with the Rockford Dance Company and featuring professional lead dancers from the region's top ballet companies.
Holiday Pops
This annual Holiday Tradition will feature The Nielsen Chorale and the RSO performing old and new holiday favorites at the Coronado.
Holiday Pops Matinee
Matinee added! This annual Holiday Tradition will feature The Nielsen Chorale and the RSO performing old and new holiday favorites at the Coronado.
Encore! Radio Broadcast (Holiday Pops)
Join Classical WNIU host Eric Hradecky for this one-hour broadcast featuring excerpts from Holiday Pops, recorded live on December 21, 2024, at the Coronado Performing Arts Center.
SoundBites with Laura Strickling
Join us as Music Director Yaniv Attar speaks with Guest Artist Laura Strickling about her experiences, and what she is most excited about for the concert. RSVP requested. Lunch is available for purchase.
Mozart Meets Mahler
Mozart meets Mahler in this concert featuring RSO’s own Concertmaster Michèle Lekas and Principal Viola Rebecca Swan.
Encore! Radio Broadcast (Mozart Meets Mahler)
Join Classical WNIU host Eric Hradecky for this one-hour broadcast featuring excerpts from Mozart Meets Mahler, recorded live on January 18, 2025, at the Coronado Performing Arts Center.
Stunning Strings
Chamber Concerts offer audiences the opportunity to hear from RSO musicians about the music on the program and how it inspires them.
FIELD TRIP: Ellis Island: The Dream of America Youth Concert
This Field Trip opportunity to attend our annual Youth Concert will explore the immigrant experience through the music of Boyer's Ellis Island: The Dream of America.
Recommended for grade levels five and up.
Ellis Island: Dream of America
This concert celebrates Rockford’s long history of welcoming immigrants, and the heritage shared by these newcomers that has created Rockford’s own unique culture.
RSYO Spring Chamber Concert
Featuring the award-winning Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra in concert with conductor Linc Smelser.
Encore! Radio Broadcast (Ellis Island: Dream Of America)
Join Classical WNIU host Eric Hradecky for this one-hour broadcast featuring excerpts from Ellis Island: Dream Of America, recorded live on March 8, 2025, at the Coronado Performing Arts Center.
Brilliant Brass
Chamber Concerts offer audiences the opportunity to hear from RSO musicians about the music on the program and how it inspires them. Brilliant Brass will feature modern music for brass quintet by a variety of composers, centered around Michael Tilson Thomas’s Street Song.
RSO at the Arcade
Contemporary video games are accompanied by the cinematic soundtracks we traditionally associate with movies, adding to the symphonic canon of our time. Joining the RSO with Big Band interpretations of “vintage” video games is Rockfordian Joel Baer’s Blueshift Big Band.
Encore! Radio Broadcast (RSO At The Arcade)
Join Classical WNIU host Eric Hradecky for this one-hour broadcast featuring excerpts from RSO At The Arcade, recorded live on April 5, 2025, at the Coronado Performing Arts Center.
Jazzy Journey
Chamber Concerts offer audiences the opportunity to hear from RSO musicians about the music on the program and how it inspires them.
RSYO Spring Orchestra Concert
Featuring the award-winning Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra in concert with conductor Linc Smelser.
Beethoven’s 9th
The season comes to a triumphant close with Beethoven’s joyous immortal classic, Symphony No. 9, performed by the Nielsen Chorale, world-class soloists, and your Rockford Symphony Orchestra.
Encore! Radio Broadcast (Beethoven’s 9th)
Join Classical WNIU host Eric Hradecky for this one-hour broadcast featuring excerpts from Beethoven’s 9th, recorded live on May 10, 2025, at the Coronado Performing Arts Center.
RSYO Fall Chamber Concert
Featuring the award-winning Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra in concert with conductor Linc Smelser.
Encore! Radio Broadcast (Spooktacular)
Join Classical WNIU host Eric Hradecky for this one-hour broadcast featuring excerpts from Spooktacular, recorded live on October 26, 2024 at the Coronado Performing Arts Center.
Spooktacular
Wear your costumes and celebrate Halloween early with a spine-tingling program of spooky symphonic sounds.
Encore! Radio Broadcast (Tchaikovsky And Rachmaninoff)
Join Classical WNIU host Eric Hradecky for this one-hour broadcast featuring excerpts from Tchaikovsky And Rachmaninoff, recorded live on September 14, 2024 at the Coronado Performing Arts Center.
Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff
Join the RSO on Opening Night for this celebratory program of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff with Violinist Giora Schmidt
SoundBites with Giora Schmidt
Join us as Music Director Yaniv Attar speaks with Guest Artist Giora Schmidt about his experiences and what he is most excited about for the concert. RSVP requested. Lunch is available for purchase.
Star Spangled Spectacular
The annual Star Spangled Spectacular in the beautiful Starlight Theatre is the perfect way to celebrate Independence Day!
RSYO Auditions
Audition to the join the Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra for the 2024/25 Season!
Encore! Radio Broadcast
Join Classical WNIU host Eric Hradecky for this one-hour broadcast featuring excerpts from Soundscapes, recorded live on May 11, 2024 at the Coronado Performing Arts Center.
RSYO Auditions
Audition to the join the Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra for the 2024/25 Season!
Soundscapes
Experience the beauty of nature through music! An unforgettable concert featuring Brahms' famous violin concerto; Cantus Arcticus by Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara, a mesmerizing concerto for birds and orchestra; and Debussy's La Mer, one of the greatest works for orchestra ever written. Don't miss this celebration of nature and music.
SoundBites with Simone Porter
Join us as Music Director Yaniv Attar speaks with Guest Artist Simone Porter about her experiences, what she is most excited about for the concert. RSVP requested. Lunch is available for purchase.
RSYO Spring Orchestra Concert
Featuring the award-winning Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra in concert with conductor Linc Smelser.
Encore! Radio Broadcast
Join Classical WNIU host Eric Hradecky for this one-hour broadcast featuring excerpts from The French Connection, recorded live on April 13, 2024 at the Coronado Performing Arts Center.
The French Connection
Featuring two of classical music’s most beloved works - Pictures at an Exhibition and Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun. Plus, Grammy award winning bandoneon player Hector Del Curto joins the orchestra for a tango infused concerto. This concert promises to inspire and energize both seasoned fans and newcomers.
Community Open Rehearsal
This rehearsal will feature all the pieces being performed during the concert, and will give you a behind the scenes look at what goes into putting all the piece of a concert together.
FIELD TRIP: Pictures at an Exhibition Youth Concert
This Field Trip opportunity to attend our annual Youth Concert will explore music from Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Recommended for grade levels three and up.
RSYO Spring Chamber Concert
Featuring the Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra Honors Chamber Orchestra, and the Sterling String Quartet, with conductor Linc Smelser.
Coffee with the Conductor
Join us at Anderson Japanese Garden’s Winter Coffee Shop to meet RSO Assistant Conductor Ben Firer from 11:00am-1:00pm. Stop by to say hello and grab a cup of coffee.
French Music with a Jazz Flair
This program explores the surprising connections between French music and American Jazz. Featuring the music of Debussy, Ravel, Gershwin, and more, this is a unique program featuring six RSO Musicians that you won’t want to miss!
Encore! Radio Broadcast
Join Classical WNIU host Eric Hradecky for this one-hour broadcast featuring excerpts from the Romance, Poetry, & Valentines, recorded live on February 10, 2024 at the Coronado Performing Arts Center.
Romance, Poetry & Valentines
Immerse yourself in pure romanticism with four masterful composers who drew inspiration from poetry, the human voice, and one another. Featuring special guests The Nielsen Chorale and internationally acclaimed pianist Einav Yarden. Include this romantic concert in your Valentine's plans.
Family Rehearsal
This free Family Rehearsal is a great opportunity to introduce your children and grandchildren to the RSO! Recommended for children ages 4 and up.
SoundBites with Einav Yarden
Join us as Music Director Yaniv Attar speaks with Guest Artist Einav Yarden about her experiences, what she is most excited about for the concert. RSVP requested. Lunch is available for purchase.
Coffee with the Maestro
Join us at Anderson Japanese Garden’s Winter Coffee Shop to meet Maestro Yaniv Attar from 11:00am-1:00pm. Stop by to say hello and grab a cup of coffee.
Music by Candlelight
Join us for an afternoon of delightful music featuring woodwinds and strings in Rockford’s historic First Lutheran Church.
Coffee with the Maestro
Join us at Anderson Japanese Garden’s Coffee Pop Up to meet Maestro Yaniv Attar from 11:00am-1:00pm. Stop by to say hello and grab a cup of coffee.
Encore! Radio Broadcast
Join Classical WNIU host Eric Hradecky for this one-hour broadcast featuring excerpts from The RSO’s Beethoven’s Fifth performance, recorded live on November 18, 2023 at the Coronado Performing Arts Center.
