Is a philharmonic the same thing? Essentially, a philharmonic and a symphony are the same, the only true difference is the origin of the name. The words originate from the Greek words. Philharmonic means “love of harmony,” while the word symphony means “an agreement of sound.”

At any given Symphony Center concert, you will observe some concertgoers dressed up and others dressed more casually. Many patrons wear business attire or casual business attire. We encourage you to wear whatever makes you feel most comfortable.

Recordings by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus have earned sixty-five Grammy Awards from the Recording Academy. These include several Classical Album of the Year awards, awards in Best Classical Performance in vocal soloist, choral, instrumental, engineering and orchestral categories.