EYSO concert exploring the transformative power of ‘Now’
The Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestras continues its landmark 50th anniversary season with “In a Single Moment,” a powerful concert experience exploring breakthroughs, turning points, and the expansive impact of the present moment.
The performances will be on Sunday, March 8, at 1:30, 4:30 and 7 p.m. at the Blizzard Theatre at Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive.
Part of EYSO’s season-long exploration of the theme “Time,” the concert invites audiences to consider how music captures fleeting instants — and transforms them into something lasting.
Executive director Daniel Meyers reflects on the theme’s emotional resonance: “When I first heard the theme ‘In a Single Moment,’ my mind went to times when a moment became expansive — when I completely lost track of time. So many of these moments have come from music, from a harmony or silence that hangs in the air, from the smiles shared after a conquered passage, from the weight of mournful Tchaikovsky to the joy of triumphant Beethoven.”
That sense of suspended time lives at the heart of orchestral performance — a place where, as Meyers notes, “music holds so much in a single moment.”
Milestones and Transformations
The March 8 concerts feature a sweeping range of repertoire, from symphonic masterworks to contemporary premieres.
Highlights include:
• Greg Schwaegler –“ Now” (world premiere). Written especially for EYSO’s 50th season, this fast, electrifying work captures fleeting instants through shifting meters and sharp rhythmic energy — music composed not only for this orchestra, but of this orchestra.
• Gustav Holst — “Jupiter” from “The Planets.” Performed by Brass Choir, this beloved movement explores the full emotional spectrum of joy: expansive, noble, and radiant.
• Richard Rodgers — Selections from “Oklahoma!” Philharmonia brings Broadway’s golden age to life in orchestral color, celebrating the musical that redefined American theater.
• Rossini — Overture to “The Barber of Seville.” Performed side-by-side by Primo and Youth Symphony, this high-energy collaboration represents mentorship, growth, and shared musical momentum across EYSO’s youngest and most advanced players.
• François Devienne — Flute Concerto No. 7 in E minor
One of the concert’s featured highlights is senior flutist Gwen Nika of West Chicago Community High School, who will perform François Devienne’s Flute Concerto No. 7 in E minor with the Philharmonia Chamber Orchestra.
Nika began her musical journey on piano before switching to flute in fifth grade, later studying privately with Leah Stevens and immersing herself in marching band, ILMEA festivals, recitals, and school concerts.
Three years ago, she auditioned for EYSO Philharmonia and has performed with the ensemble ever since, inspired in part by her admiration for conductor Aaron Kaplan.
This concerto performance marks a significant milestone in her musical career — an opportunity she describes as both exciting and deeply meaningful as she prepares to graduate this spring.
‘A London Symphony’
At the heart of the evening stands Ralph Vaughan Williams’ sweeping “A London Symphony,” performed by Youth Symphony under the direction of artistic director Matthew Sheppard. The work unfolds as an immersive journey through the spirit of London — from distant bells and shadowed streets to triumphant processionals and radiant skylines.
Sheppard emphasizes the significance of engaging with such masterworks:
“In Youth Symphony — and orchestral music more broadly — we have the gift of a vast history of repertoire. Nearly three hundred years of symphonic music connects us to generations of performers and audiences who came before us.”
Yet each performance offers something new.
“Every time we encounter these monumental works, we have the opportunity to experience them fresh — immediate and alive in the present moment.”
See it In action
EYSO’s performances must be seen to be believed. Board member Anthony Riani will tell anyone, “You won’t believe kids are playing.” Audiences can experience EYSO for themselves on Sunday, March 8.
For more information about the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestras and tickets, visit EYSO.org. Tickets are $27, $22 for seniors, or $7 for students.
Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestras is an In-Residence Ensemble of Elgin Community College.