Northbrook Symphony Offering Free First Responder Tickets To Season Opener

NORTHBROOK, IL — Northbrook Symphony will open its 47th season with a celebration of the village's 125th anniversary, offering complimentary admission to the first responders who help protect the community.

"Sumptuous Strings" will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, at the Sheely Center for the Performing Arts, 2300 Shermer Road. The concert is dedicated to the village as part of its Northbrook 125 celebration.

Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians and 911 dispatchers are invited to attend free of charge, according to the symphony.

First responders can reserve a complimentary ticket by calling the box office at 847-272-0755 and identifying themselves as a first responder. Tickets will be held for pickup on concert day, with doors opening before the 3 p.m. pre-concert talk.

RELATED: Northbrook Symphony Founder Samuel Magad Dies At 94

The program will feature violinists Robert Chen, the symphony's artistic creative partner, and Gina DiBello performing Bach's Two-Violin Concerto. Chen will also conduct. The orchestra will perform Grieg's "Holberg Suite" and Dvořák's "Serenade for Strings."

Oliver Camacho will lead the pre-concert talk. The performance is expected to last approximately one hour and 35 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.

Adult tickets cost $45 to $75, plus a $3 fee per ticket. Admission for those younger than 18 is complimentary. The Northbrook Civic Foundation is the concert’s primary sponsor.

Season Subscriptions Available

The 2026-27 season is led by Music Director Mina Zikri and Chen, with featured soloists including Desirée Ruhstrat, DiBello and Wendy Sutter.

Two subscription options offer a 20 percent discount for orders placed by Oct. 15.

The Masterworks subscription includes four Sunday concerts at the Sheely Center:

• “Sumptuous Strings,” Oct. 25, 2026.
• “Glass & Mozart,” Jan. 10, 2027.
• “From Silence to Springtime,” April 25, 2027.
• “Romantic Grandeur,” June 6, 2027.

The full-season subscription includes those performances plus the family concert “Vivaldi’s Ring of Mystery” on June 11, 2027, at Christian Heritage Academy in Northfield.

Masterworks subscriptions range from $144 to $240, depending on seating. Full-season subscriptions range from $160 to $256. Both carry a $6 ticketing fee per order.

Subscriber benefits include a complimentary single-ticket coupon to bring a friend, discounts on additional tickets and exchanges without an exchange fee. Exchange requests must be made at least 48 hours before a concert.

The new season continues a tradition established by founder Samuel Magad, who started the orchestra in 1980 and served as music director until 2001.

Tickets, subscriptions and additional information are available at northbrooksymphony.org.