ESO's principal violist offers free master class Saturday in Elgin
Matthew Mantell, principal violist of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, will present a master class on Saturday, Feb. 27, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. in Elgin. The event, sponsored by the ESO, the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Gail Borden Public Library, is free and open to the public.
Student musicians participating in the class include: Storey Childs of Wredling Middle School, Saffron Bruno of St. Charles East High School, Lexi Tartaglia of West Aurora High School, and Colin Priller of Rolling Meadows High School.
The ESO, whose mission is to serve and engage a broad audience through the performance of powerful symphonic music and dynamic educational programs while developing strong community relationships, offers several master classes a year. For more information on the ESO's educational programs, visit ElginSymphony.org.
Storey Childs, a student of Susan Starrett and member of the EYSO Philharmonia Orchestra, will perform Fantasia No. 10, Presto, Largo, and Allegro by Georg Philipp Telemann. Saffron Bruno will perform Concerto in B Minor by Handel/Casadesus. Saffron is also a student of Susan Starrett and a member of the EYSO Youth Symphony. Lexi Tartaglia, also a member of the EYSO Youth Symphony, will play Suite No. 1 in G Major - Prelude by Bach. She studies with Ryan Caparella. Colin Priller, a student of Christine Due and member of the EYSO Youth Symphony/Hanson String Quartet will perform Concerto in D Major, No. 1, first movement by Stamitz.
Violist Matthew Mantell holds a bachelor of music degree in viola performance from the American Conservatory of Music, at which time he studied the violin with George Perlman and viola with Richard Ferrin and Adia Ghertovici. He is currently principal violist with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and assistant principal violist with the Chicago Sinfonietta. He also performs with the Joffrey Ballet and substitutes with the Lyric Opera of Chicago. In addition to a busy performance schedule, Mantell teaches private lessons from his home studio as well as at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights. Each summer, he enjoys teaching at Birch Creek Music Festival in Door County, Wisconsin. Mantell resides in Orland Park. His wife, Emily, and daughter, Sonia, are both cellists.
The Elgin Symphony Orchestra, now in its 65th season, offers programming unmatched for an entertaining, informative and relaxing cultural experience. Known for their high-quality performances, ESO musicians represent some of the most talented musical artists in the region. In addition to magnificent music, patrons can also enjoy a drink, spend time with friends and even shop in the lobby of the Hemmens Cultural Center. After Saturday night performances, the audience is invited to the ESO's "Mingle with the Musicians" at the Elgin Public House, 219 E. Chicago St. From start to finish, the ESO brings world class, big city entertainment without the hassles of the big city. Visit ElginSymphony.org to learn more about the ESO.
The Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra attracts a national reputation for providing not only an engaging musical experience for its students, but also a comprehensive learning environment which promotes curiosity, imagination, critical thinking, and collaboration. With nine large ensembles and nearly 30 chamber ensembles, EYSO auditions record numbers of students each year in addition to the many hundreds of musicians who enjoy its rigorous methods of inquiry and "expert noticing."