The Community Concert Band Presents: The Music of John Williams
American composer, conductor, and pianist John Williams is one of the best-known and most influential composers in the history of the United States. In a career spanning over six decades, he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores of our day including the Star Wars saga, the Indiana Jones films, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Superman, and the first three Harry Potter movies. A winner of five Academy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, seven BAFTA Awards, 21 Grammy Awards, and most recently a Lifetime Achievement Award and Best Composer Honour at the Classic BRIT Awards in London, Williams is also a 2004 recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors and was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl of Fame in 2000.
In celebration of this remarkable career, the Des Plaines Park District Community Concert Band, under the direction of Lawrence J. Carle, will present, “From a Galaxy, Far, Far Away,” the music of John Williams, featuring clips of the movies on the big screen during the performance. The concert will be played at the Prairie Lakes Theatre, 515 E. Thacker Street, on Sunday, October 28, at 3:00pm.
“Williams’ music moves musicians,” said Carle, a long time fan. “His music is challenging to play, but exciting, dramatic, and inspiring.” Carle met Williams after a concert at Ravinia. “His music lives in my heart,” said Carle, ”so when we began to discuss the October program, I was thrilled when we chose to play John Williams’ music.”
Selections from the program will include: Call of the Champions, The Official Theme of the 2002 Olympics; Can You Read My Mind?, Love Theme from Superman; Finale from E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial; Somewhere in My Memory and Star of Bethlehem, from Home Alone; Midway March, from Midway; Highlights from: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, A. I. Artificial Intelligence, and The Patriot; Selections from the Indiana Jones movies; and the Symphonic Suite from Star Wars, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.
Doug Fox, the first-chair trumpet player for the band and a multi-media producer, and LeeAnn Sydlund, a multi-media technician, have teamed up to edit together a selection of scenes from the movies as the music is played. “We hope everyone will come out and see this amazing performance,” said Shelli Sarg, Facility Manager for Prairie Lakes Community Center. “Since the concert is so close to Halloween, we are inviting everyone to come in dressed in costume, especially dressed as some of the iconic characters from the musical selections. All those who do will receive a free family photo, courtesy of the Des Plaines Camera Club,” said Sarg. “We will have Halloween goodie bags for the kids, too,” she said.
The concert will be about an hour long, played without an intermission. Tickets are available at the door: Adults $5; Seniors and Students $3; Family $12 (2 Adults, 1 or 2 children). The concert is free for children under age 6. For more information, visit www.DPParks.org or call 847-391-5711.