2026 Conference Schedule
Thursday, April 16, 2026
8-5:00 pm Art Alliance Illinois Capitol Day Activities (separate registration required)
6:15pm ICO Dinner (separate ticket required)
Friday, April 17, 2026
8:15am Check-in Opens
9:00: Welcome
9:15 Coffee Conversation with host The Illinois Symphony Orchestra
10:30 Advocacy 101: The why, how and lessons from the field
Advocacy is your organization's relationship savings account that you never know how or when you will need so make sure those relationships exist.
Panelists:
Andrew Schneider, Arts Alliance Illinois
Karen Dennis, Midwest Young Artists
12:00 Lunch buffet provided by the conference
1:00 Programming with purpose: The intersection of artistic vision and audience engagement
An engaging panel discussion that pulls back the curtain on the art and strategy of orchestra programming. This panel will explore innovative and creative approaches to building compelling concert experiences, while examining how artistic balance shapes a successful season. The conversation will also dive into strategic thinking behind pops programming as well as considerations on programming decisions across different markets. This will be a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how orchestras craft the performances we love throughout a season calendar.
Panelists:
Carlos Javier, Grant Park Music Festival
Terell Johnson, Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra
Marc Thayer, Elgin Symphony Orchestra
Jacobsen Woollen, Illinois Symphony Orchestra
2:00 Revenue, Inflation, Access: finding the sweet spot of Prices
A frank discussion on how organizations of all budget sizes are trying to price and project to retain access and maximize ticket sales.
Panelists:
Nicole Wetzell, Marketing Solutions & Chicago Sinfonietta
Liz Madeja, Lyric Opera of Chicago
3:00 From Survival Mode to Sustainable Harmony: Building an Endowment that Fuels Impact
What does it take for an orchestra to move beyond financially “making it through the season” to confidently investing in its future? An endowment is the difference. In this candid, practical panel, we’ll explore how strong endowments provide orchestras with more freedom to thrive- supporting artistic risk‑taking, deep community engagement, and long‑term mission delivery.
Join fellow orchestra leaders for an energizing conversation about how endowment‑enabled symphonies build resilience, innovate with purpose, and create lasting impact for the communities they serve—and how you can start (or strengthen) that journey at your own organization.
Panelists will share real‑world strategies and practical tactics for building and growing endowment—what’s worked, what hasn’t, and lessons learned along the way. This is a candid conversation for orchestra leaders who want to move from financial life support to long‑term strength and relevance in their communities.
Panelists:
Brian Baxter, Quad City Symphony Orchestra
Christina Salerno, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra;
Erik Rankin, President & CEO of Illinois Prairie Community Foundation in Bloomington
4:00 Conclusion of Conference
Conference Registration
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 discounted member pricing. See below for special pricing for those organizations with multiple attendees. View the prices here.
ICO Dinner: Thursday, April 16, 2026, 6:15pm
Conference & Dinner Registration
Dinner Only Registration
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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