Build Your Own Subscriptions offer priority seating, 10% discount to ESO concerts

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra, four-time winner of Illinois Professional Orchestra of the Year, is offering priority seating, flexibility and ticket savings with the "Build Your Own Subscription" series, available now for purchase.

Choose at least three favorite concerts from the upcoming 2017-18 ESO season, and become a valued subscriber with reserved priority seating, free ticket exchanges, 50/50 payment option and access to special events.

The orchestra, with music director and conductor Andrew Grams, just completed one of its most successful Classics Series seasons, which highlighted the music of musical giants like Beethoven, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Bernstein, Copland and more. Named Illinois Conductor of the Year in 2015, Andrew Grams is a master programmer, choosing music that moves audiences to tears or to their feet. Grams has been called on of the "greats" for his passionate conducting and technical ability. The award-winning ESO is known for its quality musicianship and electrifying concerts that exemplify the thrill of live performance. Many concerts feature exciting guest artists from the region, the country and from around the world. Build your own subscription for as low as $81. (Taxes and fees apply.) Traditional subscriptions are available for purchase as well. Download a 2017-18 season calendar and "Build Your Own Subscription" series form at ElginSymphony.org.

Andrew Grams leads seven weeks of subscription programs with the ESO during the 2017-18 season, and will present "Musically Speaking" preconcert chats before each Classic Series performance.

Tchaikovsky's Suite No. 3, Aaron Copland's "Our Town," James M. Stephenson's Tributes Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5, Shostakovich's Symphony No. 12 "The Year 1917" and Bernstein's "Candide Suite" are all receiving their ESO premieres this season. Grams also will conduct the Williams-Steven Spielberg concert, which includes music from such favorite films as "E.T.," "Hook," "Indiana Jones" and more.

Andrew Grams and the ESO will host two "Inside the Music" with Andrew Grams events, lively and fun 90-minute presentations that use visuals and musical excerpts to explore masterworks that will be presented in upcoming concerts. This season, "Inside the Music" will examine Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 and Elgar's "Enigma Variations."

"This season we offer an exciting mix of beloved traditional works by Beethoven, Mozart and Tchaikovsky, as well as pieces by modern American composers Bernstein, Copland and Stephenson," says Music Director Grams. "And back by popular demand, our fun and informal 'Inside the Music' programs are designed to lift the veil on how great orchestral music works its magic on us."

The ESO Classic Series contains works by Beethoven, Bernstein, Brahms, Copland, Dvorak, Elgar, Liszt, Mahler, Mozart, Shostakovich, Stephenson, Tchaikovsky and Vivaldi.

• Grams opens the ESO 2017-18 season on Sept. 16-17 with Tchaikovsky's Suite No. 3, an ESO premiere, and Piano Concerto No. 1, featuring pianist Dinara Klinton making her ESO debut.

• Concerts on Nov. 4-5 feature the ESO premiere of Chicago-area composer James M. Stephenson's Tributes Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, performed by violinist Jennifer Frautschi. Frautschi last appeared with the ESO in 2013 performing Vivaldi's "Four Seasons." The program also holds the ESO premiere of Copland's "Our Town and Beethoven's Symphony No. 7. Grams will host the first of two "Inside the Music" with Andrew Grams on Friday, Nov. 3, providing insight into Beethoven's Seventh.

• Guest violinist Bella Hristova returns to play Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5, an ESO premiere, Jan. 5-7. The program also includes Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody" No. 2 (for orchestra) and Dvorák's Symphony No. 6.

• Grams will conduct a program of choral works on Feb. 10-11 that holds the magnificent "Mozart Requiem" and Vivaldi's "Gloria" and features the Elgin Master Chorale.

• Guest Conductor Edwin Outwater leads the ESO in debut performances of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 12, "The Year 1917" and Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 with William Wolfram, piano, on March 3-4.

• Andrew Grams will conduct a program that features the ESO debut of Sphinx Competition winner Thomas Mesa on cello in a performance of the masterwork, Elgar's Cello Concerto. The program also holds Brahms' "Haydn Variations" and Elgar's "Enigma Variations." Grams will host an Inside the Music event analyzing and explaining the Elgar's "Enigma Variations" at 8 p.m. Friday, March 23.

