An Italian holiday

The Schaumburg Youth Symphony wrapped up its performance tour through Italy in June, but images from the trip remain vivid, thanks to a new photo exhibit opening Sunday at the Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg.

"Impressioni dell'Italia" is a collection of up to 30 photos taken by the touring orchestra members themselves, as well as their family members, friends and village staff. The reception takes place from 7-9 p.m. Sunday, when gelato will be served, of course.

The photos capture the youth symphony's performances in Rome, Tuscany and Venice, as well as the many sights they saw, and some of the interesting people they met.

Their tour came on the heels of an Eastern European trip taken two years ago, as well as prior performances in Japan and Germany. This time, 50 high school and college-aged musicians made the trip.

Their exhibit is mounted in the Prairie Center for the Arts gallery space, located at 201 Schaumburg Court on the Robert O. Atcher municipal grounds, and will remain up through Sept. 23.

"We've entered the digital age, when people are taking more and more pictures," said Rob Pileckis, orchestra manager. "This seemed like a good way to share our trip with the village."

A panel of judges, including art teachers and professional photographers, selected the photos from the more than 250 that were submitted. Each of the musicians was limited to submitting a maximum of 10 shots.

"I submitted photos from the Tuscan region, and lots of ones of food -- especially gelato, which is arguably the best thing about Italy," said Mark Hamada, a Conant High School graduate who plays violin and served as concertmaster of the orchestra.

By contrast, Melissa Muench, 17, of Buffalo Grove, who plays viola, submitted photos of some of the historic sights she saw in Rome, including some from inside St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

Her photo of one of its famous statues, bathed in sunlight, captured the judges' eyes immediately, Pileckis said.

"It was a spur of the moment thing," Muench said. "Mass was going on, and I snuck around and saw that the statue was roped off because they were working on it. When I saw the light projecting over it, I snapped the shot. I was sure it wouldn't turn out, but it turned out perfectly."

Both young musicians remember the warm responses they received from Italian audiences, especially when they played the "Italian Fiesta," a medley of classic Italian arias and traditional songs of Italy.

"All of our concerts were outside, or inside churches with the doors open," Hamada said. "By the end of the concerts we had drawn so many people, who were so appreciative of our playing."

The symphony performed under the direction of Joseph Malmquist, the founding director of the ensemble back in 1989, who also serves as orchestra director at Conant High School.

Both he and the four levels of the Schaumburg Youth Orchestra -- including up to nearly 200 students -- strike up rehearsals next month for their new season.