Lake Forest Civic Orchestra announces four guest conductors

The Lake Forest Civic Orchestra has announced the selection of four guest conductors for the upcoming 2014-15 season.

Each guest conductor will lead the orchestra in one of its regularly scheduled classical performances, and one conductor will be selected at the end of the season to be the orchestra's new music director.

Performances are:

• Sept. 28: Conducted by Christopher Ramaekers, director of orchestras and assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater).

• Nov. 16: Conducted by Lawrence Eckerling, music director of the Evanston Symphony Orchestra.

• March 15, 2015: Conducted by Robert Nordling, principal conductor of the Baroque on Beaver Island music festival and orchestra director at Trinity International University.

• May 3, 2015: Conducted by Frank Lestina, former director of the Libertyville and Vernon Hills high school orchestras for 27 years. Last year, he was interim director of the Chamber Orchestra at Carthage College.

The LFCO is kicking off its 26th season. During last year's season, the orchestra changed its name from the North Suburban Symphony to the Lake Forest Civic Orchestra in reflection of its longtime residence in the Lake Forest's Gorton Community Center, its dedication to the local communities, and its desire to start the next 25 years with a fresh approach.

"Big changes are in the air," said Howie Martino, president of the LFCO board. "The prospects of new artistic direction by a pool of talented and enthusiastic conductors, along with renewed efforts by the LFCO to build upon and expand our connection with the local community, will bring colorful new options to concertgoers on the North Shore."

The LFCO will be providing music director evaluation surveys after every concert to musicians and to audience members.

"In this way, both musicians and audience members have a say in the future of the LFCO. We are an orchestra by the community and for the community, and that is what sets us apart," Martino said.

The Lake Forest Civic Orchestra is proud of its history of bringing professional and accomplished amateur musicians together to perform classical works, as well as drawing talented students into its ranks from the surrounding communities.

Visit www.lakeforestcivicorchestra.org to purchase tickets for the upcoming season or to explore joining the orchestra as a musician. The orchestra has openings in several sections.

All concerts in 2014 and 2015 are held in the Gorton Community Center auditorium at 4 p.m. Sundays, except for the November concert, which will be held nearby as Gorton undergoes renovation.