Bloomington Symphony Orchestra - Indiana

Resounding Joy: Beethoven 9 at the MAC
2026-05-16 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | IU Musical Arts Center, 105 N Eagleson Ave, Bloomington, IN, 47406, United States
Get your tickets here
Or contact the MAC box office: 812-855-7433

What is it about Beethoven’s 9th Symphony that sets it apart? Maybe it’s the innovative musical structure. Maybe it’s the way Beethoven blends themes of chaos, redemption, grace, and struggle so effortlessly. Or it could be that this piece culminates, as John Henken of the LA Philharmonic writes, “expressing our highest aspirations with music of life-affirming exaltation.”
For the first time in our history the BSO will perform Beethoven’s iconic 9th Symphony. Joined by a 100+ member community chorus on the stage of Indiana University’s Musical Arts Center (MAC), this is sure to be an unforgettable concert experience that will also feature a world premiere piece by Daixuan Ai. Read her program notes here.
Participating choirs include the Bloomington Chamber Singers (Caio Lopes, director), Voces Novae (Sue Swaney, director) and the choir of the Unitarian Universalist Church (Sue Swaney, director), as well as individuals from many other local choirs. The choirs are all coming together under the direction of Dr. Betsy Burleigh.
Vocal soloists (click here for bios):Soprano: Nathalie FriederichAlto: Esther JoTenor: Suro KimBass: Stephen Stavnicky
Adults: $25, Students: $12, Children under 18: Free
Saturday May 16, 2026, at the IU Musical Arts Center
6:15pm pre-concert talk with Daixuan Ai and Ryo Hasegawa
7:00pm concert
Get your tickets here
Or contact the MAC box office:
812-855-7433
101 North Eagleson Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405
Monday–Friday | 11:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Between Silence and Strauss - Concert at Buskirk-Chumley Theater
2026-03-08 17:00 - 18:30 | Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47408, United States
CLICK HERE for tickets
available through the Buskirk-Chumley Box Office.
Children FREE, Students $16, Adults $29.
General Admission Seating
Soloist Shawn Tairyu Head joins the orchestra for Hosokawa’s Autumn Wind for Shakuhachi and Orchestra as a collaboration with IU Asian Culture Center. Also on the program is songs from the Strauss’s Rosenkavalier Suite, and 2026 Youth Concerto Competition winner Ella Hightower performing Dvorak’s Concerto for Violin, Allegro ma non troppo.
4:15pm pre-concert talk
5:00pm concert – Repertoire:
Songs from Richard Strauss
Feierlicher Einzug
“Morgen!” Op. 27, No. 4, with vocalist Siyi Yan
“Allerseelen”, with vocalist Danielle Long
from Der Rosenkavalier:
“Presentation of the Rose”, with vocalists Siyi Yan and Danielle Long
Final trio, with vocalists Siyi Yan, Danielle Long, and Rachel Spodek
Antonín Dvořák, Concerto for Violin, Allegro ma non troppo, with Ella Hightower – 2026 BSO Youth Concerto Competition Winner
Kosaku Yamada, Flower of Mandala
Toshio Hosokawa, Autumn Wind for Shakuhachi and Orchestra, with Shawn Tairyu Head – shakuhachi soloist

Old Friends - A Chamber Orchestra Concert
2026-01-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Switchyard Park Pavilion, 1601 S Rogers St, Bloomington, IN, 47403, United States
A unique concert experience surrounding the orchestra.
Saturday, January 17, 2026Switchyard Park Pavilion6:15pm Refreshments – provided by Oliver Winery and Cabin Restaurant7:00pm ConcertAdults $15, Students $10, Children under 18 FREE.

