The Rockford Symphony Orchestra will celebrate the beloved musician and composer/conductor Leonard Bernstein with a community-wide collaboration of events and performances.

In April of 2018, the Rockford Symphony Orchestra (RSO) will lead a festival called “Leonard Bernstein at 100”, showcasing the American-born and American-trained conductor, composer, pianist, educator, and advocate for the arts who was born August 25, 1918. In partnership with other arts and educational institutions in the Northern Illinois region, the RSO will curate a collection of Bernstein’s work, in cooperation with the Leonard Bernstein Center.

Festival events will take place throughout the month of April. More information can be found on the Leonard Bernstein at 100 Festival’s website: www.bernsteinat100.com.

This Festival is made possible through grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. In addition to the Rockford Symphony Orchestra, participating organizations include Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center, Rockford Art Museum, Rockford Dance Company, Rockford Public Library, Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra, Rockford Wind Ensemble, Rockford University, and WNIU 90.5 FM.

Festival Events
April 12, 2018 at 7pm; Rockford Public Library Nordlof Center
Rockford Public Library: Public Lecture on Leonard Bernstein with Steven Larsen

April 15, 2018 at 3 pm; Rockford Public Library Nordlof Center
Rockford Wind Ensemble: American Voices

April 19-22, 2018; Rockford University Maddox Theatre
Rockford University Performing Arts Department: Candide

April 22, 2018 at 3pm; Hononegah Performing Arts Center
Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra: Spring Concert

April 23, 2018 at 7pm; Rockford Art Museum
Rockford Art Museum: Movie Monday Film Series, West Side Story

April 28, 2018 at 7:30pm; Coronado Performing Arts Center
Rockford Symphony Orchestra: Celebrating Leonard Bernstein featuring the Mendelssohn Chorale and Rockford Dance Company

May 7, 2018 at 7pm; 90.5FM WNIU
Encore Presentation of Celebrating Leonard Bernstein RSO performance.