Gilchrist Helps Bring Exceptional Musical Performances to Siouxland
Music can make us feel happy, sad, excited and even frightened – in the best ways. And for more than 100 years, the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra (SCSO) has brought music to life with its exceptional performances. Seeing music performed live by the SCSO is an enriching experience everyone should enjoy. And the Gilchrist Foundation is proud to support the SCSO’s vision to present performances that are innovative and culturally inclusive to the community. In 2023, the Foundation awarded the SCSO a $100,000 project grant for The Gilchrist Pop Series as well as a $5,000 micro grant for the purchase of 41 musical instruments for the youth symphony.
The 2024-2025 Season
The SCSO 2024-2025 season looks to be just as memorable as in years past, thanks to the support of the Gilchrist Foundation.
Sept. 28, 2024 – Gladiator Live. Relive the legendary and five-time Academy Award® winning film on the big screen while a live symphony orchestra performs Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard’s iconic score with a vocal soloist and chorus.
Oct. 19, 2024 – Beethoven 6th. One of Beethoven's most beloved works, the Sixth Symphony, is a timeless masterpiece that takes the listener on a mesmerizing journey through nature.
Nov. 16, 2024 – The Music Of Tina Turner. An evening filled with Tina Turner’s classic hits performed by American Idol finalist LaKisha Jones and Helen Hayes Award winner Nova Y. Payton.
Dec. 8, 2024 – Handel’s Messiah. Handel's Messiah, composed in 1741, is a timeless Christmas tradition that transcends cultural and religious boundaries. This concert will take place at the Cathedral of Epiphany in Sioux City.
Dec. 15, 2024 – Home For The Holidays. This year's concert will feature the dynamic voices of the MLK Community Gospel Choir and the delightful sounds of three local church bell choirs.
Feb. 8, 2025 – Olga Kern Performs Shostakovich. Olga Kern, winner of the Rachmaninoff International Piano Competition and the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, will bring her extraordinary talent to the Orpheum stage to perform Shostakovich's riveting 1st Piano Concerto.
Mar. 22, 2025 – Her Story In Music: A Celebration Of Women In The Arts. An inspiring multi-generational, multicultural selection of choral, chamber, and symphonic music performance that honors history's most influential and iconic female composers.
May 4, 2025 – Carmen. An exceptional cast of international and local singers will bring Bizet's masterpiece to life in this semi-staged production.
Check the SCSO’s website to purchase tickets for the events listed.
Youth Orchestra
The Sioux City Symphony Youth Orchestra is a tuition-free program supported by the Juliet Wanzek-Everist Trust and other generous individuals and companies. Launched in the fall of 2021 with 25 members, the youth orchestra program expanded to 50 members by the fall of 2022. The program now boasts nearly 90 members divided into two distinct ensembles: the strings-only Sinfonia and the full symphony Philharmonic. These young musicians represent the future of live orchestral music, not only as performers but also as leaders, patrons, and supporters.
About the SCSO
The origins of the Sioux City Symphony can be traced to 1915 with the start of the Morningside College Orchestra, conducted by George Hubbard. It has evolved from a 30-piece college ensemble to a 90-member professional orchestra. On September 15, 2001, the Symphony celebrated the opening of its new home, the beautifully restored historic Orpheum Theatre.
The Sioux City Symphony is a regional orchestra, drawing its personnel and audience from within a 90-mile radius of Sioux City. Many of the orchestra’s musicians are from nearby educational institutions, including Morningside College in Sioux City, Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb., and the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. The musicians travel from as far away as Sioux Falls, S.D.; Kansas City, Mo.; Omaha, Neb.; Storm Lake, Iowa; Chicago, Ill.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Cleveland, Ohio; and Eau Claire, Wisc.
About The Gilchrist Foundation
The Gilchrist Foundation has been a steady supporter of the SCSO. In 2022, the Foundation awarded the SCSO a $175,000 project grant for the Gilchrist Pop Series and SCSO Music Center. In 2021, the SCSO was awarded a $175,295 project grant for the Gilchrist Pop Series and SCSO Preservation Center. In 2020, the Foundation awarded the SCSO a $100,000 project grant for its Gilchrist Digital Concert Series.
Orchestra music, art museums and theater were all passions of Jocelyn Gilchrist. As she grew older, she enjoyed listening to orchestra performances on local public broadcasting stations. As such, organizations related to the Arts or public broadcasting are invited to apply for funding through the Gilchrist Foundation.