About the Symphony
Celebrating more than 50 years, the Lake Forest Symphony is the only fully professional orchestra in Lake County. The orchestra, named Illinois Orchestra of the Year in 2006 and currently under the baton of Alan Heatherington, Illinois Conductor of the Year for 2005 and recipient of the Illinois Council of Orchestras' Cultural Leadership Award for 2010, the Lake Forest Symphony presents five concert pairs in our Classical Series; prominent guest artists are regularly featured. This season we look forward to welcoming guitarist Adam Levin, violinist Ilya Kaler, the yet to be named winner of the Winner of Music Institute of Chicago Concerto and Aria Competition, and the Amit Peled, cellist along with pianist Alon Goldstein.
The Lake Forest Symphony Concertmaster is Ilya Kaler. Principal Associate Concertmaster is Olga Dubossarskaya Kaler.
A pre-concert lecture by music researcher Jim Kendros enhances each performance. Receptions follow every performance where audience members are given the opportunity to meet orchestra members and relax with refreshments and conversation.
As is often said, “The children of today are the musicians and the audience of tomorrow.” Because education is extremely important, the Lake Forest Symphony strives to reach as many young children and students as we can during the season. Currently, our outreach reaches thousands of school children throughout Northern Illinois. We accomplish this through our age-appropriate Youth Concerts. These programs bring students to the performance hall to hear the full orchestra perform a program specifically geared towards them.