Elgin youth symphony to present final concert of season
On Sunday, May 3, the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra will perform its final concert of its 33rd season, "Discover: Bernstein." Two performances are scheduled: 4 and 7 p.m. at the Blizzard Theatre in the Elgin Community College Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.
"Bernstein was the conductor who really championed the symphonies of Gustav Mahler at a time when most people didn't know them. Prelude will bring to life the rollicking scherzo from Mahler's Symphony No. 1," stated Randal Swiggum, conductor of the Prelude Orchestra and the Youth Symphony.
The Philharmonia, Youth Symphony, and Prelude will each perform music from "West Side Story," including the famous Quintet (Tonight) that closes Act 1, arranged for orchestra, and a new arrangement of "America," complete with Latin percussion, created especially for the Prelude Orchestra.
"In addition to his 'West Side Story' Overture, we will be performing Rimsky-Korsakov's 'Capriccio Espagnol'," said David Anderson, EYSO Philharmonia Conductor. "Bernstein's dazzling 1959 recording of this piece with the New York Philharmonic shows why it remains as one of the standard pieces in the orchestral repertoire."
And, it's not just the popular West Side Story Overture that will be featured at both performances. Bernstein's music was influential throughout society during his time and it continues to please music lovers worldwide.
"One can only imagine the wild reverberations that echoed throughout the Metropolitan Museum of Art as Bernstein's Shivaree was played to commemorate its Centenary. The Shivaree can be thought of as a type of mock serenade and Bernstein achieves this by playing two different tunes at the same time creating a situation where there is a battle for the attention of the listener," Jason Flaks, Brass Choir Conductor.
The 2009 Young Artists Concerto Winner Sarah Campbell of Naperville will perform Charles T. Griffes' mysterious and colorful Poem for Flute and Orchestra. A colorful example of American impressionism, it is evocative of Debussy, Ravel, and Scriabin. Sarah is a junior at Neuqua Valley High School.
In addition to the concert repertoire, attendants at the 7 p.m. concert will have the honor of observing Susan Thorne receive the annual EYSO Music Educator of the Year award. The award recognizes Thorne's contributions to music education and support of the EYSO in her 33 years as orchestra director at Kimball Middle School in Elgin. Thorne retired from Kimball last year but she continues her work as a music educator. This year, she provided coaching for the EYSO Chamber Music Institute; and offers private lessons at St. Charles North High School. Thorne also plays violin with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. The organization looks forward to honoring her work and bringing recognition to the hard work of all music educators during the 7 p.m. concert May 3.
Tickets can be purchased at (847) 622-0300, or online at www.elgin.edu/arts: $21, $16 for seniors, and $12 for students. Tickets may be purchased in advance or on the day of the event.