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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Passionate Rhythms
Sep
20

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.

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Hope and Heroism
Nov
15

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.

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Holiday Pops
Dec
20

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!

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Holiday Pops Matinee
Dec
21

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!

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Art of the Fugue
Jan
25

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.

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Love…It’s Complicated
Feb
14

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.

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Gems of Film Composers
Feb
22

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.

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Melodies at the Museum Matinee
Mar
22

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.

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Melodies at the Museum
Mar
22

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.

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From Fate to Triumph
Apr
18

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.

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America 250
May
9

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.

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