Stu Ainsworth to guest conduct Fraser's 'This Christmastide' at ESO Holiday Concert Dec. 11
Longtime arts supporter Stu Ainsworth of St. Charles will guest conduct the holiday song "This Christmastide" at the Elgin Symphony Orchestra's holiday concert at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11.
The work is also called "Jessye's Carol" since it was written for dramatic soprano Jessye Norman at a Christmas Eve gathering she attended with the composer Donald Fraser.
British-born Fraser, a composer, conductor and recording producer who now resides in the Chicago area, will attend the concert Dec. 11 to hear his work.
"'This Christmastide' was a favorite of my late wife. She passed away soon after hearing it performed, and felt it was a true reflection of what Christmas was all about," says Ainsworth. "I have had the privilege of conducting this work with the Elgin Master Chorale and the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. However, this will be the first time I am honored to conduct members of both organizations from the podium.
"I will be doubly-honored by having the composer, whom I have known over 15 years, in the audience," Ainsworth said.
The ESO's Magical Holiday Concerts, led by ESO Resident Conductor Stephen Squires, will be 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way in Elgin.
In addition to the award-winning ESO, the concerts feature Miss Illinois 2014 soprano Marisa Buchheit, the Elgin Master Chorale, Anima-Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus and the Midwest Dance Collective performing familiar holiday favorites.
The program also includes a sing-along and an appearance from a very special visitor from the North Pole.
Enjoy convenient free parking or use the valet service. For tickets, which are $30-$50, visit ElginSymphony.org or call (847) 888-4000.
Ainsworth has been involved with many area community organizations, including serving as a board member for the ESO.
"Stu Ainsworth is an amazing supporter of the entire arts community in the Fox Valley area," notes ESO Chief Development Officer Cheryl Wendt. "He is a tireless advocate for the ESO who especially understands how exposure to art and music education can change the life of a child. In recognition of this, we recently named our youth concerts, which serve over 8,000 students a year, Ainsworth Concerts for Youth."
Ainsworth also served as a board member and board president of the Elgin Choral Union from 1992-2000. He was a board member and event chairman for the St. Charles Art & Music Festival and has co-chaired seven of the past eight American Grand presentations. He has participated in performances of the Berkshire Choral Festival in Santa Fe, New Mexico; Canterbury, England; Salzburg, Austria; and Sheffield, Massachusetts. Ainsworth is also highly involved with Kiwanis International as a past president and is a current member of the St. Charles Noon Club, as well as a past lieutenant governor of Division 10. A native of northwest Iowa, Ainsworth graduated from Iowa State College with a degree in agriculture. His entire professional career was devoted to commercial agriculture, with emphasis on control of insects and weeds. Prior to his retirement from Abbott Laboratories in 1990, as manager of Global Agricultural Projects, Ainsworth held positions in field sales, marketing, product management, and sales management for large chemical businesses, including Dow Chemical, CIBA-Geigy, and International Minerals & Chemicals.
Ainsworth is a founding member of the Fox Valley Rovers Travel Group (with 32 members) and enjoys traveling, gardening, and hiking. Ainsworth's wife Tammy passed away in 1993. They have four sons and four grandchildren.
Now in its 66th season, the ESO offers programming unmatched for an entertaining, informative and relaxing cultural experience. The ESO has won Illinois Professional Orchestra of the Year an unprecedented four times - in 1988, 1999, 2005 and 2016. The ESO works to create an enjoyable entertainment experience that goes beyond the magnificent music performed by some of the best musicians in the region.
Area student musicians often perform in the lobby before concerts and patrons can purchase gifts at the Elgin Symphony League Boutique. Preconcert chats are given by Andrew Grams, guest artists and others one hour before most performances and Saturday night patrons are invited after concerts to Mingle with the Musicians at the Elgin Public House. In addition, free Listeners Club lecture/discussions presented by music historian Jim Kendros are offered before ESO concert weekends at 1 p.m. Wednesdays at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin.
Flex passes are available for purchase so that you can choose your concerts at a later date based on your own schedule. And if a patron can't make a concert, the ESO offers free exchanges to subscribers and single ticket buyers for a $5 fee. There is accessible, free parking around the Hemmens Cultural Center and valet service available.
The ESO is a world-class orchestra providing quality musical explorations that are entertaining, hassle-free and conveniently located close to home in the western suburbs. Visit ElginSymphony.org.