One of the best things in life is friendship. That’s especially true when a friendship stands the test of time. You may not live near each other anymore. You may have different hobbies, careers, and schedules. But when you DO get to spend time together again, none of that matters.
Help us welcome back our much-loved former principal bassoonist Catherine Marchese this coming January for a special concert. On the program:
Selections from David Baker’s Hommage à l’Histoire, presented as part of our ongoing collaboration with IU Archives of African American Music and Culture.
Strauss’s Duet-Concertino for Clarinet and Bassoon featuring Catherine Marchese on bassoon and our own Carl Weinberg on clarinet.
Haydn’s Symphony No. 104 “London”

Celebrate the Season at the Tivoli Theatre!
2025-12-09 19:00 - 20:00 | Tivoli Theatre, 24 N Washington St, Spencer, IN, 47460
Tickets available now at spencertivoli.org
Children $5, Adults $11
Rock in the holidays with the BSO’s much-loved Celebrate the Season, this year featuring our friends from the rock band Don’t Call Me Betty.
Tuesday, December 9, 2025: 7pm at Spencer’s Tivoli Theater

Celebrate the Season with the BSO – 8pm show
2025-11-28 20:00 - 21:30 | Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47408, United States
CLICK HERE for tickets
available through the Buskirk-Chumley Box Office.
Children $9, Students $16, Adults $29.
General Admission Seating

Rock in the holidays with the BSO’s much-loved Celebrate the Season, this year featuring our friends from the rock band Don’t Call Me Betty.

Friday, November 28, 2025: 2 shows at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater
– Our early show (5:00 pm) gets out in time for you to watch the Canopy of Lights
– Our later show (8:00 pm) sends you off home in a rockin’ holiday mood!
Tuesday, December 9, 2025: 7pm at Spencer’s Tivoli Theatre

Celebrate the Season with the BSO - 5pm show
2025-11-28 17:00 - 18:00 | Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47408, United States
CLICK HERE for tickets
available through the Buskirk-Chumley Box Office.
Children $9, Students $16, Adults $29.
General Admission Seating
Rock in the holidays with the BSO’s much-loved Celebrate the Season, this year featuring our friends from the rock band Don’t Call Me Betty.

Friday, November 28, 2025: 2 shows at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater
– Our early show (5:00 pm) gets out in time for you to watch the Canopy of Lights
– Our later show (8:00 pm) sends you off home in a rockin’ holiday mood!
Tuesday, December 9, 2025: 7pm at Spencer’s Tivoli Theater

2025 Poinsettia Sale Orders Due
2025-11-13 | Online, IN, United States
CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR BEAUTIFUL POINSETTIAS
Or print and send in this order form.

Poinsettias are the perfect way to add some festive sparkle at home or at work, while supporting YOUR Bloomington Symphony Orchestra at the same time. Our plants are healthy, long-lasting, and overloaded with big, beautiful blooms.
$18: 6.5” pot has 1 plant, 5+ blooms, 14-18” high
$30: 7.5” pot has 2 plants, 10+ blooms, 16-20″ high
$55: 10” pot has 4 plants, 20+ blooms, 26-28” high
Give the gift of poinsettias!
For only $5 we will deliver to any location in Bloomington.
Orders are due Thursday, Nov 13
Delivery and pick-up: Thursday, Dec 4, 12-6 pmFirst United Church, 2420 E 3rd Street

BSO Youth Concerto Competition - Apply by Oct 25, Audition Nov 8
2025-11-08 10:00 - 14:00
The Bloomington Symphony Orchestra sponsors an annual competition among the best music students in the area. Students work with their teachers to select and prepare a solo piece, then perform it for members of the BSO. We then award the top performers a scholarship and arrange for them to play their chosen piece as a soloist with the BSO during our regular concert season. Violinist Joshua Bell was one of our first winners!

Our January 2025 winner, Solar Manley, will perform Felix Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1, Mvt 1: Molto allegro con fuoco with the BSO on October 19, 2025

BSO Youth Concerto Competition Information
The next round of auditions will be November 8, 2025 so that the winner can have a change to perform with the BSO during our March 2026 concert.
Applications are due October 25, and auditions will be in Novemeber 8, 2025.
Video auditions will be accepted only in case of a scheduling conflict.
Apply here: 2025 BSO YCC Application
General BSO YCC Rules of Participation

