Italian music featured in ESO concert

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s Classic Series continues with Tour of Italy on Feb. 7-9. This concert weekend will include a performance at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre and two performances in Elgin, with music sure to leave listeners with images of the vibrant culture and beauty of Italy.

Guiding audiences through their musical journey through Italy will be conductor Tania Miller, the current music director of the Victoria Symphony Orchestra. Her appointment as music director deemed her the first Canadian woman to be appointed to such a significant position in Canada. Her vibrancy and dynamic approach to music-making have inspired many new innovations with the Victoria Symphony and a new era of artistic growth for the orchestra. Originally from Foam Lake, Saskatchewan, Tania Miller received her Doctorate and Master’s degrees in conducting from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Joining Miller onstage will be Brandon Ridenour, a former trumpeter with the Canadian Brass. As a virtuoso trumpeter, composer, arranger, and educator, Ridenour is widely recognized as one of the most multitalented artists of his generation. Brandon Ridenour is a graduate of the Juilliard School and an alumnus of The Academy, a two year fellowship program with Carnegie Hall, Juilliard and the Weill Music Institute. Brandon began playing piano at the age of 5 under the tutelage of his father, Rich Ridenour. The two perform regularly now as a father-son duo and have created their own repertoire of arrangements for trumpet and piano.

Pieces for the night include Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri, Vivaldi’s “Agitata da due venti” from La Griselda, Strauss’ Aus Italian, and a World Premiere of Ridenour’s Fantasy Variations on a theme by Paganini.

After Saturday night performances, the audience is invited to “Mingle with the Musicians” at the local restaurant, Elgin Public House. From start to finish — the ESO brings world class, big city entertainment without the hassles of the big city.

The ESO’s Tour of Italy will be performed at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre, 1201 Main St., at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, and at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9 at Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased through the ESO box office, (847)-888-4000, or by visiting www.elginsymphony.org.