Volunteer Opportunities

Community volunteers are an invaluable resource to the RSO. Below are descriptions of a variety of opportunities for RSO volunteers. YOU can make a difference by giving of your time and talents.

If you are interested in volunteering, please click on the link for the Volunteer Registration Form, complete the form, and return it by mail, fax, or email to:

Lorie Langan, Education and Community Engagement Director

711 N. Main St.

Rockford, IL  61103

P (815) 972-2939

F (815) 965-0642

Llangan@rockfordsymphony.com

Opportunities Currently Available Include:

Concert Ushers

Josh and Gloria Gear, RSO Head Ushers

Ushers are a valuable member of the team on performance nights and are critical to making sure those in attendance have a pleasant experience in the theater. Usher responsibilities include, but are not limited, to greeting at the door and scanning tickets, passing out program books, helping guests find their seats, and making sure guests can find emergency exits, restrooms, and concessions.

The RSO has matinee performances of the Nutcracker, Holiday Pops, and Youth Concerts. Ushering responsibilities for these performances are similar to those mentioned previously with the exception of the hour-long annual Youth Concerts. Youth Concert ushers assist with helping groups of school students to designated seating sections and monitoring them as the safely exit the theater after the performance.

Special Event Planning

  Black Magic Ball Committee volunteers

  Gayle Englof and Sharon Brodeski

Special events are a vital revenue source for the RSO and are wonderful opportunities for friends of the orchestra to socialize. Volunteers are critical to the success of events such as the Black Magic Ball, the Allegro League Luncheon and other fund and friend raisers. Volunteers assist RSO staff in all phases of planning and staffing the events including coordinating invitation design, marketing, soliciting donations, selecting menu items if applicable, and decorating the venue.

RSO Administrative Office Assistance

The administrative offices for the RSO are located on the second floor of the Riverfront Museum Park at 711 N. Main St. The administrative staff appreciates volunteer assistance with a variety of clerical tasks. General filing and help with the preparation of RSO mailings by folding letters, stuffing and sealing envelopes, and adding address labels are a few of the possible tasks.

Concert Promotion and Marketing

Help spread the word about RSO concerts and events! Volunteers help distribute flyers and marketing materials to local business and restaurants, and promote concerts via electronic media.

Concert Night Preparation

Help the RSO prepare for the concert by stuffing inserts in program books, putting information around the theater, setting up hospitality, setting up and/staffing the RSO information table. Volunteers also help make the concert night experience more enjoyable by greeting RSO audience members as they enter the theater.

Youth and Adult Education Outreach

Become an RSO Docent! This program launched in 2011 as a group of volunteers who receive training to make visits to school classrooms and other community organization on behalf of the RSO’s education programs.

A DOCENT is a guide or teacher; someone who presents information in a meaningful and enlightening way. RSO volunteer Docents enjoy learning new things and sharing music and concert related programs on specific projects such as visiting senior centers to share the RSO-produced DVD “Pictures at an Exhibition” and leading a discussion about the video. Docents also visit area classrooms to help students prepare for their concert experience as they attend the annual RSO Youth Concert.