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.

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

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.

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

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

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.