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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Tickets to RSO performances and events can be purchased:
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Fireside Music 1.24.26
with Joel Ross, RSO Principal Keyboard; Doug Bistrow, RSO Bass; Tom Marken, Drums
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.
Fireside Music 1.28.26
RSO Presents: Becca Dora, Oboe; Heidy Rodriguez, Clarinet; Randal Dennler, Bassoon
Fireside Music 2.6.26
RSO Presents: Becca Dora, Oboe; Heidy Rodriguez, Clarinet; Randal Dennler, Bassoon
Fireside Music 2.7.26
with Michael Zielinski, RSO Principal Bass Trombone; with Serdar Cizmeci, Colin Marusek, Thomas Stark, Trombones
Fireside Music 2.11.26
with Rachel Handlin, RSO Assistant Concertmaster; Mike Beert, RSO Principal Cello; Scott Metlicka, RSO Principal Flute
Coffee with the Maestro
Join us at Anderson Japanese Gardens to meet Maestro Yaniv Attar from 11:30am-1:30pm. Stop by to say hello and grab a cup of coffee.
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.
Fireside Music 2.18.26
with Scott Metlicka, RSO Principal Flute; Colleen Griggs, RSO Clarinet; Karl Rzaza, RSO Principal Bassoon
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.
Encore! Broadcast (Love… It’s Complicated)
Tune in to this one-hour broadcast featuring excerpts from Love… It’s Complicated
Fireside Music 2.25.26
with Scott Metlicka, RSO Principal Flute; Justina Chu, RSO Flute; Dominic Dagostino, RSO Flute
Fireside Music 3.4.26
with Rachel Handlin, RSO Assistant Concertmaster; Mike Beert, RSO Principal Cello; Scott Metlicka, RSO Principal Flute
Fireside Music 3.7.26
with Joel Ross, RSO Principal Keyboard; Ken Stein, Saxophone; Ed Bogdonas, Drums
Fireside Music 3.11.26
with Rachel Handlin, RSO Assistant Concertmaster and Mike Beert, RSO Principal Cello
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.
Encore! Broadcast (Night at the Movies)
Tune in to this one-hour broadcast featuring excerpts from Night at the Movies
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.
Encore! Broadcast (From Fate to Triumph)
Tune in to this one-hour broadcast featuring excerpts from From Fate to 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.
Encore! Broadcast (America 250)
Tune in to this one-hour broadcast featuring excerpts from America 250
Fireside Music 1.16.26
with Rachel Handlin, RSO Assistant Concertmaster;
Aria Beert, Violin/Vocals; Mike Beert, RSO Principal Cello
Encore! Broadcast (Holiday Pops 2025)
Tune in to this one-hour broadcast featuring excerpts from Holiday Pops 2025
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!
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!
The Nutcracker Matinee
MATINEE: Join Clara and her Nutcracker Prince on their magical journey presented in partnership with the Rockford Dance Company.
The Nutcracker
Join Clara and her Nutcracker Prince on their magical journey presented in partnership with the Rockford Dance Company.
RSYO Fall Orchestra Concert
Featuring the award-winning Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra in concert with conductor Linc Smelser.
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.
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.
Storytime with Amit Peled
Guest Artist Amit Peled reads his children’s book “A Cello named Pablo” in a special immersive Storytime featuring some cello playing. All ages welcome!
RSYO Fall Chamber Concert
Featuring the award-winning Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra in concert with conductor Linc Smelser.
Broadway and Beyond
Broadway star Ben Crawford brings his powerhouse voice and magnetic stage presence to Rockford for a show-stopping evening of Broadway hits
Encore! Radio Broadcast (Passionate Rhythms)
Tune in to this one-hour broadcast featuring excerpts from Passionate Rhythms.
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.
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.
Star Spangled Spectacular
The annual Star Spangled Spectacular at the beautiful Starlight Theatre will salute America and our great American composers!