“Over the past 56 years, the BSO has been lucky to build some truly special friendships in the community - with individuals, arts partners, local businesses, and more. This season is a tribute to those friendships, and the great things we’ve been able to do together.” - BSO Executive Director Donna Lafferty
It’s good to have friends, isn’t it? They make tough times easier to bear, and they make good times even better. Starting with a free jazz-infused concert in Switchyard Park on August 24th, the BSO is honoring the connections we’ve made over the years in a season entitled “Between Friends.”
The August concert (Toe Tappin’) featured not one but two community partnerships; with the Bloomington Jazz Orchestra, and with IU’s Swing Dance Club. The 800-member audience enjoyed the smooth sounds of Ellington, Basie, and Gershwin, as well as a chance to join in a free swing dance lesson on the pavilion in front of the stage.
In October, the BSO will collaborate with local nonprofit My Sister’s Closet to present Otherwhere, an imaginative exploration of musical boundaries. Featuring Amy Beach’s Gaelic Symphony and Gabriela Ortiz’s Antropolis, we will also shine a spotlight on the winner of our 2025 Youth Concerto Competition, Solar Manley, as he performs Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto with the orchestra.
For our traditional Celebrate the Season concert we will be joined onstage by local rock band Don’t Call Me Betty. We’ll perform twice in conjunction with the City’s Canopy of Lights celebration on November 28th, and we’ve been invited to perform once again at Spencer’s lovely Tivoli Theater on December 9th.
In January, the orchestra reconnects with our former principal bassoonist Catherine Marchese in Strauss’s Duet-Concertino for Clarinet and Bassoon.
Also on the program will be a piece by Bloomington’s much-loved David Baker, presented in partnership with the Archives of African American Music and Culture (AAAMC).
In March, Shakuhachi master Shawn Head will join us on stage, sharing the music of conductor Ryo Hasegawa’s home country (Japan). Our partnership with IU’s Asian Cultural Center is making this program possible. Also on the program will be Strauss’s challenging Rosenkavalier Suite.
For our season finale, the BSO will perform Beethoven’s epic 9th Symphony with a 100-member community chorus at IU’s Musical Arts Center (MAC) for the first time in our history.
“Friendship, to me, means mutual presence—showing up for one another, not just in the joyful moments, but in the quiet, uncertain, and difficult ones too. I am thrilled to be part of the celebration of BSO’s 56 years of friendship with people and organizations in Bloomington and explore diverse artistic output with these collaborators,” - BSO Music Director Ryo Hasegawa
Season tickets are now on sale and can be purchased on bloomingtonsymphony.com
About the Bloomington Symphony
Since 1969, the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra has been a musical home for those who want to keep their love of music alive. We provide performance opportunities and a real sense of community for musicians from Bloomington and surrounding areas. We also provide ongoing educational opportunities for audiences, students, and the community at large, because we truly feel that music is a gift that’s meant to be shared. From light-hearted holiday pops shows and children’s concerts to the great masterpieces of orchestral music, our programs educate, enlighten, and entertain audiences of every age and background.
