Elgin, ESO, fans bid farewell to symphony's director

Michael Pastreich, the executive director of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra who resigned this past week, says that right from the beginning in Elgin he felt at home.

As a Midwesterner, reared in St. Louis, he had never experienced that sense of belonging. And, despite being excited about his new role as executive director of the Florida Orchestra in the Tampa Bay area, he's not sure he ever will again!

In his 12 years here, the numbers of his achievements speak for themselves:

• Total budgetary growth is 224 percent.

• Ticket sales are up 230 percent.

• Giving from individuals is up almost 700 percent.

• Corporate sponsorship is up 224 percent.

The 230 percent growth in ticket sales has triple the number of patrons attending the Pops Series and quadruple the number attending the Classic Series.

Despite these remarkable stats, Michael says very little is directly attributable to him. His chief boast about what he has accomplished in his dozen years is the strong staff team he has hired.

When he came to Elgin there were 3½ symphony jobs. Now there are 12. He says the symphony is doing the thing it does best for Elgin -- bringing patrons to downtown Elgin.

Good luck in your new venture, Michael. May you, Colleen and Meghan find a warm welcome in your new community!

Buffalo blessing

From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, the Elgin Public Museum will host Native American Cultural Days.

Midwest Save Our Ancestors Remains and Resources Indigenous Network Group Foundation will co-sponsor a series of reenactments and audience participation in dancing and singing. There will be games and activities for children.

Bill Buchholtz will play an American Indian flute, and dancers will perform. Vendors will have crafts and other handmade items. For ticket information, call Peggy Stromberg at (847) 741-6655.

At 10 a.m. Sunday Joseph Standing Bear Schranz, from the White Earth Ojibwe tribe and president of SOARING, will give the Bison Blessing at the buffalo enclosure in Lords Park. This event is open to the public and there is no charge.

School art show

First Community Bank is continuing its support for young artists by sponsoring a reception for a private school art show from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Tyler Creek branch. The show will continue until Nov. 7 and the gallery will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Eight schools are sending works: Westminster Christian School, St. Edward High School, Good Shepherd Lutheran School, St. Laurence, Highland Christian Academy, St. Thomas More, Elgin Academy and St. Catherine of Siena in West Dundee.

Peggy Phillips, a teacher at Good Shepherd Lutheran, says her kindergartners are bringing a large mural produced while dancing and painting to salsa music. Her third-graders made circus pictures, and her eighth-graders made ads with a silhouette on a bright background.

Julie Ford, art instructor at St. Edward, says the 25 pieces from her students will be sculptured masks, paintings and advanced photography and digital imaging.

Eileen Philips, art teacher at Highland Christian Academy, is bringing 29 pieces from kids in kindergarten through eighth grade. They include works done with crayons, markers, tempura and drawing pencils.

Joe Stanczak, vice president and manager of the Tyler Creek facility says the bank is pleased to offer a venue for student artists. Four other shows for U-46 young artists and one for adult artists are planned for the 2007-08 year.

Call (847) 622-8824, ext. 307, for details.

Fall at Hawthorne

Luz Elena Anguiano will lead a family fun evening celebrating la calabaza (pumpkin) and the harvest season in bilingual style from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday in the clubhouse at the Hawthorne Nature Center in Elgin.

Words, in Spanish, relating to nature will fill the booklets made by participants.

Saturday's Buckthorn Blowout is a workout, community fun day and an opportunity for families to help rid the woods at the nature center of an invasive species of tree. Wear heavy duds -- sturdy shoes, jeans and long sleeves. Bring your own gloves or use a pair from the center. All registrants who work will be treated to lunch.

Deb Barr of the center says this is the best time of the year to come out and enjoy nature at the Hawthorne Center.

To register for either event, call (847) 531-7009.

VOICES

The deadline is approaching for music and choral teachers to send in the application for their sixth-grade classes to attend the VOICES event Nov. 8 at the Blizzard Theatre at Elgin Community College.

This day is sponsored by the Elgin Children's Chorus. There will be two sessions at 9:30 and 11:45 a.m. There is no charge for the opportunity, but reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. Sponsors for the day are the EFS Foundation and the Illinois Arts Council.

That day, Nick Page, internationally known educator, song leader and composer, will initiate young people into the beauty and value of singing. He speaks on the biology of the human voice and the use of the voice in many cultures; and tells of the stories behind the songs in various countries.

Music director Jay Kellner says the reservations are coming in, and the seats are more than half taken. Deadline for application is Monday.

For reservations, call Ann Kepley at (847) 931-7464 or simply visit akepley@elgin.edu.