Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra to host open house

The Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra will hold its annual open house event for prospective student musicians on Sunday, April 12, at the Elgin Community College Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive.

The open house event is held in conjunction with EYSO Sunday rehearsal, from 3:30 to 8 p.m. allowing visitors the opportunity to become acquainted with the education and performance experience.

Attendees can explore the many opportunities available to students through participation in an EYSO orchestra, including meeting the staff and conductors, as well as students and parents, to learn about the EYSO; visiting a rehearsal in progress; and learning about 2015-16 audition requirements. You also will receive a voucher for two free tickets to an upcoming concert on May 3.

The award-winning EYSO is the oldest and largest youth orchestra in Northwest Illinois, and one of the premier youth orchestras in the region. The EYSO has 350 students representing more than 50 communities in Kane, DuPage, Lake, McHenry, Kendall, Will, DeKalb and Cook counties. It offers five orchestras, a brass choir and a percussion ensemble, as well as a thriving Chamber Music Institute.

Auditions for the 40th anniversary season will be held May 28-31 at the Elgin Community College Arts Center. Students in fourth grade as of fall 2015 and up are invited to audition.

For information, visit EYSO.org, call (847) 841-7700 or email office@eyso.org.

On Saturday, April 11, the EYSO Brass Choir presents "Polarity," a concert with special guests, Fulcrum Point New Music Project, at 7:30 p.m. in the Geneva High School auditorium, 416 McKinley Ave. It explores the representation of light and dark in music through a diverse array of innovative and experimental repertoire. Tickets, which are $24, $19 for seniors, and $13 for students, can be purchased by calling the box office at (847) 622-0300 from noon to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, or order online at tickets.elgin.edu.