The Quad City Symphony Orchestra is proud to announce a special run-out performance next spring at the newly constructed Goldfarb Center for Performing Arts on the campus of Western Illinois University (WIU) in Macomb. The concert, scheduled for Monday, April 5, 2027, marks the first time in more than three decades that the QCSO will present a Masterworks performance outside the Quad Cities region.
The engagement is part of the Goldfarb Center’s inaugural season, showcasing the state‑of‑the‑art, 100,000‑square‑foot, 875‑seat venue—one of the most significant new performing arts facilities in West‑Central Illinois. The QCSO’s appearance will follow its traditional Saturday and Sunday Masterworks VI concerts at Davenport’s Adler Theatre and Rock Island’s Centennial Hall.
“We are thrilled to be presented by Western Illinois University as part of the Goldfarb Performing Arts Center’s inaugural season—it’s an honor for the QCSO to help bring this exciting new performance space to life,” said Brian Baxter, QCSO Executive Director. “This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to artistic excellence and expanding access to inspiring live music across the region.”
The April 5 program will feature Carlos Chávez’s vibrant Sinfonía India, Michael Abels’ newly commissioned cello concerto performed by acclaimed soloist Tommy Mesa, and Dvořák’s joyful and spirited Symphony No. 8. The performance represents a key step in the QCSO’s long‑term strategy to expand its regional presence and build new artistic connections beyond the Quad Cities.
“For decades, Western Illinois University has delivered programs, people and partnerships to the Quad Cities area,” said Dr. Kristi Mindrup, President of Western Illinois University. “With the opening of the Goldfarb Center for Performing Arts, now WIU looks forward to celebrating our new state of the art venue by introducing the phenomenal talents of the Quad Cities Symphony to Macomb and the West-Central Illinois region.”
“Western Illinois University is beyond excited to welcome the Quad City Symphony Orchestra to the Macomb campus community and to introduce them to this new world-class performance venue,” said Patrick Downing, Director of Development for WIU’s College of Fine Arts and Communications. “As a WIU School of Music alumnus that has lived in the Quad Cities for the last 17 years, I’ve been fortunate to see so many incredible concerts at the Adler Theatre in Davenport and Augustana College’s Centennial Hall in Rock Island. It’ll be thrilling to hear this magnificent group of musicians play in the Goldfarb Center for Performing Arts, and I know they will be embraced by the Western Illinois community. There have been many WIU alumni and faculty from the School of Music that have played in the Quad City Symphony Orchestra over many years, and we look forward to this exciting new chapter in our partnership!”
The QCSO’s performance will serve as the culminating event of its 112th Masterworks season, offering audiences in Macomb a rare opportunity to experience the orchestra’s world‑class musicianship in a brand‑new acoustic environment designed specifically for live performance.
ABOUT THE GOLDFARB CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS AT WIU
Opening in September 2026, the Goldfarb Center for Performing Arts is a landmark new facility on the Western Illinois University campus. The 875‑seat Great Hall and 200‑seat Studio Theater will host concerts, theatrical productions, touring artists, and community events, serving as a cultural hub for Macomb and the surrounding region.