Novemeber 2025 Rules of Participation
Eligibility:
1. Entrants can include any instrumental musician up to high school graduates of Spring 2026, and must be under 20 years old at time of audition.
2. The competition is open to Indiana residents of Monroe, Brown, Greene, Lawrence, Morgan, or Owen counties.
3. Previous BSO Youth Concerto Competition winners are not eligible to compete.
Application
1. This application is due October 25, 2025.
Audition:
1. The audition will be held in person on November 8, 2025, at Faith Lutheran Church.
2. Video auditions will be accepted only in case of a scheduling conflict, and must be received before November 5th. Send a link to a file or video on Google Drive, Dropbox, or Youtube. Make sure settings allow for anybody with the link to be able to view it. Also send a PDF of the music for the judges to follow along. Send all info to ycc@bloomingtonsymphony.com
3. There may be two in-person rounds: a preliminary and final round. Both may be recorded for judging purposes.
4. Applicants will perform a piece of music that has an orchestral accompaniment, not to exceed 15 minutes in length.
5. An accompianist will not be provided, but a piano will be available for your own accompianist. A 2nd piano (professional electronic keyboard) will be available for piano concertos.
6. Entrants must provide five copies of their musical score for the judges.
Judging/winnings:
1. The results of the competition will be announced by the end of November 2025. All entrants will receive a phone call from the BSO Music Director after a decision is confirmed, and all entrants will receive notes from the judges. All decisions by the judges are final. The panel of judges includes the BSO Music Director Ryo Hasegawa, and other musicians of the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra.
2. The BSO Youth Concerto Competition winner will receive a $300 cash prize. The Runner-up will receive a $200 cash prize. The judges reserve the right not to award a winner or runner-up.
3. The winner and runner up may be offered the opportunity to perform live with the orchestra at the March 2026 concert.
Please contact us if you have any questions, need help choosing appropriate music, or need any other support. We will make every effort possible to assist you.
ycc@bloomingtonsymphony.com
812-369-4212
Apply here by October 25: 2025 BSO YCC Application

Many thanks to our corporate sponsor, Baird Private Wealth Management for making this event possible!
Please contact us at ycc@bloomingtonsymphony.com for more information on the BSO Youth Concerto Competition, or any of or other education and outreach programs.

Otherwhere - Concert at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater
2025-10-19 17:00 - 18:30 | Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47408, United States
CLICK HERE for tickets
available through the Buskirk-Chumley Box Office.
Children FREE, Students $16, Adults $29.
General Admission Seating

Music opens up new horizons – to places we’ve always longed to see, or maybe even places we’ve only imagined. This October, please join us and our friends from My Sister’s Closet as we explore the boundaries of imagination in Otherwhere.
On the program:
Gabriela Ortiz described her work Antrópolis “as the sonorous reflection of a city through its experiences…in this very complex but fascinating Mexico City.”
Felix Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Opus 25 (1st movement) featuring Youth Concerto Competition winner Solar Manley
Amy Beach’s Gaelic Symphony pays tribute, in her own words, to the “simple, rugged, and unpretentious beauty” of traditional Irish folksongs.
Sunday, October 19, 2025, Buskirk-Chumley Theater
4pm Pre-concert talk with our friends from My Sister’s Closet
5pm Concert

Toe-Tappin’ - FREE Concert at Switchyard Park
2025-08-24 19:00 - 20:30 | Switchyard Park Main Stage, 1601 S Rogers St, Bloomington, IN, 47403, United States
Toe-Tappin’ with the Bloomington Jazz Orchestra
The BSO kicks off its 56th season, Between Friends, with a FREE concert at the Switchyard Park Main Stage.
Bring a blanket, a picnic, and sit back to enjoy some hot jazz on a summer evening as we groove with our friends from the Bloomington Jazz Orchestra, and dance along with the Swing Dance Club at IU.
Featuring music of Basie, Gershwin, Ellington and others, this concert will really put the swing in your step!
6pm: Swing dance lesson with the Swing Dance Club at IU. No experience or partner needed!
6pm: Instrument Petting Zoo – for kids of all ages! Get up close and personal with the instruments of the symphony.
7pm: Concert with the BSO and BJO

Sunday, August 24, 7pm at Switchyard Park Main Stage
FREE

BSO Annual Meeting
2025-06-17 17:30 - 18:30 | MCPL Southwest Branch, 890 W. Gordon Pike, Bloomington, IN, 47403
You are cordially invited to the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra’s Annual Meeting on Tuesday, June 17 at 5:30pm. This meeting is open to the public and will be held in person in Meeting Room A/B Combo at the Southwest Branch of the Monroe County Public Library. Join us for refreshements starting at 5pm.

