Elgin to host violinist Midori's educational residency program
Midori, one of the world's leading violinists, will share her artistry with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra during the first week of October when the ESO and EYSO take part in Midori's acclaimed Orchestra Residencies Program, a collaborative five-day artistic initiative. Only two such residencies are awarded in the United States each year.
"Receiving one of these coveted residencies is a great honor for the ESO, the EYSO, and the children of our region," said ESO Music Director Robert Hanson, who was also the first conductor of the EYSO upon its creation in 1976. "Midori is not only one of the greatest violinists of our era but is also a wonderful and compassionate educator. Her residency is certain to be one of the high points in our history."
Designed by Midori as a means of supporting American youth orchestras, the Orchestra Residencies Program offers a way of providing meaningful musical experiences for the next generation of classical musicians. The program is aimed at helping establish the youth orchestra as an artistic presence in its community, and to build upon relationships with the local professional symphony orchestra, visiting artists and administrative staff.
"I am delighted to be working with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra in an orchestra residency," Midori said in a statement. "Their ideas for activities during the residency are engaging, creative, and progressive. I look forward to seeing their proposal come to fruition."
Over a period of five days (Oct. 1-5), Midori will participate in a wide range of activities involving the EYSO, including concerts with both the youth orchestra and the ESO. Midori's activities here will include a master class; an appearance on "Chicago Tonight," coaching music students at Larkin High School, a strings festival at St. Charles North High School open to string players in Community Unit School District 303; and an appearance at Judson University in Elgin.
"This residency with Midori is an incredible opportunity for every member of our organization - our 300 students, our artistic and administrative staff, our board of directors, as well as all of the communities represented by our membership," said EYSO Executive Director Kathy Matthews.
Entering her 26th season as one of the world's most in-demand concert violinists, Midori performs more than 90 concerts and recitals each season. In recent years, her attention has turned more and more to music education, especially the community engagement activities she has initiated in the U.S. and Japan. This is in addition to her responsibilities as a member of the music faculty at the University of Southern California.
As the centerpiece of her residency, Midori will open the Elgin Symphony Orchestra's 2008-09 Classic Series on Oct. 3-5 when she joins Hanson and the ESO for Brahms' Violin Concerto in D Major.
Subscriptions for the ESO's 2008-09 season are on sale, with eight-concert Classic Series, four-concert Pops Series and the combined 12-concert "Grand Series" available for a significant savings over single-ticket prices. For example, the Grand Series gives the purchaser 12 concerts for the price of eight and the Classic Series eight concerts for the price of six.
For additional information, or to receive a season brochure, call (847) 888-4000, or visit elginsymphony.org.
Lyric Opera co-founder dies: Italian-American conductor Nicola Rescigno, 92, cofounder of Lyric Opera of Chicago 54 years ago, died Aug. 4 of heart failure in a hospital in Viterbo, Italy, near Rome, after suffering a fall at home.
In 1954, Rescigno joined Carol Fox, a young singer, and Lawrence Kelly, a businessman, in their new operatic venture, called The Lyric Theatre of Chicago. Serving as artistic director and principal conductor, Rescigno was on the podium for the famous "calling-card" performances of Don Giovanni in February 1954.