Elgin Choral Union plans benefit

The Elgin Choral Union will host its 2008 "Magical Musical Moments" annual benefit at 6 p.m. Saturday at the private mansion home of Jasper and Marian Sanfilippo in Barrington Hills. Guests admitted by private invitation only.

Best known as the Place de la Musique, the home features one of the largest known single private collections of music boxes, antique gaming machines, nickelodeons, orchestrions, and other amazing musical instruments.

The Sanfilippo collection has on display more than 500 unique, mechanical music machines, including the world's largest theater organ with 8,000 pipes. Invited benefit attendees will enjoy an organ concert in the home's 1,700 square foot music room, with other musical selections by local performers, including Solange Sior and Oscar Menoyo from Elgin O.P.E.R.A.

Also included in the evening's festivities will be a tour of the home's Grand Foyer, Victorian Bar Room, American Orchestrion Room, and Arcade Room.

Guests also will enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres and a champagne toast in a separate tour of the home's carousel building.

This structure is home to the 1890 Eden Palais Carousel, American and European fairground and dance hall organs, a fully restored 1881 Grant railroad locomotive, and vintage steam engines.

Stu Ainsworth of St. Charles will serve as the Honorary Chairperson at this black-tie optional event.

"I consider it a privilege to have been selected as Honorary Chairperson for the Choral Union's most important fundraising event this season," Ainsworth said.

"As an active participant in many of the premiere arts organizations in the Fox River Valley, I have had several opportunities to be a guest at fundraising events at the incredible Sanfilippo Mansion, and on each occasion, I have discovered additional works of stained glass, professionally restored instruments and incredible steam-driven machines.

"The collection can only be described as incredible."

"I strongly believe that participating in diverse art forms, whether as a performer or an observer, enriches the lives of all who take advantage of them.

"We in the Fox Valley are extremely fortunate in having so many high quality, readily accessible and reasonably priced performances available.

"They all, like the Choral Union, deserve our generous and continuing financial support."

The Elgin Choral Union, an in-residence ensemble at the ECC Arts Center, is one of the Fox Valley's oldest classical performing groups as it is now celebrating its 61st season. It comprises 115 volunteer members drawn from more than 22 regional communities.

For more information about how you can get invited to this unique and exclusive event, call the Elgin Choral Union at (847) 214-7225.