The main purpose of the Annual Meeting is to provide a State of the Orchestra and for members to vote in new board members. Please let us know by June 3 if you are interested in joining the BSO board of directors.

While the Annual Meeting is open to the public, voting members must meet one or more of the following requirements:–Performing musicians who have participated in at least 50% of full orchestra performances during the 2024-25 season OR at least 30% of full orchestra performances during the previous 2 seasons–Individual donors of $25 or more–Corporate donors of $125 or more – one representative of the corporation receives a vote.

If you are elligible to vote, you can do so here: 2025 BSO Ballot. Voting closes at 11:59 EDT on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. We have three potential new board members that need to be voted on, so please submit your ballot on time. If you cannot attend in person, you can participate via this zoom link:
Annual Meeting Zoom link, or Meeting ID: 893 8321 3099, Passcode: BSO

An email invitation was sent to all members on May 16. If you are a member and did not receive an email, please contact us at us: bso@bloomingtonsymphony.com

Thank you so much for being a part of the BSO’s 55th season, and we look forward to seeing you on June 17!

BSO Mixtape - A Free Chamber Concert
2025-06-04 19:00 - 20:30 | First United Church, 2420 E 3rd St, Bloomington, IN, 47401, United States
Join us as we celebrate the start of the summer with some beautiful chamber music from our talented BSO musicians.
Schubert String Quintet
Thuille Woodwind Sextet
Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings
Clara Schumann Piano trio
Piazzola
…and MORE!
No ticket needed. Free entrance – donations always appreciated: bloomingtonsymphony.com/donate

BSO Past, Present, and Future
2025-05-18 17:00 - 19:00 | Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47408, United States
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.
May 18, 2025 at 5pm
Buskirk-Chumley Theater
Get your tickets HERE
Or contact the Buskirk-Chumley Theater Box Office at 812-323-3020
Adult $25, Student $12, Ages 18 and under FREE

Get in the Groove Gala- Celebrating 1969 to Now with the BSO
2025-05-04 18:00 - 21:00 | Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47408, United States
1969 was a year to remember. The Moon Landing. Woodstock. Sesame Street’s first season. The founding of our beloved Bloomington Symphony Orchestra.
Our upcoming gala celebrates some of the milestones of that fabulous year.
– Get down and get funky with a DJ / Karaoke spinning all your favorite tunes from the late 60s and early 70s
– Look your coolest, dude, at our super hip photo booth
– Enjoy fun snacks (included in ticket price), and themed cocktails (for card purchase)
– We’ll also have a short program about the BSO’s past, present and future, and other fun ways for you to celebrate our milestone season.
So dust off those bell bottoms and the tie dye, and join us for a groovy evening of peace, love, and music. It’s going to be outta sight!

Get your tickets here!

"Simply Brilliant" - A Free Performance of Hansel and Gretel April 5, 2025
2025-04-05 11:00 - 12:00 | Monroe County Public Library Downtown – Auditorium, 303 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47408
Timothy McShea of the Johns Hopkins News-Letter called Nicholas Hersh‘s adaptation of Hansel and Gretel “absolutely flawless.”
“The classical vocal performances paired with heavy jungle beats and jazz solos created a clash of musical traditions that seemed so outrageous on paper yet absolutely thrived onstage. The more quirky, whimsical performance of the singers, with their bizarre facial expressions and direct communications with the audience, felt right at home with the wild yet controlled nature of the musicians. The musical adaptation [of the original opera by Englebert Humperdinck] by Nicholas Hersh was simply brilliant.”
Don’t miss your chance to experience this magical retelling of the classic fairy tale in a FREE concert! The Bloomington Symphony Orchestra is partnering with Reimagining Opera For Kids to present this 45 minute program at the Monroe County Public Library Auditorium (downtown) for 2 perfomances:
Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 5:30 pm
Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 11:00 am
This performance is made possible by a generous grant from the Bloomington Arts Commission.
FREE for all ages, donations accepted.

