The Bloomington Symphony Orchestra is excited to share the details for our milestone 55th season. We’re calling it “55 Seasons / 55 Reasons” because, for the last 55 years, we’ve had countless reasons to celebrate our role in the creative landscape of our amazing hometown.
Here’s a quick look at the concerts we have coming up:
SHOWTIME! A Free Concert at Switchyard Park Sunday, August 25 @ 7 pm
The hills are alive…with the sound of music! This free, family-friendly concert will showcase tunes from Broadway classics like A Chorus Line, Les Misérables, West Side Story, The Sound of Music, and more. Bloomington’s own Windfall Dancers will join us in some toe-tapping fun. Bring your dancing shoes, and get ready to boogie with the BSO!
Once Upon a Midnight Sunday, October 20 @ 5 pm
What are nightmares made of? Dancing skeletons, ghoulish visions, witches soaring through the night sky – face your fears with the Bloomington Symphony at this Halloween-themed concert. Featuring Bernofsky’s Wild Ride on a Broomstick, Saint-Saëns’s Danse Macabre, Slatkin’s The Raven, and Grieg’s In the Hall of the Mountain King, this concert of the musical macabre will have you whispering “Nevermore!”
Celebrate the Season with the BSO Friday, November 29 @ 5 pm and 8 pm
Join the BSO for a treasured tradition as we celebrate the holiday season with two concerts. Our 5pm early show is perfect for families with small children, and finishes just in time for you to watch the City’s Canopy of Lights. The second, slightly longer 8pm program will top off your evening with a festive mix of holiday music from around the world. With a new “elf” leading us as Music Director, you can expect a fresh treat or two!
Celebrate the Season at the Tivoli Tuesday, December 3 @ 7 pm
Join us in Spencer as we take our treasured holiday tradition on the road! This festive program will feature a mix of holiday music from around the world. With a new “elf” leading us as Music Director, you can expect a fresh treat or two!
American Voices for All Times Sunday, March 9, 2025 @ 5 pm
Take a tour of the American musical landscape with the BSO and our partners from the Bridges Youth Orchestra and the IU Archives of African-American Music and Culture (AAAMC). Gershwin’s An American in Paris, Price’s Ethiopia’s Shadow in America, and Banfield’s Symphony No. 6: “Four Songs for Five American Voices” showcase the rich variety of American musical traditions, from jazz to spirituals.
BSO Past and Future Sunday, May 18, 2025 @ 5 pm
The capstone of our 55th anniversary season begins with a trip down memory lane, as we recreate the opening of the BSO’s very first concert with Nicolai’s Merry Wives of Windsor Overture. Our Youth Concerto Competition Winner, Catelijne Hunt, shows us the talent of future musical generations with Saint-Saëns’s Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, and we will revel in the artistry of our musicians of today with Sibelius’s Symphony No. 2. We’ve been making music with our community for 55 seasons; we hope that our audience at this concert will continue to celebrate with us the many reasons we love calling Bloomington our home.
But wait…there’s more!
In addition to our great season lineup, we’re also asking everyone to share their reasons for engaging with us. Tell us your story! What draws you to participate – whether as an audience member, volunteer, or musician – with this enduring community orchestra?
If you’re a first-time audience member, what drew you to this event?
If you play with the BSO, what makes you dedicate your talent/time to this community orchestra?
What sort of stories and memories do you have to share about the BSO?
What’s your favorite piece to play or listen to?
We want to hear from you. The Bloomington Symphony Orchestra is a special group, because YOU make it that way, and we want to celebrate that! Keep your eyes open this year for featured posts and articles featuring the viewpoints of your friends, family, neighbors and peers. If you have a story to tell, please email us at bso@bloomingtonsymphony.com and we’ll get the conversation started!