Pandemic can't stop the Northbrook Symphony's music
“I promise you: Music is life and music will never stop,” were the words of Mina Zikri, Music Director of the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra, upon hearing that live performances for an audience were canceled for the foreseeable future.
Zikri has remained true to his promise. When restrictions eased, he gathered his musicians, masked and socially distanced, and recorded two performances, one featuring Robert Chen, Chicago Symphony Concertmaster, and the other celebrating Beethoven's 250th birthday.
The Northbrook Symphony performed virtually for not only its subscribers, patrons and ticketholders stranded at home, but it also has provided free broadcasts to area schools, including many in underserved communities, and to health care workers on the front line of COVID. The virtual field trips for schools include works of Mozart or Beethoven with a live introduction and Q&A from Maestro Zikri.
So far this year, more than 400 students have enjoyed these performances. Additional broadcasts are scheduled in February, March and beyond.
“This effort dovetails nicely with our mission of encouraging attendance by young audiences. We always offer complimentary admission to children ages 7 to 18 with a paying adult,” said James Karagianis, President of the NSO Board.
“This outreach segues well with our other community engagement efforts to support underserved communities,” added board member Cindy Brady, who leads the NSO outreach initiative. “These efforts include the complimentary concert admission to the entire family of the NSO partner schools serving underserved communities, a year-round musical instrument collection drive and college scholarships for students from the NSO partner schools pursuing careers in music.”
The NSO partners with Bravo Waukegan to help support the Waukegan school music programs. The donated band and orchestra instruments and guitars benefit the Waukegan students. This year's scholarship recipients are Brandon Carranza, Esai Torres and Brittney Huerta, all graduates of Waukegan High School. All are pursuing fine arts degrees in college.
Expanding the Orchestra's community engagement, the NSO wanted to recognize the tireless efforts of health care workers during the pandemic. The Orchestra decided to provide free broadcasts to health care workers in area hospitals and will offer all health care workers free season subscriptions when in-person concerts resume.
“Music reminds us of the depth and beauty of our human experience. It has always provided peace and hope, especially during stressful times throughout history. Music is life after all,” concludes Mr. Zikri.
Schools and health care organizations interested in a broadcast or anyone interested in donating musical instruments should contact the Northbrook Symphony offices at (847) 272-0755 or info@northbrooksymphony.org.
• About Northbrook Symphony Orchestra: Led by world renowned Mina Zikri, Music Director, the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra is a nonprofit organization committed to presenting high-quality performances aimed to increase the relevance of classical music in listeners' daily lives. The Orchestra is celebrating its 41st season — the second under the artistic leadership of Zikri. The 2020-21 season opened with a virtual performance broadcast in late October and a second virtual performance broadcast in late November. Three more virtual performances are planned for the remainder of the season. For performance and ticket information, visit northbrooksymphony.org or call (847) 272-0755.