IVSO is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2024-25 with “75 Seasons of Splendor,” featuring music director and conductor Dr. Daniel Sommerville, the organization’s 18th conductor.
“For decades, IVSO musicians have enchanted concert guests. They’ve made high-quality classical music accessible to everyone,” said SRCCF President Fran Brolley.
““We are delighted to partner with an organization that has brought so much beautiful music to our region. The symphony has been a frequent recipient of grant funding from our Arts of Starved Rock Country Fund.”
Since its first season in 1949-50, IVSO has strived to “entertain and inspire the community by performing live orchestral music.” Music from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary periods has been performed.
Local and international soloists have appeared with the Symphony and traditions – including the annual Pops Concert and the bi-annual Nutcracker ballet – have developed.
The annual Young Performers Competition and Concert began in 1968 to encourage local youth to audition as soloists and, if selected, perform with the orchestra.
The first performance of Tchaikovsky’s, The Nutcracker, in 1969, led to a performance of the ballet every other year with local dance academies supplying dancers and choreographers. The orchestra also performs at area schools.
The next Diamond anniversary concert begins at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10 in LaSalle-Peru Township High School’s Matthiessen Auditorium with “Magnificence of the Masters” featuring west coast virtuoso clarinetist and Illinois Valley native Cory Tiffin.
Starved Rock Country Community Foundation facilitates philanthropy across La Salle, Bureau, Putnam, Marshall, Lee and Livingston counties by “Connecting people who care with causes that matter.” Since 2015, the foundation has created 120 charitable funds supporting fine arts, mental and physical health, education, entrepreneurship, culinary arts, downtown revitalization, disability services, disaster relief, and more.
