Jacksonville Symphony Society
  • Home
  • About
    • Board of Directors
    • Music Director
    • Orchestra
    • Chorale
    • Careers
  • Concerts
    • October 8, 2022
    • November 5, 2022
    • December 17, 2022
    • February 21, 2023
    • March 18, 2023
    • May 6, 2023
    • Past Concerts >
      • 59th Season >
        • September 25, 2021
        • October 30, 2021
        • December 4 , 2021
        • March 19, 2022
        • May 7, 2022
        • May 21, 2022
      • Youth Concert
      • 57th Season >
        • October 5, 2019
        • Novermber 9, 2019
        • December 14, 2019
        • March 21, 2020
        • May 2, 2020
  • Tickets
  • Talent Among US
    • 2020 Winners
    • Competition Rules
    • Application
  • Support Us
    • Friend of the Symphony Award
    • Roll of Honor
    • Sponsorship & Advertising
    • Jazz Benefit
    • No Show Gala
    • Endowment
    • Youth Concert Endowment Fund
    • Support our Symphony
  • Contact

Our History

The Jacksonville Symphony Society was founded in 1963 by two members of the MacMurray College faculty: Dr. Henry Busche, who served as conductor for many years, and Dr. Walter Hendrickson, who worked to raise the needed money. There were approximately 25 orchestra members, all local residents and all unpaid. Two concerts were offered the first season. Elizabeth Beranek, the last active original musician, retired in 2008.

Steady growth and increased community response occurred the first two decades, and by 1981 when Dr. Garrett Allman assumed the position of Music Director and Conductor, advances accelerated. Management and marketing improved once the Executive Director position was established in 1985. Fundraising events became better organized and an effective solicitation program for business donations and sponsorship's was initiated. Youth Concerts were moved from Sunday afternoon to a school day in 1987 and the number of students affected has increased from a few hundred up to almost 2,000. Fund-raising events have ranged from "Germanfest" to Dinner-Dance events, Jazz Auction nights, a regional Talent Show for all ages, and a contest for conductor of the orchestra.

Today the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and Chorale produces a full season of 5 concerts a year plus an annual Youth concert for area school children. While other orchestras may be struggling, the Jacksonville Symphony continues to thrive as the flagship artistic and cultural institution in Jacksonville, Illinois, a community with a long heritage of passion for the arts and civic engagement.
Vertical Divider

Contact Us

Vertical Divider
Jacksonville Symphony Society
PO Box 32
Jacksonville, IL 62651-0032
217.245.1181
jaxsym@jaxsym.com

www.jaxsym-il.org
www.facebook.com/jaxsymph
www.twitter.com/jaxsymph
Vertical Divider
Submit

Jacksonville Symphony Society

PO Box 32
Jacksonville, IL 62651
Call/Text - ​217.602.9555
jaxsym@jaxsym.com

    Signup for Emails

Submit
  • Home
  • About
    • Board of Directors
    • Music Director
    • Orchestra
    • Chorale
    • Careers
  • Concerts
    • October 8, 2022
    • November 5, 2022
    • December 17, 2022
    • February 21, 2023
    • March 18, 2023
    • May 6, 2023
    • Past Concerts >
      • 59th Season >
        • September 25, 2021
        • October 30, 2021
        • December 4 , 2021
        • March 19, 2022
        • May 7, 2022
        • May 21, 2022
      • Youth Concert
      • 57th Season >
        • October 5, 2019
        • Novermber 9, 2019
        • December 14, 2019
        • March 21, 2020
        • May 2, 2020
  • Tickets
  • Talent Among US
    • 2020 Winners
    • Competition Rules
    • Application
  • Support Us
    • Friend of the Symphony Award
    • Roll of Honor
    • Sponsorship & Advertising
    • Jazz Benefit
    • No Show Gala
    • Endowment
    • Youth Concert Endowment Fund
    • Support our Symphony
  • Contact