about third coast symphony
Third Coast Symphony is a new organization dedicated to bringing exciting classical music programming to communities throughout Chicagoland. Third Coast Symphony was formed by the former managements of Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra and Park Ridge Civic Orchestra.
The Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1962 as a nonprofit organization serving Chicago’s North Shore suburbs. It began as an amateur community orchestra but grew into a fully-professional orchestra.
Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Boico (Music Director, 2002-06), at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts
Our MISSION
The mission of Third Coast Symphony is to promote education, provide entertainment, enrich audiences in the greater Chicago area through classical music concerts, encourage unity for diverse audiences through music, and present classical music in a way that is welcoming and enriching to all communities in the Chicago area.
Our Mandate
The mandate of Third Coast Symphony is to make great music eminently accessible and available to the entire community, regardless of age, ethnicity, or prior exposure. The orchestra welcomes talented professional musicians from all races, creeds, religions, genders, national origins, or disabilities.
All concerts are accessible to persons with disabilities, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Third Coast Symphony acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council and the Village of Skokie.
more about third coast symphony
Building on the rich 60-year history of the Skokie Valley Symphony, the Third Coast Symphony is still based in Skokie at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts. The name of the orchestra has changed so that we can better serve our wider goals for the various communities we will be serving.
Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra board President Steve Blutza and Park Ridge Civic Orchestra Music Director Vic Muenzer wanted to build a more durable organization that could serve a much wider community, while still enriching the communities in which the two orchestras were founded.
Third Coast Symphony will present music that is new, along with music we have known, from composers of all backgrounds, performed by an ensemble as diverse as the repertoire. The mission is to commission or bring new works of music from the Chicago metro community and from around the country for each concert—new works alongside performances from the great symphonic repertoire. Our mandate is to present exciting performances at the highest artistic level possible to all segments of the wider community.