Adult chorus, youth orchestra unite for concert

Elgin's plethora of performing groups is one of the reasons artists and art lovers feel at home in the city.

Now and then, two or more of the groups take advantage of the proximity and join forces to create an entertainment bonanza.

This weekend such a combination is taking place when the Elgin Choral Union will perform with the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra to present "Sacred Spaces: Spiritual Music for Orchestra" at the Blizzard Theater at Elgin Community College Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, March 21.

Because the Elgin Youth Orchestra consists of five ensembles, two concerts are scheduled.

Orchestra ensembles include: the Youth Orchestra under conductor Randy Swiggum with advanced high school and college performers, the Philharmonia consisting of intermediate middle school and high school performers under conductor Davis Anderson; the Brass Choir under the direction of Jason Flaks; the Prelude Orchestra under Randal Swiggum, a string orchestra for grades four through nine; and Primo conducted by Beth Mazur Wood for grades three through eight who are new to the orchestral experience.

The EYSO/ECU collaboration will take place at the 7 p.m. concert; another concert takes place at 4 p.m. on the same day.

The afternoon concert boasts its own special performances. The Prelude Orchestra will perform with conductor Daniel Beder and the Philharmonia Orchestra with conductor David Anderson and will present several pieces including Bach's Elgar Fantasia in Fugue in C Minor and selection from Stravinsky's "Firebird" suite.

At the 7 p.m. show, the 110-plus choir members who hail from 33 communities will take the stage with the EYSO under the direction of Randal Swiggum.

Jennifer Bolino, executive director for the ECU, describes the upcoming union as a part of their mission statement. "(The concert will) provide music opportunities to the largest audience possible," she quoted. "We're always seeking out ways in which we can work with our peers."

The two organizations last collaborated about five years ago, according to Bolino.

"We approached them first to hire them as our orchestra for our December concert," Bolino said.

The ECU agreed at the time that another joint concert would be a good experience, and expressed hope that the EYSO might hire them to augment their concert.

"It gave our choir the opportunity to work with another music director." The ECU's permanent director is Andrew Lewis.

"We wanted to collaborate so we could do some of the enormous 'cathedrals' of sacred music, like the incredible Brahms 'Requiem,' for which you need a good chorus," Swiggum added.

"Also, we've had a long-standing relationship with the ECU, but always performing on their concerts. We wanted to do something substantial with them on one of our own concerts."

Swiggum has been with the EYSO for 12 years and has enjoyed a varied professional life outside of that commitment. He has gained a reputation for his commitment to education through performance and is often a guest conductor with student orchestras.

He was also conducted performance tours in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Scotland, and throughout the U.S. and in 1998, the University of Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra in Prague, Brno, Bratislava, Budapest, and Vienna among many other professional accomplishments.

The ECU will perform three numbers with the orchestra. "In keeping with the theme of the concert which is, 'Sacred Space: Spiritual Music,' we're doing two Requiem Masses; one is Verde and one Is Brahms," Bolino said. "In addition, we're going to do a piece by Rachmaninoff called 'All Night Vigil.' It's based on a Russian Orthodox vespers mass, which is a cappella." "We're very excited about working with the EYSO," Bolino said.

For his part, Swiggum said he enjoys working with young people who enjoy classical music.

"Seeing teenagers really excited about a piece as sophisticated and powerful as the Brahms 'Requiem' - they really understand it at a deep level and play it like pros.

"It's breathtaking really, the way they play it."

Visit eyso.org for details.

If you go

What: "Sacred Spaces: Spiritual Music for Orchestra," an Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra concert with the Elgin Choral Union

When: Sunday, March 21 at 4 p.m. (EYSO only) and 7 p.m. (EYSO and ECU)

Where: The Blizzard Theater at the Elgin Community College Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive

Tickets: $23 adults, $18 seniors, $12 students

To order: Call (847) 622-0300 or visit tickets.elgin.edu or eyso.org