“Simply Brilliant” – A Free Performance of Hansel and Gretel, April 3, 2025
2025-04-03 17:30 - 18:30 | Monroe County Public Library Downtown – Auditorium, 303 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47408

American Voices for All Times
2025-03-09 17:00 - 19:00 | Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47408, United States
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.
4pm: Pre-Concert Conversation with composer William Banfield, included with your concert ticket.
5pm: Concert, Bloomington Symphony Orchestra side by side with the Bridges Youth Orchestra
*Opening Night by Brian Balmages
*An American in Paris, by George Gershwin, arr. John Whitney
*Ethiopia’s Shadow in America, by Florence Price
*Blue Cathedral, by Jennifer Higdon
*Symphony No. 6, “Four Songs for Five American Voices”, by William Banfield
March 9, 2025
Buskirk-Chumley Theater

Get your tickets HERE.
Or contact the Buskirk-Chumley Theater Box Office at 812-323-3020
Adult $25, Student $12, Ages 18 and under FREE

2025 Youth Concerto Competition Auditions
2025-01-18 10:00 - 14:00
Deadline to apply is January 4, 2025 at 11:59pm EST.
In-person auditions are Saturday, January 18, 2025, 10am-2pm at Faith Lutheran Church

The Bloomington Symphony Orchestra invites local youth musicians to participate in the 2025 Youth Concerto Competition, with a chance to perform a solo with the BSO and win up to $300. Any instrumentalist through high school from Monroe, Brown, Green, Lawrence, Morgan, and Owen counties is eligible to participate. The deadline to submit an application is January 4, 2025. The rules of participation and application can be found here.

Celebrate the Season at the Tivoli
2024-12-03 19:00 - 20:00 | Tivoli Theatre, 24 N Washington St, Spencer, IN, 47460
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!

December 3, 2024 at 7pm
Tivoli Theater, Spencer
Tickets: https://spencertivoli.org
Students $5, Adults $15,

Or join us November 29, 2024 at 5 pm and 8 pm (two shows)
at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater in Bloomington, IN
Get your tickets HERE
Or contact the Buskirk-Chumley Theater Box Office at 812-323-3020
Adult $25, Student $12, Ages 18 and under $5Adult $25, Student $12, Ages 18 and under $5

Celebrate the Season at the BCT - 8pm
2024-11-29 20:00 - 21:30 | Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47408, United States
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!

November 29, 2024 at 5 pm and 8 pm (two shows)
Buskirk-Chumley Theater
Get your tickets HERE
Or contact the Buskirk-Chumley Theater Box Office at 812-323-3020
Adult $25, Student $12, Ages 18 and under $5
Also, join us in at the Tivoli Theatre in Spencer, IN.
Tuesday, December 3 at 7 pm
Tickets: https://spencertivoli.org

Celebrate the Season at the BCT - 5pm
2024-11-29 17:00 - 18:00 | Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47408, United States
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!

November 29, 2024 at 5 pm and 8 pm (two shows)
Buskirk-Chumley Theater
Get your tickets HERE
Or contact the Buskirk-Chumley Theater Box Office at 812-323-3020
Adult $25, Student $12, Ages 18 and under $5
Also, join us in at the Tivoli Theatre in Spencer, IN.
Tuesday, December 3 at 7 pm
Tickets: https://spencertivoli.org/

Annual BSO Poinsettia Sale
2024-11-14
Give the gift of beautiful, festive poinsettias!
Orders due Nov 14. Pick up or delivery on Dec 5.
CLICK HERE TO ORDER ONLINE NOW!
or print this order form to send in.
More infomation at bloomingtonsymphony.com/poinsettias

Chamber Music 4 Everyone
2024-10-30 18:30 - 19:30 | First United Church, 2420 E 3rd St, Bloomington, IN, 47401, United States
Wait a minute, I’m seeing double(double)! But you don’t need your eyes checked…there really are a lot of number 4s in our upcoming chamber concert…
4 “big” names: Handel, Holst, Vivaldi, Weber
Concerto in B minor for 4 Violins
Quartet for 4 Violins
4 Pieces for Horn Choir
…and so much more! Please join us FOUR an evening of chamber music from around the world, featuring our talented BSO musicians in an intimate setting.
Wednesday, October 30th, 6:30 PM at First United Church, 2420 E 3rd St
We’re delighted to offer FREE admission, but we do appreciate donations.

