26
thePeorian.com
The Present
W
ith passion and power
certain to flourish
through a season that
will present the yin and yang
of music, the Peoria Symphony
Orchestra is preparing for its
116
th year.
Audiences will be treated to
the kinds of strings they’ve come
to expect at symphony concerts,
with special guest violinists ap-
pearing during the season along
with the PSO’s resident talents.
Then strings of a very different
variety, those of the banjo, will
delight next spring in the Illinois
premiere of Bela Fleck’s Concerto
for Banjo & Orchestra played by
Fleck himself.
“
I am very excited about this
coming season and everybody I
show the schedule to thinks it is
exciting. Each concert has its own
special quality,” said George Stel-
luto, music director and conduc-
tor of the orchestra.
“
We do that by design so that
we always offer something dif-
ferent to our audiences. But this
season, I believe, shows we want
every concert to be an event in
itself. There is something here for
everybody,” said Stelluto, enter-
ing his fourth season on the PSO
podium.
That design has worked, both
in growing audiences and profes-
sionally. Last year the Peoria
Symphony Orchestra captured
national and regional acclaim
when it won the 2012 ASCAP
Award and was named Profes-
sional Orchestra of the Year by
the Illinois Council of Orchestras.
“
We’ve always tried to do
nice combinations of music and
the guest artists are some of the
best in the business. In the last
three years I have seen more and
more appreciation for the stars
we bring in. Our audiences have
come to expect it, as well, which
we love,” Stelluto said.
ENCORE! ENCORE!
Award-winning Peoria Symphony
Orchestra prepared for 116th season
By Paul Gordon
George Stelluto, conductor, and the Peoria Symphony Orchestra.
