Youth orchestra to play final concert of season

On Sunday, May 9, the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, under Music Director Randal Swiggum, will perform the final concert of its 34th season, "Spires, Pillars, Arches - The Composer as Architect."

Like an awe-inspiring cathedral, a four-movement symphony is one of the crowning glories of Western musical architecture. This program tours a variety of fascinating sound constructions, including concerto, rondo, theme and variations, and of course, that towering edifice: the symphony.

Two concerts will take place at 4 and 7 p.m. in the Blizzard Theater at Elgin Community College Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Tickets can be purchased for $23, $18 for seniors, and $12 for students by calling the box office at (847) 622-0300, or online at tickets.elgin.edu.

At 4 p.m., the performance of the Philharmonia, conducted by David Anderson, features Young Artist competition winner Michelle Chin as soloist. The Naperville eighth-grader will be playing the first movement from Mozart's Fourth Violin Concerto.

Also, on the program will be the fourth movement from Borodin's monumental Second Symphony and selections from Bizet's "L'Arlésienne Suite."

At 7 p.m., Karen Darling, the Youth Symphony Young Artist Competition Co-winner, will perform Bruch: Violin Concerto (3rd movement) during the evening concert program.

This is the 18-year-old St. Charles resident's third season playing with the EYSO. She is also a member of the Maud Powell String Quartet, an honors group within the organization.

Annual auditions will be held from May 20-23. Students who will begin fourth grade in the fall to college students may audition for a seat in one of the five ensembles. Applications and audition requirements may be found at eyso.org, or by calling the EYSO office at (847) 841-7700.