Once Upon a Midnight
2024-10-20 17:00 - 19:00 | Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47408, United States
Season and Single Tickets Available Now!
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!”
Repertoire:
The Raven by Leonard Slatkin
Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saens
“Wild Ride on a Broomstick” from Three Portraits of a Witch by Lauren Bernofsky
“In the Hall of the Mountain King” from Peer Gynt by Edvard Grieg
This Midnight Hour by Anna Clyne
Phantom Chapel by William Grant Still
Night on Bald Mountain by Modest Mussorgsky
October 20, 2024 at 5 pm
Buskirk-Chumley Theater

Season and Single Tickets Available Now at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater box office.
Adult $25
Student $12
Ages 18 and under FREE

SHOWTIME! A Free BSO Concert at Switchyard Park
2024-08-25 19:00 - 20:00 | Switchyard Park Main Stage, 1601 S Rogers St, Bloomington, IN, 47403, United States
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!
Sunday, August 25
6pm Instrument Petting Zoo
7 pm ConcertSwitchyard ParkFREE

BSO Annual Meeting
2024-06-18 18:30 - 20:30 | Monroe County Public Library Downtown – Auditorium, 303 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47408
Update 6/18/24:
Reminder that the BSO Annual Meeting is TONIGHT, 6:30pm at the Monroe County Public Library, Room 1B (NOT city hall like previous years). Snacks and refreshments provided. If you need the elevator and are entering from the 6th street parking lot, you will need to ask a MCPL staff person for assistance using the staff elevator as the main elevators are not working at the moment.

To attend virtually, click here for the BSO Annual Meeting Zoom Room. We will try to start as close to 6:30 as possible.

You are cordially invited to the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra’s Annual Meeting on Tuesday, June 18 at 6:30pm. This meeting is open to the public and will be held in person in meeting room 1B at the Monroe County Public Library downtown. A zoom link will be shared the week of the meeting if you cannot attend in person.

The main purpose of the Annual Meeting is to provide a State of the Orchestra and for members to vote in new board members. Please let us know by June 4 if you are interested in joining the board, or in the currently open board position of Treasurer.

While the Annual Meeting is open to the public, only voting members must meet one or more of the following requirements:–Performing musicians who have participated in at least 50% of full orchestra performances during the 2023-24 season OR at least 30% of full orchestra performances during the 2021-2023 seasons.–Individual donors of $25 or more–Corporate donors of $125 or more – one representative of the corporation receives a vote.

An email invitation was sent to all members on May 16. If you are a member and did not receive that email, please contact us.

Thank you so much for being a part of the BSO’s 54th season, and we look forward to seeing you on June 18!
Contact us: bso@bloomingtonsymphony.com

Un Voyage Français - concert at BCT
2024-05-12 17:00 - 18:30 | Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47408, United States
Purchase Tickets Here

Our season finale takes us on an emotionally-charged tour of Paris. From Lili Boulanger’s tragic, intimate musings on her own small world to the grandiose excesses of Berlioz’s exploration of obsessive love, this will be a program to remember!
Lili Boulanger is often overlooked compared to her better-known sister, Nadia, however she was also a groundbreaking composer in her own right. D’un soir triste (Of a Sad Evening) is shrouded in dark orchestral colors and pushes the boundaries of conventional harmonies for its time. This personal and expressive sonic exploration was completed only a few months before Lili died at the young age of 24.
The shocking originality of Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique goes well beyond the programmatic to enter the realm of the psychological. Its exploration of an unstable, drug-addled mind spills into hallucinations, and is both disturbing and innervating.
To help our audience explore this program in more depth, we’ve chosen to include some extra-musical elements to our performance, including –
– Collaborations with local spoken word performers to give voice to both Berlioz and his beloved Harriet Smithson
– An interactive Listening Guide where musicologists and members of the orchestra provide insights into Berlioz’s masterwork
– Slideshows during each piece to evoke the shifting sentiments/mood brought forth by the composer
– The use of onstage props to highlight exceptional moments in each piece
We hope you’ll join us for this very special, thought-provoking program. The length of these pieces and the added features mean this concert will run a little over 2 hours, so please plan accordingly.
Program:
Symphonie fantastique – Hector Berlioz
D’un soir triste – Lili Boulanger

