EYSO to perform 'Westminster Abbey'

The Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra invites you to visit England's Westminster Abbey - and you don't even need to leave Elgin.

On Sunday, Nov. 8 the EYSO will perform "Westminster Abbey - The Art of Being English" at Elgin Community College's Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive.

Performances will be at 4 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $23 for adults, $18 for seniors and $14 for seniors and can be purchased be calling (847) 622- 0300 or going to www.elgin.edu/arts.

According to EYSO Executive Director Kathy Matthews, the goal of the evening's performance will be to transport the audience halfway around the world by channeling the sounds of the historic English landmark.

"Westminster Abbey, just because it has such rich architecture and rich tradition ... just opened up a lot of possibility for us," Matthews said.

"Our conductor (Randal Swiggum) has been to Westminster Abbey and it's a very inspiring place because there have been so many state functions, coronations and funerals of important British people."

The EYSO repertoire will include classical favorites like the Jupiter and Mars songs from Gustav Holst's orchestral suite The Planets and Handel's Messiah Overture.

The 7 p.m. youth symphony performance will also include a piece titled "blue cathedral" by a contemporary composer, Jennifer Higdon. Higdon wrote the piece in memory of her brother who died of cancer and whose nickname was Blue.

"(Higdon) thought this (orchestral piece) would be a way fitting tribute to (Blue) and his memory," Matthews said.

"This piece gives the listener the feeling of being in a great cathedral. Some of students, when they're not playing their instruments will be playing goblets with water, creating certain tones and there will be another place in the music when the string players will have Chinese Health Bells to play, which gives the music an ethereal feel."

The EYSO comprises 276 students and five different orchestras. The prelude and philharmonic orchestra will perform at the 4 p.m. show. The Youth Symphony will also perform a small piece at the end of the 4 p.m. performance. The 7 p.m. show will feature the brass choir and the main performance of the Youth Symphony.

"We are a comprehensive youth orchestra program and every year we have different theme for our music curriculum. The relationship between architecture and music is what our director chose for this year," Matthews said.

To learn more about the EYSO, visit eyso.org or call (847) 841-7700.

If you go

What: The EYSO performance of "Westminster Abbey -- The Art of Being English" featuring performances that will take the listener on an auditory trip through one of England's most famous landmarks

When: 4 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8

Where: Elgin Community College's Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive

Tickets: $23 adults; $18 for seniors and $14 for students. To purchase, call (847) 622-0300 or go to elgin.edu/arts

Details: Visit eyso.org or call (847) 841-7700

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