Glenbard East grads chosen for Civic Orchestra
Inside DuPage
Two Glenbard East High School graduates have been named members of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago for the 2007-08 season.
Julie Barnes Spring, a harpist and 2000 graduate, and Samantha May, a violinist and 2002 graduate, both had to take part in a highly competitive audition process in order to join.
The Civic Orchestra is the official training ground for the renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
They are coached during sectional rehearsals by members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and also have the opportunity to take master classes with well-known musicians, such as cellist Yo Yo Ma and pianist Mitsuko Uchida.
The season begins in September and all major performances are held at Symphony Center in Chicago.
For details, visit the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Web site at www.cso.org.
Generosity rewarded:
Kristen Panzarella, a fifth-grader at Hammerschmidt School in Lombard, recently learned that what goes around, indeed, comes around.
Kristen took part in the American Heart Association's Jump Rope for Heart campaign.
All students who raised at least $150 in pledges were entered into a drawing for a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Kristen, who raised $380, won the trip. The prize package includes a three-night stay at a Disney hotel, round-trip air fare and park passes.
The family plans to use the prize to travel to Orlando this spring for a national cheerleading contest.
Historical vision: The Elmhurst Historical Museum has been honored by two organizations for a book it published.
"Visionary: An Elmhurst Retrospective," written by Dr. Virginia Stewart and published in 2006, examines critical periods of Elmhurst's past and how the community faced challenges.
The book includes more than 150 photos from the museum's collection, many of which never have been published.
The Illinois State Historical Society awarded the museum a Certificate of Excellence in April. The American Association of Museums gave the book a first-place award at the 27th annual AAM Museum Publications Design Competition in May. The contest acknowledges excellence in graphic design.
The book costs $25 and may be purchased at the Elmhurst Historical Museum, 120 E. Park Ave., and the Uptown Shop, 111 E. First St. For details, call the museum at (630) 833-1457.
Ride for Life: Wildfire Harley-Davidson in Villa Park has made a $25,000 donation to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, thanks to proceeds from a recent event.
The Ride for Life, DuPage County's only motorcycle ride that directly benefits MDA, was held in July. The 100-mile ride winds throughout the Western suburbs.
Since 1980, Harley-Davidson & Buell has raised more than $50 million for MDA nationally. Donations are used to fund research, assist families with medical services and more.
For details about the Ride for Life, call (800) 400-7433. For details about MDA, visit www.mda.org.