Tickets: $25 Adults, $12 Students, Free for 18 & under
Click here to purchase tickets for this concert, or you can reserve your seats at:
BCT Bloom Box Office
114 E. Kirkwood Ave.
812-323-3020 ext 1

Une Fête Fantastique
2024-04-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Oliver Winery, 200 E Winery Rd, Bloomington, IN, 47404, United States
Une Fête Fantastique
Saturday, April 20, 2024
7:00-9:00 PM at Oliver Winery

Imagine yourself at a French café. Soft jazz fills the air as you sip a glass of fruity Chardonnay. Snippets of conversation from nearby tables drift on the fragrant breeze, and you feel both relaxed and excited. Getting hungry? The baked brie, pastry pinwheels, and crisp crostini look tempting. Oh, but save room for the pastry crème tarts, eclairs, and crème brulee!On Saturday, April 20, immerse yourself in the culture and cuisine of Paris as the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra hosts Une Fête Fantastique from 7-9 PM at Oliver Winery. What you can expect:
-Savory hors d’oeuvres and classic French desserts catered by One World Catering
-One glass of wine (included) or soft drinks – additional wine available for purchase
-Strolling jazz duet (you can request a specific song for a “tip”)
-Photo booth
-Costume contest – come dressed in your favorite French fashion
-Raffle for season tickets
-Announcement of our 55th season programming
…and more
Tickets: $75 per person* or $350 per table of fiveRSVP by April 9
*$45 of your ticket price is eligible for a tax deduction.

"There Goes the Sun" - A FREE Solar Eclipse Event
2024-04-07 15:00 - 16:00 | Switchyard Park, 245 W. Grimes Lane, Bloomington, IN, United States
The Bloomington Symphony Orchestra and the City of Bloomington present this FREE concert on Sunday, April 7, 2024, at 3 pm, to celebrate the total solar eclipse. Join us at the Switchyard Park main stage for a lighthearted blend of familiar classical and popular music that pays homage to our very favorite sun and moon. Featuring special guests Voces Novae chamber choir.
We’ll hope for sunny skies as Bloomington is directly in the path of totality of this rare cosmic event the following afternoon.
Special thanks to our concert sponsor, Oliver Winery!

Countryside Getaway - concert at BCT
2024-03-03 17:00 - 18:30 | Buskirk-Chumley Theater, 114 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47408, United States
Escape to the countryside with Dvorak’s 8th Symphony and Montgomery’s Banner.
Click here to purchase tickets for this concert.
Tickets: $25 Adults, $12 Students, Free for 18 & under
4:00-4:30 PM Pre-concert talk with Dr. Alexis Witt
Included with all tickets.
5:00-6:30 PM Concert with the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra
Banner – Jessie Montgomery,
with solo string quartet
Concertstück for Harp and Orchestra, Op. 39 – Gabriel Pierné,
featuring Emma Levesque, BSO Youth Concerto Competition Winner
Symphony No. 8 in G, op. 88 – Antonín Dvořák

Antonín Dvořák found inspiration, respite, and sheer joy in the forests surrounding his country home. Biographer Hanz-Hubert Schönzeler observed, “When one walks in those forests surrounding Dvořák’s country home on a sunny summer’s day, with the birds singing and the leaves of trees rustling in a gentle breeze, one can virtually hear the music.”
Also on the program, French composer Gabriel Pierné’s delightful Concertstück for Harp and Orchestra, featuring our Youth Concerto Competition winner Emma Levasque on harp, and Jessie Montgomery’s moving orchestral tribute to the 200th anniversary of the Star-Spangled Banner, entitled Banner.

Click here to purchase tickets for this concert.
Tickets: $25 Adults, $12 Students, Free for 18 & under

Get your tickets online at the BCT Bloom Box Office, by phone or in person at:
Bloom Box Office
114 E. Kirkwood Ave.
812-323-3020
