Gifted Teen Violinist Prepares for Recital Next Week at St. Catherine of Siena
: Gifted teen violinist, Lauren Conroy, of Barrington, will be collaborating with St. Catherine of Siena organist, Maurice Martin, as they present the final of eleven area Lenten organ recitals. Maurice has been a part of the Lenten recital series for many years. He always includes gifted teen musicians in his programs. Martin choose Lauren to join him because she is gifted youth violinist, pianist, and organist of the highest quality. On Thursday Lauren's solos will include the first two movements of the Violin Concerto in G minor by Bruch. She will also perform on the organ presenting J.S. Bach's Fantasie in C minor. She will also present the beautiful Meditation for Violin, by Chaminade as well the very well known Arioso from Cantata 156, by J.S. Bach
Lauren is currently a freshman at Barrington High School. She started playing the violin at age 5 and is studying with Hye-Sun Lee of the Music Institute of Chicago. She is in her 8th year studying the piano at Bel Canto Studios in Barrington. Her current repertoire includes the Saint-Saens Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor and the Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor. She has performed in several master classes with renowned musicians: Charles Pickler (Principal Violist for the CSO), Robert Hanford (Concertmaster of the Lyric Opera Orchestra), as well as soloists Jennifer Frautschi, and Bella Hristova.
In addition to her solo musical studies, she plays violin in her school orchestra as well as the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. Lauren also enjoys running, dancing, and art. As a freshman, she ran on the Varsity team at Barrington, was the Conference Champion, and an All-State runner at the State Cross Country Meet in the fall of 2012.
Wonderful music, Lenten reflection, and interfaith fellowship are all hallmarks of the Phyllis A. Lange-Connelly Memorial Lenten Recital series. Eleven area churches sponsor these recitals. Everyone is invited to listen, reflect, and enjoy music presented by outstanding musicians. Twenty years ago, Phyllis Connelly, a talented and dedicated Elgin area organist, conceived of a time when Christians of all denominations would join together to reflect and celebrate Lent and Holy Week. Though she passed away last year, her dream lives on in the 19th annual Lenten Recital Series and Palm Sunday Interfaith Festival. The program will be followed by a time of fellowship and a chance to meet Lauren and Maurice. Admission is free but donations are accepted to help defray costs.