The Joliet Symphony Orchestra (JSO) is pleased to announce the opening concert set of its 2026-2027 Season, its 22nd, with Artistic Director & Conductor, Dr. Sean Paul MILLS, leading a program of music by Wolfgang Amadues MOZART, Edouard LALO, and Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY, and featuring cello soloist Bob HAUSER.Titled “Winter Reveries”, the JSO will be performing Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART’s ominous Overture to Don Giovanni, Edouard LALO’s virtuosic Spanish-themed Cello Concerto in d minor, and Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY’s passionate & rich Symphony No. 1 in g minor “Winter Reveries”.
Guest Artist Bob HAUSER, cello, has performed with the Beloit-Janesville Symphony, Rockford Symphony, Elgin Symphony, Champaign Urbana Symphony, Illinois Symphony, New Philharmonic, Illinois Philharmonic, Waukegan Symphony, Whiting Pops Orchestra, Peoria Symphony, Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra, and Southwest Symphony. Bob has also enjoyed performing in the pit for musical theater and opera, with small “event groups”, and for church services and events. He spent 3 years at Illinois Wesleyan University where he studied cello with Barbara Hedlund and bass with Bill Koehler, finishing his Bachelor’s degree in Music at Northern Illinois University and stayed for 2 more years of Master’s studies with cellist Marc Johnson. Bob spent 7 years as a low string specialist for Lincolnway Youth Strings as well as short stints teaching beginning orchestra and high school orchestra. He performed with his daughter, Kemedy, for 6 years with New Legacy, a travelling Gospel Bluegrass band that toured from North Dakota to Florida and most of the states in between. He has performed with 4 different bluegrass bands this year alone and can be seen at open bluegrass jams in Plainfield, Frankfort, and Tinley Park. Bob makes bluegrass fans smile by bowing “fiddle tunes” on the bass, singing Elvis Presley songs, and giving full voice “rooster calls”.
Performances will take place on Saturday, September 26 @ 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 27 @ 4:00 p.m. Both performances will take place in Sexton Auditorium which is located in the Harold & Margaret Moser Performing Arts Center on the University of St. Francis campus at 500 Wilcox Street in Joliet.
Be sure to join us for the FREE pre-concert “Noteworthy” discussions which take place 45 minutes prior to each performance and provide audience members with an opportunity to learn more about the composers, selections, orchestra, and soloists as well as ask questions and interact with our conductor and guests.
Tickets for JSO concerts are available through the JSO website at www.jolietsymphonyorchestra.org, the Music at Moser website at www.stfrancis.edu/music-at-moser/, and at the door beginning one (1) hour before each performance. Adults are $10; Seniors, Alumni & Non-USF Students are $5; USF Students and Youth (18 & under) are FREE with a current ID.
Please join us as we begin our 22nd season of exciting guest artists, moving musical performances, and new opportunities for you to engage with your local symphony.