The Rockford Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce it will record The Orchestra Sings, a lively and interactive concert for Rockford area students, on Friday, April 16, 2021, at 2 pm at Northern Illinois University.  In previous years the concert was held live at the Coronado Performing Arts Center with more than 2,000 students attending.  Because of the pandemic, the experience will be made available to area music educators via a video link free of charge for in-person and virtual classroom participation.

NIU’s Philharmonic conductor Dr. Benjamin Firer will lead the NIU Philharmonic and RSO Principal musicians through the program. RSO Education Director Margo Stedman will serve as host, with NIU student Abria Shaw joining as a vocalist. This partnership provides the added educational layer of NIU students having the opportunity to play beside RSO musicians.

The Orchestra Sings is a special invitation-only partnership with Carnegie Hall’s prestigious Link-Up program. Through the Link Up repertoire, classroom activities, and a culminating interactive performance with a professional orchestra, students explore the elements that contribute to that magical moment when the orchestra starts to sing.

“Though we are all missing the live performance aspect, we are thrilled to partner with NIU to provide this experience virtually for our area students this year,” said Education Director Margo Stedman. This performance often serves as students’ first concert experience and provides them with the opportunity to apply the musical concepts they have studied.

This program is generously sponsored by the Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation and the William M. Miller Charitable Trust, with additional support from the Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall, Dick and Grace Leighton, and the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

For more information call the RSO office at 815.965.0049.