Illinois Council of Orchestras Conference
2025 ICO Statewide Conference
Hosted by The Elgin Symphony Orchestra
Friday, February 21, 2025, 9-5pm
Holiday Inn Chicago Northwest-Elgin Conference Center, 495 Airport Road, Elgin IL 60123
Schedule
Thursday, February 20 50th Anniversary Dinner (separate ticket required)
Friday, February 21 Conference Schedule
8:15 Check-in Opens
9:15am A Coffee Conversation with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra
Featuring
Michael Folker, Percussionist and Players Committee Member, Elgin Symphony Orchestra and
Marc C. Thayer CEO, Elgin Symphony Orchestra
Moderated by Brian Baxter, Quad City Symphony
10:00 Coffee & Networking Time
11:00 Adapting to the Needs of Our Young Musicians
As the landscape of education continues to evolve, so too must the ways in which we nurture and support the next generation of musicians. This panel brings together a diverse group of youth orchestra leaders and education administrators to discuss the current state of music education in schools, the challenges faced by young musicians, and the adjustments necessary to meet the moment.
From adapting to new learning environments to addressing the needs of students, this conversation will dive into the evolving role of orchestras and the future of music education. What should orchestras and educators be mindful of in the coming years to ensure they continue to inspire, nurture, and equip young musicians?
This important discussion will offer insights, solutions, and a forward-thinking approach to shaping the future of orchestras and music education.
Daniella Valdez, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra
Jordan Mandela, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic
Jackie Mitra, Illinois Symphony Orchestra
Matthew Sheppard, Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra
12:00 Lunch provided by the conference
1:00 Celebrating Milestones: Reflecting, Projecting, and Leveraging Achievements for Growth
Milestones are more than just moments of celebration—they are powerful tools for reflection, growth, and community engagement. In this session, we’ll explore how orchestras of all sizes have used milestone celebrations to look back at their achievements, build momentum for future goals, and connect with their audiences and donors.
Join us for an insightful panel discussion featuring orchestras from around the state that have recently marked significant anniversaries and other milestones. Hear firsthand from these organizations about how they leveraged their past successes for effective fundraising campaigns, enhanced marketing efforts, and increased visibility in their communities.
This session will provide valuable lessons on the strategic use of milestone events to strengthen an orchestra’s position, celebrate legacy, and set the stage for the future. Whether you’re planning your own milestone event or simply seeking to learn how others have successfully navigated these celebrations, this session is full of actionable insights and inspiring stories from your peers.
Julie Thomas, Rockford Symphony Orchestra (90 years)
Paul Winberg, Grant Park Music Festival (90 years)
Mari Ullrick, Dupage Symphony Orchestra (70 years)
David Commanday, Heartland Festival Orchestra (15 years)
2:00 Navigating the Fundraising Landscape: Strategies for Planned Giving, Foundations, and Major Gifts
The fundraising landscape is constantly evolving, and understanding how to effectively engage different types of donors is crucial for sustainable growth. In this session, we’ll dive deep into three critical areas of fundraising: planned giving, foundation grants, and major gifts.
Join us for a dynamic panel discussion featuring experts who specialize in these key sectors. You’ll hear from professionals with extensive experience in cultivating long-term donor relationships through planned giving, securing foundation grants to support programming, and raising major gifts that drive transformative impact.
Our panelists will share their insights on the current trends in fundraising, strategies to identify and approach potential donors, and how to create personalized campaigns that resonate with high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and legacy donors. You’ll leave with practical tools to expand your fundraising efforts, diversify revenue streams, and build a strong financial future for your organization.
Alexandra Nelson, Juno Consulting
Peter Gillette, Chicago Sinfonietta
Alexis Alm, Alexis Alm Advisors, Elgin Symphony Orchestra Board member
3:00 Afternoon Round Tables
Have specific questions for your colleagues? Topics and items shared and discussed with colleagues.
4:00 Orchestrating Community Engagement: A Multi-Pronged Approach to Audience Development and Inclusion led by the Quad City Symphony Orchestra
Explore how orchestras can evolve to be more inclusive, youth-focused, and community-centric, all while ensuring financial sustainability. Through a multi-pronged approach to audience development, emphasizing inclusivity, youth engagement, and robust community partnerships, discuss how orchestral music can be accessible to all, especially underserved and diverse populations. Highlighting the Quad City Symphony Orchestra's youth-centric initiatives, from Students @ Symphony, which invites school music groups to Masterworks performances, to the formation of the Quad City Symphony Youth Ensembles Concert Club, discover how to nurture the next generation of orchestra enthusiasts and reinforce your community-centric entity, bringing people together through music. Discuss strategies that can help you deepen community ties, cultivate future subscribers, and ensure enduring relevance and growth.
QCSO Facilitator(s):
Brian Baxter, Executive Director;
Caitlin Lingle Bishop, Director of Marketing; and
Chelsea Sammons, Director of Education and Community Engagement
5:00pm Brief closing remarks
Conference fee
A conference ticket gets you access to all sessions and speaker events for the day and includes lunch. If you or your organization is a member of the ICO, you qualify for member pricing. See below for special pricing for those organizations with multiple attendees.
2025 ICO Conference Fees
| ICO Member |
Non-Member |
Student |
| $75 single |
$85 single |
$30 |
| 2 people for $140 |
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| 3 people for $195 |
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| 4 people for $260 |
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Hotel Accommodations
A special room rate has been secured for the ICO for February 20 and 21, 2025 at the Holiday Inn Chicago Northwest. Room rates are $119/night. Book by click on link below or use the group code to book by phone.
Illinois Council of Orchestras
Group Code: ESO
Make reservations by calling 847.488.9000, and say you are part of “Illinois Council of Orchestras” to receive the discounted rate.
All reservations must be made no later than February 6th, 2025.
Learn more about Elgin and surrounding communities and all it has to offer conference attendees. Visit ExploreElginarea.com and plan today!
ICO Anniversary Dinner: Thursday, February 20, 2025, 6:30pm
*New* The ICO is pleased to host a dinner to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ICO and honor colleagues who have made the work of the Illinois Council of Orchestras possible. Join us!
This project is partially supported by a CityArts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
The ICO strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact the ICO at [email protected].
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