On Monday, February 9, our Club was thrilled to welcome Illinois Symphony Orchestra (ISO) Music Director Taichi Fukumura (on right in above image) and Executive Director Trevor Orthmann (second from left in above image) to our Rotary meeting for a lively, insightful look at the ISO. Thank you to both speakers for sharing their time, expertise, and passion for music with us.
Taichi Fukumura — who also serves as Associate Conductor of the renowned Cleveland Orchestra — shared his passion for expanding the ISO’s repertoire and championing living composers. He likened the role of a conductor to that of a movie director, shaping how each musical story is told — noting the same orchestral piece can be told differently by different conductors, even with the exact same musicians.
Trevor Orthmann, who leads the ISO’s operations and growth, spoke about the organization’s strong momentum, including a youth orchestra now serving nearly 300 students and the ISO’s vital role in music education across our community. We also learned how the orchestra has smoothly transitioned its performances to a venue with exceptional acoustics — First United Methodist Church in Springfield — for the 2025–2026 season due to renovations at the UIS Performing Arts Center.
