Chicago Symphony coming to DuPage County?
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra may expand into the Western suburbs, and DuPage County leaders are helping to determine whether the move is feasible.
Symphony spokeswoman Raechal Alexander said CSO is in “very preliminary” discussions with elected officials and Choose DuPage, the county’s public-private economic development group. But she added that talks have been positive.
The idea launched about six months ago, after symphony leaders internally discussed expanding and then reached out to elected officials. DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin said the county’s demographics are part of its appeal.
“It turns out a significant portion of their subscribers are from DuPage County,” Cronin said.
Greg Bedalov, president of Choose DuPage, said the CSO is now broadly exploring whether shows in DuPage make good business sense, and his organization is acting as a focus group.
“Their search is for the Western suburbs and is not restricted to DuPage, but we believe very strongly that locating or expanding here would be a tremendous benefit for both parties,” he said. “But they are looking at everything as broad as building a facility here, to partnering with an existing facility, to playing just a number of dates per year. All they are trying to do is gauge the desire and the likelihood of an expansion succeeding here.”
Officials confirm they are considering the Arranmore Center for the Arts near Oswego on the DuPage/Will County border, where the symphony has performed in the past. But officials said it’s too early to know whether an indoor or outdoor venue will be sought, or what size venue will be appropriate.
Currently, the orchestra performs in downtown Chicago at Symphony Center on Michigan Avenue, while also holding a regular summer season at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park. As part of its touring, the CSO has held individual concerts in the Western suburbs, one each of the last two years.
“We are really a strong institution that is business-minded,” Alexander said. “We are very committed to ensuring the future of this great organization, whether that means something in the Western suburbs, China or Atlanta. We explore all of our options that make sense. But we also have a strong dedication to reaching out to our local communities.”
Cronin said the symphony’s consideration is an honor for DuPage County, which was once a primarily agricultural community that has experienced marked growth over the last several decades. Today, it is home to major corporate headquarters like McDonald’s, several colleges and universities, professional theater, a corporate airport and world-class shopping venues.
“It is just another example of how DuPage County has really changed,” Cronin said. “When you compare what we have here, all the different assets, I think it speaks very well of how DuPage has grown up and the community we’ve become.”
Officials said they did not have a timetable on when any decisions on the CSO’s potential expansion will be made.