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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SoundBites with Daniel Bolshoy
Join us as Music Director Yaniv Attar speaks with Guest Artist Daniel Bolshoy about his experiences, and what he is most excited about for the concert.

Passionate Rhythms
The 2025/26 season begins with Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol, a celebration of Spanish folk music. Guitar virtuoso Daniel Bolshoy returns for Ponce’s Concierto del Sur, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 brings a triumphant finale.

Broadway and Beyond
Kevin Stites raises the curtain for his first season as Principal Pops Conductor with an opening night of Broadway, featuring Broadway star Ben Crawford!

RSYO Fall Chamber Concert
Featuring the award-winning Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra in concert with conductor Linc Smelser.

SoundBites with Amit Peled
Join us as Music Director Yaniv Attar speaks with Guest Artist Amit Peled about his experiences, and what he is most excited about for the concert.

Hope and Heroism
Jonathan Leshnoff’s Elegy and Sharon Farber’s Concerto for Cello and Narrator pay homage to the victims of the Holocaust. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 (“Eroica”), is a masterpiece that celebrates heroism and the triumph of the human spirit.

RSYO Fall Orchestra Concert
Featuring the award-winning Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra in concert with conductor Linc Smelser.

The Nutcracker
Join Clara and her Nutcracker Prince on their magical journey presented in partnership with the Rockford Dance Company.

The Nutcracker Matinee
MATINEE: Join Clara and her Nutcracker Prince on their magical journey presented in partnership with the Rockford Dance Company.

Holiday Pops
Featuring nearly 200 performers from throughout the community, the annual Holiday Pops presents your favorite merry melodies to get the whole family in the Holiday spirit!

Holiday Pops Matinee
MATINEE: Featuring nearly 200 performers from throughout the community, the annual Holiday Pops presents your favorite merry melodies to get the whole family in the Holiday spirit!

Art of the Fugue
Performed by a brass sextet, this arrangement of Bach's Art of the Fugue is an exploration of counterpoint, where a single theme is developed into a rich tapestry of sound.

SoundBites with Linc and Genevieve Smelser
Join us as Music Director Yaniv Attar speaks with Guest Artists Linc and Genevieve Smelser about their experiences and what they are most excited about for the concert.

Love…It’s Complicated
Celebrate love and all its complexity with music filled with passion, romance, and drama. The program includes Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture, Strauss’s Don Juan, and Brahms’s Double Concerto for Violin and Cello.

Gems of Film Composers
Discover the lyrical, bold, and surprising chamber works of composers better known for their unforgettable film scores. Performed by strings and winds, this intimate program brings their hidden gems to life in vibrant, cinematic color.

Night at the Movies
Walk the red carpet under the Coronado stars for an evening of symphonic works from Academy Award®-winning films.

Melodies at the Museum Matinee
MATINEE: We return to the Rockford Art Museum to weave together music and art. Signature pieces from RAM’s permanent collection will be on display, with RAM’s Executive Director and Chief Curator Carrie Johnson offering context on the visual art.

Melodies at the Museum
We return to the Rockford Art Museum to weave together music and art. Signature pieces from RAM’s permanent collection will be on display, with RAM’s Executive Director and Chief Curator Carrie Johnson offering context on the visual art.

RSYO Spring Chamber Concert
Featuring the award-winning Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra in concert with conductor Linc Smelser.

SoundBites with Miri Yampolsky
Join us as Music Director Yaniv Attar speaks with Guest Artist Miri Yampolsky about her experiences and what she is most excited about for the concert.

From Fate to Triumph
Experience the musical brilliance of Beethoven and his influence on future generations of composers. From classical to contemporary, this performance explores the universal themes of fate and triumph.

RSYO Spring Orchestra Concert
Featuring the award-winning Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra in concert with conductor Linc Smelser.

America 250
The season concludes with a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States. Ranging from the pioneers of the American sound to two of today’s acclaimed composers, the evening showcases the rich and diverse heritage of American music.

Star Spangled Spectacular
The annual Star Spangled Spectacular at the beautiful Starlight Theatre will salute America and our great American composers!