2021–2022 SERIES: 75th Season
The Evanston Symphony Orchestra (ESO) has adopted protocols to protect your health and safety at performances. These policies are in effect as of September 2021 for 2021-2022 ESO subscription series concerts and will be reviewed regularly to follow the latest public health mandates and recommendations.
Proof of Vaccination Required •
Mask Requirement
• Distancing
•Risk Assumption
• Exchange Policy
Give the gift of music
Treat a friend or relative to the ESO
Give the gift of music by ordering directly from our website and purchasing a custom gift certificate in any denomination of your choice! Certificates may be redeemed for single ticket or season subscriptions for any of our concerts.
You will receive an electronic gift certificate or we can mail the certificate to you or directly to the recipient.
SHOP and Support the ESO!
Are you looking to buy a gift for someone at Amazon? Need to stock up on supplies from Amazon?
Amazon has a special program called Smile, where the company donates a small amount of your purchase to your designated charity. Once you select the ESO as your Smile recipient, just point your browser to smile.amazon.com each time you want to shop at Amazon and the Evanston Symphony will benefit. It won’t cost you a thing!
Thanks, and happy shopping.
Latest news
Celebration Of Life: Ed Bennett
Retired ESO cellist Ed Bennett died this past March. Ed was born in Martins Ferry, Ohio, and began cello there, playing in the school orchestra until his father, an electrical engineer for U.S. Steel, was transferred to Gary, Indiana, when Ed was 15. Ed enrolled in Horace Mann High School in Gary, where he continued playing cello in the high school orchestra and also played with the Gary Symphony. His most memorable concert with the latter was on December 7, 1941; only after the conclusion of the concert were they told about the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
ESO’s Vince Flood named 2018 Board President of the Year
Vince Flood Receives llinois Council of Orchestras Award
Evanston Symphony Orchestra is proud to announce that Vince Flood won the award for Board President of the Year 2018 from the Illinois Council of Orchestras. Vince has been a strong and effective leader, who has taken this vibrant community orchestra to new heights of performance, while also pioneering initiatives to make it a more inclusive organization that truly serves the whole of its community.
ESO named 2017 Community Orchestra of the Year
For immediate release March 15, 2017
Community Orchestra of the Year
Evanston Symphony Orchestra
Lawrence Eckerling, Music Director
Improved Pick-Staiger Access
Breaking news (1/19/2015): Arts Circle Drive, leading up to Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, is now fully open. You can drive all the way up to the entrance now to drop people off. Both levels of the parking garage are open, with exits at the east and west ends.
If you park on the upper level, the eastern pedestrian exit is now on the same level as Pick Staiger. There are no steps at all between the parking and the concert hall, and no hill to climb.
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ESO’s Young Artists Competition 1972 winner: Janet Haugland-Loerkens, violin
At 8:30 pm on Friday, May 26, 1972, Music Director Frank Miller conducted the ESO in a performance of Dvorak’s New World Symphony, a genuine crowd pleaser. Then Maestro Miller introduced the two teenagers who were winners of the ESO’s first Young Artists Competition: violinist Janet Haugland, who played the first movement of Paganini’s Violin Concerto in D Major, and pianist Douglas Montgomery, who played the last movement of Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No.4 in C Minor, both to enthusiastic applause.
Jen & Pen
Originally hailing from New York, Jen McGeary’s family relocated to Minneapolis and then to Chicago when she was in fourth grade. Her new school was offering the opportunity to try out stringed instruments, and after deeming the violin too squeaky and the cello too complicated, Jen settled on viola. This seemingly arbitrary selection became a passion that lasted all through high school, including time with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras and private lessons with former ESO Concertmaster Julian Arron and then college.
The Return of the ESO: Free Lakefront Summer Pops Concert
Orchestra members are eager to begin rehearsals in July for the August 29 concert of light classics, music from Broadway, and movie soundtracks, highlighted by the beloved "Theme from Schindler’s List" performed by ESO Concertmaster Julie Fischer, and concluding with the ever-popular 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky and Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever."
Fun Facts About Our Concert Venue
Gillson Park offers 60 acres of beautiful lakefront property, ideal for picnics, bicycling, tennis, and many other spring and summer outdoor activities. In the heart of Gillson Park is the Wallace Bowl, a 2,500 seat amphitheater.