Teachers perform for students at Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra recital

Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra students and their families got to see something out of the ordinary Sunday afternoon.

Instead of the young musicians taking the stage at Elgin Community College's Spartan Auditorium, it was 10 of their instructors who performed for them during the fourth annual EYSO faculty recital.

"It's something the kids never see," EYSO Executive Director Kathy Matthews said. "And it's to showcase the talent of our conductors."

The hourlong show started with an unusual performance by Gregory Beyer, percussion ensemble director, who came out of the darkened entryway and played the one-stringed berimbau, a Brazilian instrument played with a bow.

He was followed by more traditional performances, including EYSO Social Media Director Rachel Elizabeth Maley on piano, Hanson String Quartet Principal Coach Timothy Archbold on cello accompanied by his wife Karen singing soprano, and trumpeter Jason Flaks, along with several guest artists.

The EYSO was founded in 1976 to provide exceptional young musicians from the Fox Valley opportunities for orchestral experience.