The mission of Symphony847 is to enrich, innovate, and reimagine the symphony orchestra experience for the 21st century. Founded in 2020 by musicians living in Chicago’s North Shore, Symphony847 embodies collaboration and respect for one another’s artistry and a shared belief in the importance of revitalizing the role of orchestral music in our lives. Symphony847 is modern and sustainable, showing that orchestral and chamber music can survive and flourish in the 21st century. One way we have begun doing this is by creating opportunities to work with local, living composers to share their music such as Amos Gillespie.

Since our inception three years ago in 2020, we have served communities within Lake County such as Lake Forest, Vernon Hills, and Lake Villa. One of our main concert venues has been Gorton Community Center in Lake Forest. With an average audience size of over 150 people, we would like to continue serving this community.

Our musicians have been involved with offering sectionals to Vernon Hills High School orchestra students. We have offered our expertise (sectionals and masterclasses) to Community Consolidated School District 128 and we hope we are able to be an asset in the community and establish a positive relationship with them and their students.

In 2022, we premiered a work by Shawn McIntyre, a former Lakes High School student who is now a student at Roosevelt University studying music composition. Our long term goal is to establish relationships within the local schools to perform for them and to offer masterclasses with our musicians or our conductor. Lastly, we offer free tickets to all students in grades K-12 and discounted tickets to those in college.

Outside of the schools, we have collaborated with local businesses such as North Shore Distillery (NSD) to perform a virtual concert. During this event, NSD created a cocktail menu to pair with the music on our program, which was presented as a virtual concert during COVID lockdown. We will be working with them again in the future. We have also hosted post concert receptions where we are able to spend time with our patrons and our community.

In our upcoming season, we have the following highlights planned:

Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony
Respighi’s Pines of Rome

Symphony847 First Annual Fundraising Gala

By Symphony847

Symphony847 First Annual Fundraising Gala

Team Members