The International Symphony Orchestra will once again be entertaining local music lovers in-person beginning this fall, for the first time since February 2020.
On July 11, the orchestra announced the details of its 65th season – ISO65 – a full-season concert hall return that will include seven concerts on both sides of the border beginning in September and running until April.
The orchestra will be performing their first Canadian concert in over two years on Sept. 30 in their new home, Great Lakes Secondary School’s newly refurbished auditorium. On the Michigan side of the border, the orchestra will once again perform concerts at the McMorran Theater and Port Huron Northern High School’s auditorium.
Along with the delightful sounds of the ISO’s talented group of musicians, the new season will feature a series of special surprises, including an October concert led by the orchestra’s conductor emeritus Jerome Summers, a December all-Messiah program featuring the Symphony Singers conductor David Troiano , original works by Canadian and American composers as well as a special tribute marking Beethoven’s 200th birthday that was previously canceled by the pandemic.
ISO Maestro Douglas Bianchi said that the orchestra is looking forward to returning to in-person performances once again.
“With our mid-pandemic switch to digital operations we never really went away, but the goal was always to return to the rush of live performance in the concert hall for our subscribers and friends,” Bianchi said.
“And this time we’re also providing a livestream service for those who still wish to enjoy it at home.”
The orchestra previously provided livestream concerts as part of the Nexus Chamber Series, which featured the ISO performing in empty halls and churches in Ontario and Michigan. Bianchi said he hopes to offer the livestream option throughout the season in retirement homes in both Canada and the US
Bianchi thanked the St. Clair Community Foundation for providing the ISO grants as well as financial assistance from Fairwind Farms and Bluewater Power, as well as “the many subscribers and community small businesses who were determined to see us through the pandemic and back in the concert hall again for our 65th season.
“We are most grateful and ready to get out there with a stronger group than ever before,” he added.
For tickets and subscriptions, visit https://tinyurl.com/ISO65CAN or (for US tickets or subscriptions), visit https://tinyurl.com/ISO65USA.