The Northbrook Symphony’s mission is to provide high-quality programs of symphonic music that enrich our listeners’ lives and engage the next generation of audiences.
The Northbrook Symphony is a professional orchestra based in Northbrook, Illinois. Founded in 1980, 2025-26 marks our 46th season.
The stability of our leadership has translated into consistent artistic success over the years and decades. We are proud of our track record in delivering high-caliber classical symphonic music to meet the cultural needs of Northbrook and surrounding communities. Since our founding as a community orchestra under then-Chicago Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster Sam Magad, we have had only three Music Directors: Maestro Magad (1980-2001), Larry Rapchak (2001-2019) and Mina Zikri (2019-present). Since 2021 we have also had CSO Concertmaster Robert Chen as our Artistic Creative Partner.
The Northbrook Symphony is proud to provide complimentary tickets to ages 6-17 when accompanied by a paying adult. Introducing our youngest audience members to the amazing art form that is classical music, these complimentary tickets are subsidized by our donors and our endowment. We believe in the importance of this program in having the ability to shape lives and open a whole new world of opportunity to the youngest members of our community.
We also partner with Bravo Waukegan, a not-for-profit supporting music education in Waukegan public schools. Since 2018, our Instrument Drive has provided more than 1000 donated instruments and put them in the hands of budding young musicians. This is the crux of our community engagement efforts: the power of music in potentially changing the trajectory of student’s lives and careers.
