After a decade spent coordinating performances, managing partnerships and quietly shaping campus events at Trinity Christian College, Brooke Simkins has stepped into a new role that feels like a continuation rather than a departure. In January 2026, she joined the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra as its director of development, bringing with her years of experience and a long-standing connection to the orchestra.
Simkins arrived from Trinity Christian College, where she spent 10 years and most recently served as director of event services. At Trinity, she was responsible for everything from coordinating major performances and lectures to managing logistics and working with a wide range of campus partners and outside organizations. The work put her in regular contact with artists, audiences and administrators, and helped shape her approach to relationship-based leadership.
One of those long-running partnerships was with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra. During her time at Trinity, Simkins worked closely with the ensemble and was involved in efforts that led to the IPO becoming an orchestra in residence at the college. That experience gave her an inside view of how the orchestra operates and how deeply it is connected to the surrounding community.
“It has been such a pleasure to join the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra after having the privilege of working with them as a client in my former role at Trinity,” Simkins said. “Even then, I was continually impressed by the incredible quality of the orchestra’s performances and the care that goes into every concert. From the musicians on stage to the team behind the scenes, there is a real sense of pride in the work they do and in the experience they create for their audience. What has been especially meaningful to me is joining an organization that so deeply values its supporters and understands that this work is only possible because of a community of donors who believe in the power of orchestral music.
I’m genuinely excited to meet more of the people who make IPO possible, those who love this music, champion the arts, and help ensure that live orchestral performances continue to thrive in our region.
A Trinity alumna, Simkins earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, in Communication Arts, with a background in theater as well as communications. Her professional path reflects that mix. Before and during her years at Trinity, she held roles in marketing, administration and customer service, and interned in casting and marketing at Northlight Theatre in Skokie. Each position added another layer to a career focused on live performance and the people who make it possible.
Simkins’ connection to the arts began long before her professional career. She played the alto saxophone in grade school, sang soprano in choir through high school and college, and spent several years involved in improv comedy acting. Those experiences shaped her appreciation for live performance and the unique energy it creates between performers and audiences.
She lives in Orland Park with her husband, their two daughters and their dog, and has spent her entire life in Chicago’s southwest suburbs. Stepping into this position feels less like a fresh start and more like a natural progression, allowing Simkins to continue supporting an organization she knows well while staying rooted in the community that has shaped her career.
In her new role with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Simkins is focused on strengthening the relationships that support the orchestra, from longtime patrons to new community partners. The work closely mirrors the collaborative approach she developed during her years at Trinity, where building trust and connections was a constant part of the job.
“I am most looking forward to developing relationships with the music-loving community in the Chicago Southland,” she said. “I truly enjoy people, and garnering relationships with people over a love of music is a new challenge I embrace each day of my new role.”