ESO to present Haydn's 'Surprise Symphony' and Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1
The Elgin Symphony Orchestra will perform Haydn's famous Symphony No. 94, or "Surprise" Symphony at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, at Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg; and at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12; and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin.
Resident Conductor Stephen Squires will lead the concerts, which also feature ESO Concertmaster Isabella Lippi performing Bruch's fiery and passionate Violin Concerto No. 1. The program also includes Kodaly's Peacock Variations, which uses a melody that has Hungarian and possibly Mari roots dating back over 1,500 years. Tickets start at $30. For details, visit ElginSymphony.Org or call (847) 888-4000.
Violinist Isabella Lippi, who has been called "A standout, even among virtuosos," began performing in public at the age of 10 when she made her debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She has since performed in numerous recitals and has appeared as guest soloist with orchestras in the United States, Mexico, Europe and the Far East.
In 1989, Lippi won the St. Louis Symphony Young Artist Competition, so impressing Maestro Leonard Slatkin, that for the first time in the 55-year history of the competition, the winner (Lippi) was invited to perform with the symphony in subscription concerts under Slatkin.
Of this program, the St. Louis Post Dispatch declared, "Lippi introduced rhythmic subtleties into the music of the like that haven't been heard since the heyday of Heifetz."
Born in Chicago, Lippi's teachers have included Robert Lipsett at the University of Southern California, Dorothy Delay at the Juilliard School, and Almita and Roland Vamos in Chicago.
Stephen Squires is a musician with a career that blends his passions for conducting, teaching, and performing. He received his musical training at the Preparatory School of the Eastman School of Music and the Crane School of Music, in his home state of New York.
Squires earned his Master's degree in Instrumental Conducting/Trumpet Performance at California State University, Northridge. Further conducting studies were with Helmuth Rilling, Maurice Abravanel, Daniel Lewis, Tsung Yeh, and at the Aspen Music Festival.
Squires is Professor of Conducting in the Music Conservatory of the Chicago College of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University. His current professional appointments include Resident Conductor of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Music Director of the Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra, Rockford; Music Director of the Millar Brass, Evanston; and Music Director of the Illinois Brass Band, Arlington Heights.
In addition, he is an accomplished recital accompanist, freelance trumpeter, and frequent guest conductor at educational festivals throughout the country.