Illinois Community Orchestras & Bands

Interested in playing with an ensemble?

This list is to serve as a resource in recruitment to the general public that seeks an opportunity to play with an ensemble. These are ensembles composed of amateur musicians who are not paid to play. These are ensembles that have formed for the love of music. Ensembles are primarily made up of adults unless otherwise noted.  Non-ICO member ensembles are eligible to be listed on this page. 

*Denotes current ICO Member Organization

DePaul New Horizons Ensembles, Chicago IL
Rehearse: Primarily Sunday evenings at Holtschneider Performance Center on the DePaul campus in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. Concert band, String Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble and Flute Ensemble offered. For more information on joining, visit DePaul's Community Music website.

Evanston Symphony Orchestra, Evanston IL
Rehearse: Tuesday evenings from 7:30-10:00pm at Evanston Township High School. For string auditions, email [email protected]; For winds, brass and percussion as well as for Chorus members for the Evanston Symphony Holiday concerts, contact [email protected].

Fermi Community Orchestra, Batavia IL
Rehearse: Sundays at Batavia United Methodist Church, 8 N. Batavia Ave, Batavia. For more information on joining, complete the online form

Northshore Concert Band, Evanston IL
Rehearse: Wednesday evenings from 7:30- 9:30 pm at the Loyola Academy’s Leemputte Family Theater and Glenview Park District’s Park Center. For more informations on auditions, visit https://northshoreband.org/auditions

Palatine Concert Band, Palatine IL
Rehearse: Tuesday evenings from  7:45-9:45pm at the Palatine Community Center in Palatine. For more information on joining, email [email protected] 

Senior Suburban Orchestra*, Downers Grove IL
Rehearse: Tuesday afternoons at St. Pauls United Church of Christ in Downers Grove.
For more information on joining, email [email protected]

Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest*, Oak Park IL
Rehearse: Wednesday evenings 7:30-10pm  at Concordia University in River Forest
For more information on joining, email Beth Hoover at [email protected]

West Suburban Symphony*,  Hinsdale IL
Rehearse: Primarily on Tuesday evenings with the occasional Friday evening or Saturday morning. 
For more information, visit https://www.westsubsymphony.org/perform-with-us

Windy City Winds*, Chicago IL
Rehearse: Thursday evenings from 7:00-8:30 pm at St. Pauls United Church of Christ in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. For more information on joining, complete the online form.

Ravenswood Community Orchestra*, Chicago IL
Rehearse:  Monday evenings from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the St. Benedict’s lower school library, near the corner of Bell and Byron Streets in Chicago. For more information on joining, complete this online form.


 Want your ensemble listed?

Email [email protected] with your information.