Waukegan, Illinois (September 26, 2024) – The Waukegan Symphony Orchestra and Concert Chorus have announced their 2024-2025 season. With support from the Waukegan Park District, the Waukegan Symphony Orchestra and Concert Chorus continue to be a longstanding tradition in the community, offering a unique musical experience for individuals of all ages. The programming is supported by grants from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.
Established in 1974, the Waukegan Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024. Led by Music Director Alexander Platt, the Waukegan Symphony Orchestra provides a unique performance opportunity for more than 50 devoted musicians of varying ages and levels of musical experience. Concerts will feature guest soloists from around the country.
The Waukegan Symphony Orchestra will present the following concerts this season at the Orlin Trapp Auditorium, located at 2325 Brookside Avenue on the Waukegan High School Brookside Campus:
- Forgotten Gems on Sunday, October 6, 2024 at 4pm
- Celebrating Black Artistry on Sunday, February 23, 2025 at 5pm
- Young People’s Family Concert: Disney Favorites & Sing Along on Sunday, March 9, 2025 at 4pm
- New York and Paris on Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 4pm
Established in 1976, the Waukegan Concert Chorus is led by Music Director Randy Casey. The Waukegan Concert Chorus is a sister organization to the Waukegan Symphony Orchestra.
The Waukegan Concert Chorus will present the following concerts this season at the Dr. Lynn Schornick Theatre in the Jack Benny Center for the Arts, located at 39 Jack Benny Drive in Bowen Park:
- Love-Sonnets & Songs on Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 4pm
- Benjamin Britten and Friends on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 4pm
- Solos Sung and Played on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 4pm
The Joseph A. Favero Memorial Do It Yourself Messiah & Carol Sing-Along, performed jointly by the Waukegan Symphony Orchestra and Concert Chorus, will be held on Sunday, December 8, 2024 at 7pm at the Orlin Trapp Auditorium, located at 2325 Brookside Avenue on the Waukegan High School Brookside Campus. To celebrate the Waukegan Symphony Orchestra’s 50th anniversary, Beethoven’s “Choral Fantasy” will also be performed. The concert will feature the Master Singers of Milwaukee, a mixed-voice choir of singers from the Milwaukee-area, and Dr. Olivia I-Hsuan Tsai.
Season tickets are available at the Jack Benny Center for the Arts. A special rate of $50 is available for season tickets for the Waukegan Symphony Orchestra, in celebration of their 50th anniversary. More information, including tickets and sponsorship opportunities, is available at waukeganparks.org/wsocc.
About the Waukegan Park District
Established on December 26, 1916, the Waukegan Park District (WPD) has 53 properties and more than 742 acres of land, including the 18-hole Bonnie Brook and 9-hole Greenshire Golf Courses. Properties are managed to the highest environmental and conservation standards. Facilities operated by the WPD include the Field House Sports, Fitness and Aquatics Center, Waukegan’s Greg Petry SportsPark, Waukegan Skate Park, BMX Track, SplashZone, Percussion Playground, recreational centers, disc golf course, dog exercise area and agility course, outdoor sports fields, picnic areas, playgrounds, splash pads, and sports courts including basketball, tennis and pickleball. A full range of programs and services are offered year-round for all ages, from infants to seniors, as well as special need populations. Healthy lifestyles, wellness initiatives, and a connection with the outdoors and nature are integrated throughout programs, services, and special events. Arts and cultural activities are provided by the Jack Benny Center for the Arts, Waukegan Symphony Orchestra and Concert Chorus, and the Waukegan History Museum. We offer something for everyone!
A member of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD), Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA), and the Park District Risk Management Agency (PDRMA), the WPD employs 73 full-time and 219 part-time, seasonal, and temporary employees and is recognized by the IPRA as an Exceptional Workplace.
Nationally accredited by the NRPA Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and State accredited through the IAPD Distinguished Agency Accreditation, the WPD has received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Triple Crown Award for receiving the GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award, and the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. The WPD was awarded the NRPA National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management in 2013, and was named a Gold Medal Finalist in 2012, 2013, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Media Contact
Josue Pasillas, MPA
Communications Supervisor
Waukegan Park District
(847) 360-4789
jpasillas@waukeganparks.org
waukeganparks.org