BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Returning for the first time since 1983, The Philadelphia Orchestra, under the baton of principal guest conductor Marin Alsop, will perform March 25 on the IU Auditorium stage presenting works by Beethoven, Brahms, and Schumann. Members of the orchestra will also take part in a two-day residency with IU and K12 students as well as local community members during their Bloomington stay. The orchestra features eight musicians that graduated from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.

 

About the Performance

The world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra strives to share the transformative power of music with the widest possible audience and to create joy, connection, and excitement through music in the Philadelphia region, across the country, and around the world. For their Bloomington performance, they’ll be led by Alsop, a pioneering force in classical music and the first woman to serve as the head of major orchestras in the United States, South America, Austria, and Great Britain.

 

“Melt into captivating, classical music masterfully performed by The Philadelphia Orchestra for one night only on our stage,” said IU Auditorium Executive Director, Maria Talbert. “Under the direction of Marin Alsop, a pioneering force in classical music, The Philadelphia Orchestra will perform a special program in Bloomington. We are grateful to bring this brilliant ensemble to our stage for the first time in over four decades.”

 

Alsop will lead a program filled with brilliance and heart: Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3, a powerful tale of courage and triumph; Brahms’s Variations on a Theme of Joseph Haydn, full of wit and wonder; and Schumann’s radiant Symphony No. 2, music that soars with hope and resilience. Whether a longtime fan or new to orchestral music, this concert promises to captivate any audience member.

 

Bloomington Residencey (Complete Residency Schedule)

During their stay, The Philadelphia Orchestra will administer an immersive educational experience with students from the IU Jacobs School of Music, K12 students, community members, and more. Orchestra members and administrators will offer a robust residency including a wide variety of masterclasses, side-by-side rehearsals, conversations, local school visits, and more. See full schedule linked above for entire list of events.

 

Indiana University Alumni

Eight members of The Philadelphia Orchestra attended the Jacobs School of Music including Jonathan Beiler (violin), Miyo Curnow (violin), Elizabeth Hainen (harp), Eliot Heaton (violin), Victoria Knudtson (horn), Ricardo Morales (clarinet), David Nicastro (viola), and Matthew Vaughn (trombone).

 

The Philadelphia Orchestra at IU Auditorium is presented in partnership with WFIU. IU Auditorium’s 2025–2026 season is presented by Curry Auto Center, Cook, The Herald Times, Upland Brewing Company, World Arts Inc., Boston Scientific, and B97.