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Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts

Orchestras

Symphony Orchestra

The Illinois State University Symphony Orchestra performs some of the most challenging music in the orchestral repertoire. Any undergraduate or graduate student with orchestral experience is welcome to audition.

The ISU Symphony Orchestra performs six complete concert cycles each academic year, including the annual choral program in October; the Music for the Holidays concerts in December; a Concerto-Aria concert featuring the School of Music's finest performers chosen from the annual competition; and the annual opera or musical, produced in conjunction with the Illinois State University School of Theatre, Dance, and Film.

Philharmonia String Orchestra

The School of Music is pleased to add a second string orchestra, the Philharmonia. The Philharmonia is for non-major students who want to continue playing an advanced high school level string-only repertoire.

The ensemble rehearses three times a week and performs two concerts each semester.

  • Rehearsal Times

     

  • Performances

    Two concerts each semester.

How to Join

All students regardless of major are welcome to audition for one of our orchestras.

Learn How to Audition

Annual Concerto-Aria Competition

Three finalists from each applied area (brass/percussion, keyboard, strings, voice, and woodwind) will appear in the Concerto-Aria Finals Competition. Two winners will be selected to perform in the ISU Symphony Orchestra's annual Concerto-Aria concert.

Previously Performed Works

  • Richard Strauss' Death and Transfiguration

  • Saint-Saens' Symphony No. 3, Organ Symphony

  • Stravinsky’s Sacre du Printemps, Petrouchka, Firebird Suite, Apollo musagetes

  • Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2, Symphony No. 5, and Symphony No. 9

  • Copland's Appalachian Spring and Music for the Theater

  • Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana

  • Mozart’s Requiem

  • William Walton's Belshazzar's Feast

  • Verdi’s Messa de Requiem

  • Shostakovich Symphonies No. 5, 10

Contact Us

For more information regarding the Illinois State University Orchestras, fill out the contact form or email Samuel Chen.

News and Events

See what is happening in the School of Music.

A concert stage set with percussion instruments

Percussion Ensemble fall concert, November 9, 2025

The fall concert will feature two pieces with strong connections to the Illinois State University Percussion Studio, the world premiere of sophomore music composition and music education major Nick Sleevar's new percussion duo "Hand Trong Rừng" and "Kars I," a traditional Armenian folk song brought to life by piano virtuoso Tigran Hamasyan, and re-imagined for percussion trio, singer, and electronics by world-renowned percussionist and alum Ksenija Komljenović '14, M.M. 

Read more Music news

Three trumpeter perform for an audience. Grecian architecture is visible in the background.

Illinois State University School of Music faculty reflect on summer highlights
Illinois State University String Project teaching assistants at Thomas Metcalf School

Illinois State University String Project teaching assistants reach more than 1,000 elementary students in recruitment efforts
Image of the three Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts Alumni Awards.

Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts celebrates alumni with three new college awards
Nov17

Philharmonia Orchestra Concert

11/17/25 at 8:00 PMCenter for the Performing Arts
Dec6

Music For the Holidays: Symphony Orchestra, Treble Choir, and Civic Chorale featuring String Project children

12/6/25 at 3:00 PMCenter for the Performing Arts
Dec6

Music For the Holidays: Symphony Orchestra, Treble Choir, and Civic Chorale

12/6/25 at 7:00 PMCenter for the Performing Arts

View all Orchestra events