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.”

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.

There are 39symphony orchestras in the greater Chicagometro area, including the cities of Chicago, Bolingbrook, Des Plaines, Elgin, Evanston, Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Schaumburg, Skokie, and Gary within the states of Illinois and Indiana.

Founded 30 years ago, the Chicago Philharmonic is known for providing symphonic support to international and national touring companies in all music genres and served as the official orchestra of the Joffrey Ballet for eight years.