Supporting Illinois' Arts Sector

The Illinois Symphony Orchestra (ISO), under the inspiring leadership of Music Director Taichi Fukumura, is the premier professional orchestra of central Illinois—bringing world-class music to life for more than 40,000 patrons across Bloomington-Normal, Springfield, and surrounding communities. With exciting symphony, Pops, and chamber performances; engaging Concerts for Kids; and intimate and immersive chamber experiences including Sips & Sounds, Around the Town, and Beyond the Stage series, the ISO is redefining what a regional orchestra can be.

The ISO’s reach goes far beyond the concert hall. Through transformative education programs like Itsy Arts and Music Matters, the orchestra sparks creativity in pre-K and elementary classrooms, while guest artist residencies and ensemble visits connect with middle schools, high schools, universities, and senior centers—building lifelong relationships with music.

In 2020, the ISO expanded its mission by acquiring the Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony, now the Illinois Symphony Youth Orchestras (ISYO), serving over three hundred young musicians through five progressive ensembles. With strong partnerships through its' PEACE (Partnership in Education and Community Engagement) with UIS-Music and Illinois State University, the ISO is cultivating the next generation of artists, educators, and arts advocates.

"Support from the Illinois Arts Council allows us to deepen our impact—on stage, in classrooms, and across our communities,” said Trevor Orthmann, Executive Director. “It helps us ensure that music remains accessible, relevant, and inspiring for everyone we serve as we fulfill our mission of creating engaging musical experiences for all.”

Alonso Galue, born in Venezuela, is a multidisciplinary artist now based in Chicago. His work spans across muralism, puppeteering, and performance, often delving into themes of migration, post-colonial thought, mental health, and Andean traditions. Galue holds a BFA from the University of Los Andes and has exhibited his work internationally, including at Northwestern University’s Wirtz Center and the Chicago Cultural Center. As a curator at Agitator Gallery, he champions immigrant voices through various artistic endeavors.

Galue’s installation, "Push-On: The Prophet of the Extra-Life," will run from June 12 to August 30 at The Flip: Chicago’s Playable Pinball Museum at Block 37- Lower Level, 108 N State St #15, in Chicago. The installation features a pinball machine transformed into a functional sculpture. This piece draws inspiration from ancestral Andean traditions, merging Venezuelan and Chicagoan cultural elements. Additionally, Galue's "Paradise Aliens," a series of murals focusing on climate change and exile, is on view at the Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center. The exhibit is open through the summer of 2027. Galue also curated "A Painting Retrospective of Augusto Yanacopulos," currently at Agitator Gallery and in collaboration with Aguijon Theatre. This exhibit presents the first retrospective of Aguijón Theatre founder and multi-awarded Chilean-Greek-American painter Augusto Yanacopulos, spanning his 40-year career in theatre and visual arts in Chicago. The exhibit is open through June 27. 

Galue said about the IAC's impact on his career: "Thanks to the IAC Creative Accelerator Grant, I was able to rent a studio, purchase materials, and develop a series of large murals addressing climate change and exile that has benefited thousands of visitors at the Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts, expanding the understanding of Ancestral Cultures and refugees in Chicago. The IAC Accelerator Grant pushed my career forward by allowing me to take risks in my socially engaged work and develop new research for more projects.“