Leslie Odom, Jr. is a Tony and Grammy Award-winning, three-time Emmy, and two-time Academy Award-nominated songwriter, actor, and a New York Times bestselling author. His Bloomington performance will be alongside the IU Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor Thomas Wilkins.

Well known for his breakout role as Aaron Burr in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical Hamilton, Odom is set to make a highly-anticipated return to his award-winning role in fall 2025. He recently made his long-awaited return to Broadway in the classic American comedy Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch. Odom was Tony-nominated for his performance, and the production received six nominations and one win.

Odom has continued to captivate audiences across film and television including his star turn as legendary soul singer Sam Cooke in One Night in Miami, along with numerous other film and television credits. He is also an author of two books and has released five full-length albums.

The IU Symphony Orchestra, which consists of students from the Jacobs School of Music, will join Odom onstage for this performance. This all will be under the baton of Thomas Wilkins, a current faculty member at the Jacobs School of Music and principal conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.