Elgin’s American Grands gives cousins a chance to shine
These days, there aren’t many quiet moments in the Del Rosario households.
Both Baltazar Del Rosario and his brother, Louie, have three children, who all love playing the piano. This year, the six kids — who range in age from 10 to 15 years old — will perform together onstage for the first time in the American Grands performance at Elgin Community College.
“Once you hear them playing together, it’s beautiful,” says Baltazar Del Rosario.
And they get a lot of opportunities to do that, as the families only live a few houses away from each other in South Elgin. They also have the same piano teacher, Constance Hughes, an Elgin Community College teacher.
The cousins will be among the 462 pianists, of all ages and skill levels, to perform at American Grands XIX on Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Elgin Community College Arts Center’s Blizzard Theatre. Performances will be held at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
The show will feature pieces ranging from classical works by Handel and Beethoven to more contemporary works, including a piece called “Lady Gaga Fugue,” arranged by Giovanni Dettori, that’s based on Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.” Per show tradition, each performance will open with the “Star Spangled Banner” and close with “Star and Stripes Forever.”
“It’s inspiring to see pianists of all ages come together to perform as a group and celebrate their love of this instrument,” says show music director Larry Dieffenbach.
Twelve grand pianos, provided by event sponsor Cordogan’s Pianoland in Geneva, will grace the stage for the production. Most pieces feature 24 performers, two per piano, onstage performing simultaneously. One piece will feature 36 players onstage at once, three per piano. “It’s a truly amazing thing to witness,” Dieffenbach says.
Playing together helps the kids perform better, says Baltazar Del Rosario. “They motivate themselves more because they don’t want to let their partner down,” he says.
His children — Izabella, 11, Jaden, 12, and Caleb, 13 — have been spending lots of time lately at their cousins’ house, practicing with Louie’s children, Gabriel, 10, Ashriel, 12, and Danyelle, 15.
The youngest of the group, Gabriel, called his first live performance “scary,” but says he now loves the excitement of it, as well as being near his cousins. “It’s really cool because we live so close to each other and we like hanging out together,” he says. “It’s really fun.”
Gabriel’s father, Louie, sees another benefit. “It’s something I’m sure will make them better people, being able to perform in front of a big crowd,” he says.
American Grands XIX piano concert
When: 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25
Where: Elgin Community College Arts Centers Blizzard Theatre, Building H, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin
Tickets: Tickets are $24 for adults and $15 for children age 12 and under. To buy tickets, call (847) 622-0300, go to <a href="http://tickets.elgin.edu">tickets.elgin.edu</a> or visit the ECC box office located in the arts center.