Elgin Youth orchestra to play final concert of season
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" on Sunday, May 9.
In addition, the annual EYSO Music Educator of the Year award will be presented to Mark Bettcher, director of the award-winning Dundee-Crown High School jazz bands and orchestras in Carpentersville. Bettcher is well-known throughout the area for bringing music to life for his students. In addition to directing the school's jazz band and orchestra, he has performed with some of the biggest names in the jazz and pop music world. Tony Bennett, Joe Williams, Ramsey Lewis, Louis Bellson and The Temptations are among those whom Bettcher has worked with throughout the years.
Bettcher has also recorded five CDs with the Frank Mantooth Orchestra, which received several Grammy nominations. And, he has recorded and released two solo pieces: "Through the Eyes of a Child" and "Take a Look Inside." Of special note is his live recording with Phil Collins in Paris. Bettcher has toured with Collins in both the United States and Europe.
Bettcher will receive the EYSO Music Educator of the Year award at the May 9 concerts. The EYSO established the Music Educator of the Year Award in 1980 to honor music teachers who have made a meaningful contribution to music education in the Elgin area, or has supported the EYSO in a significant way.
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.