Orchestra

The Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra is comprised of School of Music faculty members, hired professional musicians and students who successfully audition for the School of Music. The Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra generally performs three concerts per semester including Masterworks and Chamber Music series concerts, Labor Day Pops and collaborations with the Millikin Opera Theatre and the School of Theatre and Dance. Membership in the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra places a high demand on students gaining hands-on experience playing alongside School of Music faculty and other professional musicians. For more information, visit https://symphonyguildofdecatur.org/. 

Monday, September 4 6 p.m.: Labor Day Pops 

Featuring Dr. Troy Castle, baritone 

Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater  

The Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra returns to the Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater! Invite your friends and family for this annual Labor Day Pops featuring an exciting afternoon with stops at the movies, the theater stage, and your patriotic favorites. Come on out for what will surely be a fun evening for all.  

Saturday, October 7 7:30 p.m.: Opening Night – The Poetry of Song 

Featuring Indra Thomas, soprano 

Kirkland Fine Arts Center 

The Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra is pleased to welcome internationally recognized soprano Indra Thomas to the Kirkland stage in a concert showcasing the poetry of song. Ms. Thomas will join the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Four Last Songs by Richard Strauss followed by Schumann’s Symphony No. 1 “Spring.” 

Saturday, November 11 7:30 p.m.: Serenades and Tombs  

Featuring Richard Haglund, guest conductor 

Kirkland Fine Arts Center 

The Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra features its string section with two popular favorites from the string orchestra repertoire: Dvořák’s Serenade for Strings and St. Paul’s Suite by Gustav Holst. International Conductors Workshop and Competition winner Richard Haglund will conduct St. Paul’s Suite in his Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra debut. 

Saturday, February 3 7:30 p.m.: Chamber Series 

Central Christian Church (Decatur, IL) 

Join members of the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra in one of Decatur’s most beautiful settings as they present an evening of chamber music. Come out to Decatur’s breathtaking Central Christian Church to hear some of your favorite composers in a more intimate genre. 

Saturday, February 24 7:30 p.m.: Dreams, Fantasies, and Young Artists  

Featuring winners of the School of Music Concerto/Aria Competition 

Kirkland Fine Arts Center 

Along with performances by the winners of the School of Music’s annual Concerto/Aria Competition, the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra presents an evening of dreams and fantasies featuring Vaughan Williams’ beloved Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis and the incidental music from Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. 

Saturday, April 13 7:30 p.m.: Season Finale – The River  

Featuring Dr. Ion-Alexandru Malaimare, violin and Dr. Tatiana Shustova, piano 
Kirkland Fine Arts Center   

The Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra closes its season with a celebration of inclusive excellence and a reaffirmation of the rich heritage that we have all inherited in the world of orchestral music. From the existential walks around cathedral walls to the toe-tapping sounds of American jazz, there is something for everyone to enjoy! 

Membership in the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra is open to all students playing string and orchestral woodwind, brass and percussion instruments via audition, regardless of major. Students playing orchestral woodwind, brass and percussion instruments must be recommended by their applied instructor after completing an audition. 

Auditions take place at the start of the Fall semester. Auditions consist of prepared excerpts and sight reading. 

String audition excerpts for Fall 2023 are available from Dr. William McClain at wmcclain@millikin.edu.  

Woodwind, brass and percussion audition excerpts for Fall 2023 are available at https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/tn8xwhyj8xeo81jzibdkx/h?rlkey=0f55su9s2jclcfyf8vn31cpsv&dl=0. 

Questions? Contact Dr. William McClain, Music Director of the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra, at wmcclain@millikin.edu