Symphonic style

The North Suburban Symphony will share the stage with their new director, Ron Arden, for the first time on Sunday, kicking off the 2007-2008 concert season.

Conducted by Arden, the fall concert "Roundup!" will feature Aaron Copland's "Rodeo" and "Quiet City," as well as Bach's "Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F Major."

The North Suburban Symphony features about 50 volunteer musicians that range in age from high school students to a few in their 70s and consists of lawyers, doctors, businessmen and women, music teachers, homemakers and more.

"We represent all different walks of life," said cellist Nancy Thorner, who enjoys playing in the symphony that features players from Libertyville, Zion, Waukegan, Mundelein, Grayslake and many other communities. "To me it's very special. We're very proud of the music we present."

Arden conducts the symphony and his wife, Cynthia, is the concert master. He and his wife have performed throughout the country for more than 20 years and have three recordings from their duo performance, "A Cross Between." Arden believes that their musicianship is something that really attracted them to each other.

In 2003, Arden founded and became the music director of FullScore, an ensemble comprised of professional singers and instrumentalists on Chicago's North Shore. He has spent five years as minister of music, worship and drama at a large denominational church. Enjoying a wide variety of music genres, Arden became the director of the Arlingtones Barbershop Chorus in Arlington Heights in 2006.

Arden has much orchestral viola experience and vocal and acting experience as a freelance artist. Currently, he runs a studio from his home in Zion and is a faculty member at Lake Forest College.

"I think it's a good fit between what they want and my resume," said Arden about his new position as director of the symphony. "It was something that intrigued me."

"We are raising the bar," he added. He said that he is stressing the importance of the entire orchestra being present at each rehearsal. Arden said prior to his arrival they were holding too many rehearsals and some people would skip certain ones. Now, he holds rehearsals once a week and everyone is expected to be present.

"The people are ready to work," said Arden. He said the orchestra aims to attract "bigger audiences and have a better sound."

"Ron's doing a great job," Thorner said. "We like him a lot."

So, who can join the symphony?

"Pretty much anyone can be in it," replied Arden. He said there are no auditions. However, he may hand-pick someone to be the "principal" player, or the leader of a section.

The North Suburban Symphony was organized in 1987 by 29 musicians who were all former members of the Lake Forest Symphony, which became an all-professional orchestra that did not provide the opportunity for local residents to perform as volunteer musicians. In 2001, the symphony began its association with the Lake Bluff Park District.

The Nov. 11 concert will take place at 4 p.m. at the Gorton Center in Lake Forest, which is where the group also rehearses.

Starting this season, a new holiday concert will be presented instead of the "Messiah," which was an annual tradition for several seasons.

The Holiday Voices concerts will be held on Dec. 15 at 4 p.m. at St. Lawrence Church in Libertyville and Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. at the Gorton Center. The spring concert will be held March 2 and the season will wrap up with a family concert on May 4.

The symphony depends on player contributions through membership dues and voluntary tax deductible gifts.

Arden said that many of the members do everything they can to support the symphony and put their hearts and souls into it and he is ready to help them continue to grow musically.

For more information about the North Suburban Symphony, call (847) 234-4150 or visit www.northsubsymphony.org.

If you go

What: The North Suburban Symphony's "Roundup!"

Where: Gorton Community Center, 400 Illinois Road, Lake Forest

When: 4 p.m. Sunday

Admission: $15 for adults, $10 for students and teens; children under 12 are free with an adult

For tickets: (847) 234-4150