• The season finale on May 5-6 is an all-orchestral program highlighting the award-winning ESO and conducted by Music Director Andrew Grams. The concerts feature the ESO premiere of Leonard Bernstein's "Candide Suite," part of the worldwide celebration, "Bernstein at 100," and also includes Mahler's Fifth Symphony.

In addition, Grams will conduct the pops concert, "John Williams- A Tribute to Steven Spielberg," on Jan. 27-28. The program includes music from "E.T.," "Hook," "Jaws," "Close Encounters," "Indiana Jones," "Jurassic Park" and more.

ESO Listeners Clubs, hosted by music historian Jim Kendros, are offered before the Classics Series performances at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin and Greenfields in Geneva. Free and open to the public, Kendros discusses the composers and the music that will be presented in upcoming concerts. And all Saturday night concertgoers are invited to "Mingle with the Musicians" after the show, where they can meet Music Director Grams, guest artists and ESO musicians.

Resident Conductor Stephen Squires will conduct two programs during the 2017-18 season:

• On Oct. 6 at the Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts, and Oct. 7-8 at the Hemmens Cultural Center, Squires will lead the ESO and guest artists Rich and Branden Ridenour in "I Love A Piano," featuring classical masterworks to today's popular favorites.

• Squires conducts the Magical Holiday concerts, a seasonal favorite with ESO audiences, on Dec. 9-10. The performances have become a holiday tradition, the highlight of which is a very special visitor from the North Pole.

The ESO also will offer a variety of programming for young people and their families. Ainsworth Concerts for Youth will bring around 9,000 area students to Hemmens Cultural Center with the ESO providing teachers guides prior to the performances to enhance the concert experience. Master classes with visiting guest artists will be presented free and open to the public at the Gail Borden Public Library. Two free Family Concerts will take place during the 2017-18 season, also hosted by the library. And finally ESO Traveling Ensembles will visit area schools giving students the chance to hear classical music up close and personal. For more information, contact Education Manager Wendy Evans at w.evans@ElginSymphony.org or (847) 888-0404, ext. 238.

In addition, the ESO will continue its collaborations in the community during the 2017-18 season with Advocate Sherman Hospital and Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital (Musicians Care), Food for Greater Elgin, Toys For Tots, Rotary International, the Elgin Development Group, and more.

ESO subscription renewal materials, new subscriptions and Build Your Own Series subscriptions for the 2017-18 season are now available. For more information, call the box office at (847) 888-4000, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

Patrons may also visit ElginSymphony.org to learn more about the ESO's many activities in the community, read program notes, find area restaurants, hotels and parking information, make a donation and find out how to sponsor a program or series.

Andrew Grams became music director of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra in June 2013 after an international search. A graduate of the Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute of Music, he holds degrees in violin performance and conducting and has appeared with many of the great orchestras of the world. Grams was a protégé of Franz Welser-Möst and served as assistant conductor for the Cleveland Orchestra for three years. Named 2015 Conductor of the Year by the Illinois Council of Orchestras, his charismatic conducting and easy accessibility have made him a favorite of Elgin Symphony audiences. He has extended his contract with the ESO through 2021. To learn more about Andrew Grams, visit andrewgrams.com and www.instagram.com/andrewhgrams/.

Now in its 67th 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 - and works to create an enjoyable entertainment experience that goes beyond the magnificent music performed by some of the best musicians in the region. There is accessible, free parking around the Hemmens Cultural Center and valet service available. 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. In addition, free Listeners Club lecture/discussions presented by music historian Jim Kendros are offered before ESO Classics Series concert weekends at 1 p.m. Wednesdays at the Gail Borden Public Library. 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 to single ticket buyers for a $5 fee. The ESO is a world-class orchestra providing quality musical explorations that are entertaining, hassle-free and conveniently located in the western suburbs. For more information, see ElginSymphony.org.