Schaumburg family to perform at Door County Festival

Getting members of the Preucil family of Schaumburg together for an interview means rearranging lots of busy schedules. And they all revolve around music.

On the evening we met, they juggled recording sessions, private lessons and practicing for a flurry of upcoming gigs.

“We're constantly busy,” says middle son, Anthony, who graduated last weekend from Conant High School. He has been concertmaster for the Schaumburg Youth Orchestra as well as the District 211 Honors Orchestra, and he also served as principal viola for the Illinois All State Honors Orchestra.

The five family members — two parents, three kids — all play string instruments and they often perform during services at Barrington United Methodist Church. But they will make their first appearance as a quintet next weekend at the 25th annual gala for the Midsummer's Music Festival in Door County, Wisconsin.

They have performed with the four-week festival since its inception, with the three Preucil children literally growing up around its multi-concert format — 22 concerts in 30 days.

In recognition of their contributions, festival organizers asked the family to play a special opening piece. Finding one proved challenging.

“Finding the right piece, for two violins, one viola and two cellos, was really hard,” says Stephanie Preucil, an accomplished violinist in her own right, who formerly taught violin in Crystal Lake and Woodstock, and now teaches privately in their home. “There's not a lot out there.”

In the end, she selected one of the movements from the Max Bruch String Quintet in E-flat Major. Written for two violins, two violas and one cello, she transposed one of the viola parts for cello, to fit their instrumentation.

“It's very slow and melodic, so it's a good way to start off and reflect on the beauty of Door County,” Stephanie Preucil says.

Her husband, Walter Preucil, is in his 28th year as a cellist with the Lyric Opera in Chicago, and he vividly remembers performing with his own family growing up.

His father, William Preucil, was a principal violinist with the Detroit Symphony, and his mother, Doris, was an early pioneer in the Suzuki method of teaching stringed instruments, starting her own school in Iowa City, Iowa.

Walter and all three of his siblings went on to marry professional musicians. His children say that they grew up immersed in music, but that their parents always encouraged pursuing all of their interests, not just music.

In Anthony's case, he will pursue meteorology and violin performance when he attends Penn State in the fall.

His older brother, Zachary, plays cello and teaches the instrument to youngsters in Arlington Heights Elementary District 25's Music for Youth program. Thirteen-year-old James was the youngest violinist to be accepted into the Schaumburg Youth Symphony Orchestra, its highest performance ensemble.

Joseph Malmquist, who just retired as orchestra director at Conant and continues to direct Schaumburg's youth orchestra, has taught all three Preucils.

“As young artists they certainly have genetics on their side,” Malmquist says, “but they also benefit from supportive household that encourages learning, curiosity and humanity.”

Just last year, Stephanie Preucil started the chamber music program in Schaumburg, as an outgrowth of its youth orchestra. Clusters of young musicians meet every other week to rehearse with a coach, before performing at the end of the session.

“The chamber program had over 100 students registered and owes a great deal of its success to Stephanie,” says Rob Pileckis, youth orchestra coordinator. “She brings with her excellent training, remarkable energy and a desire to see these young musicians excel.”

Playing in a chamber ensemble is a favorite activity for each of the Preucils, who likens the experience to playing with his family.

“You all have the same artistic feeling about the music,” Anthony says. “There's just a special connection.”