The Heartland Festival Orchestra earned the 2015 Community Relations of the Year award from the Illinois Council of Orchestras.

“Committed to giving back to the community, the Heartland Festival Orchestra continues its tradition of partnering with deserving local nonprofit organizations in 2015/16, season seven,” the orchestra said in a released statement.

In connection with each concert, the Heartland Festival Orchestra makes a monetary contribution to the community partner and shares the onstage spotlight before each concert to give each organization the opportunity to explain its programming.

This season, the orchestra has selected these partners to highlight in upcoming concerts:

Peoria Area World Affairs Council, Sept. 5

Peoria County ROE Adult Literacy – Upward, Oct. 24

Crittenton Centers, Jan. 9

Forest Park Nature Center, March 19

Camp Big Sky, April 23

Heartland Community Health Clinic, June 4

For more information about Heartland Festival Orchestra and its 2015-2016 season, go to www.heartlandfestivalorchestra.org. The orchestra performances are held at Five Points Washington, 360 N. Wilmor Road, Washington.