The Champaign-Urbana Symphony was formed to enhance the cultural life of the community by
bringing together professional musicians to perform symphonic concerts. The first concert was
performed on October 20, 1960. Bernard Goodman was the conductor of the orchestra for the first fourteen
years, and Paul Vermel served as Music Director from 1974 through 1994. Now in his 11th year with the C-U Symphony, Conductor Steven Larsen continues to bring new vigor to the orchestra.
Today, the Champaign-Urbana Symphony has been designated as the "Professional Orchestra in Residence at
the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign." The mission of
the Symphony is to provide live, symphonic music performances of the highest quality and music education
for our community's children.
Throughout its history, the Symphony has established a number of musical landmarks including the
performances of commissioned works and the showcasing of internationally acclaimed guest artists. The opening concert
of the 1991/1992 concert season, "Celebration!" featured only music which was composed and performed by African-Americans.
An histroric event, this performance was heard nationally over American Public Radio's "Performance Today" and has been
honored with an ASCAP award for "Adventuresome Programming." The Symphony continues its long-standing tradition of
collaboration with the University of Illinois Oratorio Society in the presentation of major choral works.
Each year, the Symphony provides four KinderKonzerts in the Krannert Center's Great Hall for over 7,000
students from the schools within a 50-mile radius of Champaign-Urbana. Prior to concert attendance, workbooks and
audio cassette tapes are distributed to teachers for their use in preparing the students for the concerts
they will hear. Follow-up activities to reinforce the learning experience are also provided. These materials
have received national recognition from the American Symphony Orchestra league for their excellent quality.
Additional community outreach programs include numerous concerts performed in local schools.
In over 30 in-school concerts annually, string, brass, woodwind, and percussion ensembles
from the Symphony offer music in a variety of styles, including jazz. The Symphony is
also proud to offer complimentary tickets for each series concert to local schools
and retirement communities, thus making the uplifting experience of live symphonic music
available to a larger segment of our community.
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