EYSO to play last of its 'night' concerts
On Sunday, May 3, the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, with artistic director Randal Swiggum, will perform the final concerts of its 39th season, "A Thousand and One Nights."
Concerts will be at 2, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. in the Blizzard Theatre at the Elgin Community College Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive.
The EYSO's current season explores night in all of its many artistic expressions, including painting, poetry, and of course, great orchestral music.
"Scheherazade," the final concerts of the 2014-15 season, celebrates the long musical tradition associated with "The Thousand and One Nights" - the stories of Sinbad, Ali-Baba, Aladdin, and of course, the narrator of these stories herself, Scheherazade.
As part of their preparation for these concerts, EYSO students have explored a critique of Orientalism and the way Western culture has perpetuated a fantasy about the Orient through literature, visual art, scholarship, and music.
The 2 p.m. concert features Prelude Orchestra, Sinfonia, and Philharmonia and includes Mozart's Overture to "The Abduction from the Seraglio," and the Suite Espagnola by Albéniz.
The 4:30 p.m. concert features Philharmonia playing the thrilling Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah, as well as selections from Carmen. Brass Choir is featured in Duke Ellington's iconic "Caravan" and Percussion Ensemble premieres a new work by Joseph Beribak. Primo debuts in its first main stage performance of the season, joining the Youth Symphony in Percy Grainger's "Mock Morris."
The 7:30 p.m. concert features the Youth Symphony performing Rimsky's colorful Scheherazade. The concert also includes Shostakovich's Quartet No. 8 performed by the Maud Powell String Quartet, the premiere string quartet of the EYSO's Chamber Music Institute. Concerto competition winner Claire Wright will perform the William Walton Viola Concerto. The season finale will include the Youth Symphony's traditional "The Turtle Dove."
Jacqueline Fisher, Chamber Music Institute director, will be presented with the David Moller Servant Leader Award at all three concerts. This award recognizes a long-standing staff, volunteer, or alumni leader who has made significant contributions to the EYSO. The award is named in honor of David Moller, EYSO board member and volunteer. His loyalty, dedication, and leadership in the EYSO, and his enthusiasm for the students, staff, alumni, parents, and board of directors, are legendary. He will be forever loved and respected by generations of EYSO students for his countless hours of service to the EYSO.
Auditions for the 2015-16 40th anniversary season will be held May 28-31 at the ECC Arts Center. Students in fourth grade (fall 2015) through college age are invited to audition.
For information, visit EYSO.org, or call (847) 841-7700, or email office@eyso.org.
Tickets are $24, $19, $13 and can be purchased in advance and at the door at the box office, building H, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.
Box office hours are noon to 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and noon to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. All tickets are for reserved seating. Call the box office at (847) 622-0300 or order online at tickets.elgin.edu.