UPO is funded through generous donations from individuals and grants from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. the City of Urbana Arts and Culture Program and the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois.

"From Sea to Shining Symphony"
FREE Concert, Sat. June 13

Urbana Arts & Culture and Urbana Pops Orchestra invite you to a free concert. From Sea to Shining Symphony will be held in the auditorium at Urbana High School at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 13/

Stephen Larson will conduct music representing the many landscapes of our country from to coast to coast and was inspired by Carmen Dragon’s arrangement of American the Beautiful.

Another piece, Lincoln Portrait, by Aaron Copland, includes familiar tunes from the southern states woven together with excerpts from some of Abraham Lincoln’s lesser-known speeches.

Urbana Mayor DeShawn Williams will serve as the narrator for this piece reading the words of Abraham Lincoln.

There will also be several fun pieces such as Old MacDonald by Leroy Anderson includes the sounds barnyard animals, Adagio for a Tee-Ball Dropout which consists of variations on a popular baseball tune.

Children, especially, will enjoy “Let it Go,” from the musical Frozen,” performed by cast members from the Urbana Park District’s Youth Summer Theatre production.

And, high school cellist Jason Yan, as winner of the Chambana International Music Competition, concerto division will play Hungarian Rhapsody by David Popper with the orchestra.

If you'd prefer to use an elevator, please enter Urbana High School at the Iowa Street entrance, door #1 in the center of the building, with the large glass windows.

Showcasing Youth,
high school cellist Jason Yan

High School student Jason Yan, winner of the Chambana International Music Competition Concerto Division, will perform Hungarian Rhapsody by David Popper with the orchestra.

Jason Yan, a senior at the University of Illinois Laboratory High School, began studying piano at the age of five and later took up the cello at ten. He currently studies with Barbara Hedlund. Jason made his Carnegie Hall debut as a pianist at age 10.

An accomplished pianist and cellist, Jason has earned top prizes in numerous competitions, including the Illinois State Music Teachers Association Competition, the Chambana International Music Competition, the Chicago International Music Competition, and the American Protégé International Piano & Strings Competition. He has participated in Illinois Music Education Association District Orchestras and was selected to the 2025 ILMEA All-State Orchestra. Since 2020, he has been a member of the East Central Illinois Youth Orchestra.

As a founding member of Uni’s Chamber Music Club, Jason performs regularly with his trio, sharing music throughout the community at venues including the University of Illinois Chancellor’s Office, retirement communities, hospitals, churches, bookstores, and local festivals. In April 2026, he appeared in the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra Youth Concert at Foellinger Great Hall in the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, performing a cello–piano duet and introducing classical music to young audiences. Beyond music,

Jason is deeply involved in Ctrl-Z, a local robotics team, where he has served as media and CAD captain. He will attend Carnegie Mellon University in fall 2026 as a mechanical engineering major.

Free Pop-Up Concerts!

Urbana Arts & Culture and Urbana Pops Orchestra bring you 3 Pop-Up Concerts this spring!

Pop-Up Strings

Sunday, February 22 at 11 a.m.

Lazy Daisy Diner Café inside the south entrance to Lincoln Square Mall

A string quartet led by Amanda Ramey will play for you some fun pop music, a contemporary tango and music with a "Bridgerton vibe."

Amanda Ramey, UPO concertmaster
Gwendolen Rudy, UPO section violin
Isaac Henry, UPO assistant principal viola
Jenny Johnson, UPO librarian and section cello

You can take in this fun pop-up concert while enjoying brunch at Lazy Daisy Diner & Cafe or from the entrance inside Lincoln Square Mall.

Pop-Up Brass

Saturday, March 7 at 12:30 p.m.

Lincoln Square Mall

Read Across America- Champaign Urbana Celebration

Peter Tijerina, UPO principal trombone leads a brass quintet playing a selection of pieces with a young audience in mind, but fun for all ages!

Sal Percoco, UPO section trumpet
Amy Myers, trumpet
Lea Humphreys, horn
Peter Tijerina, UPO principal trombone
Nick Wurl, UPO section bass trombone

Pop-Up Players

Saturday, April 25 at 4:15 p.m.

The Urbana Free Library, lower-level auditorium

Enjoy this mini-concert featuring long-time Urbana music educators who are also professional musicians

Karen DeBauche, Urbana Pops principal clarinetist
Deb Sutter, piano
Ellen Elrick, flute

The trio will share a variety of entertaining music for about 45 minutes--the perfect length mini-concert for audience members of all ages. They'll also be joined by a small ensemble of talented student musicians.

Concierto GRATUITO, sábado 14 de junio

El concierto de verano de la Orquesta Urbana Pops, Circus Kaleidoscope, se llevará a cabo en el auditorio de la Preparatoria Urbana a las 7 p. m. el sábado 14 de junio. El concierto es gratuito, dura menos de 90 minutos y presentará clásicos divertidos y conocidos.

Past events

UPO's Rags to Rhapsody concert featured music feature music from the musical Ragtime, a preview of the cast of Oliver!, and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with pianist Kavinder Patel.

Here's a recording. Enjoy!