Glen Ellyn concert features great composers who struggled with mental illness Sept. 26
More than 170 years after composer Robert Schumann struggled with severe mental illness that would eventually claim his life, audiences continue to be moved by the beauty he created. The same can be said of Ludwig van Beethoven, who composed some of history’s most celebrated music while confronting deafness, depression, and suicidal ideation, and Maurice Ravel, whose later years were marked by neurological decline. Their stories remind us that great art often emerges not in the absence of hardship, but alongside it.
On Saturday, Sept. 26, The Awakenings Project will explore the intersection of creativity, struggle, and resilience through “Music, Mind, and Resilience,” a special concert featuring internationally acclaimed violinist Yang Liu and pianist Olivia Tsai. The performance will take place at 3 p.m. in Mahon Hall at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 393 N. Main St. in Glen Ellyn.
The program will feature works by Schumann, Beethoven, Béla Bartók, Johannes Brahms, and Maurice Ravel — composers whose music reflects both extraordinary artistic achievement and deeply human struggles.
A centerpiece of the event is the appearance of Yang Liu, a distinguished violinist of his generation. A prizewinner in the Twelfth International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, Liu has received numerous honors, including the 2023 American Prize in String Performance and first prizes in both the Medici International Competition and China’s National Violin Competition. He has performed throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia and has appeared on National Public Radio, Chicago’s WFMT, and Chinese national television.
Liu will be joined by pianist Olivia Tsai, an accomplished performer and collaborative artist known for her musical sensitivity and expressive artistry. Together, Liu and Tsai have earned acclaim for performances that combine technical excellence, emotional depth, and meaningful audience engagement.
“This concert reflects a core belief of The Awakenings Project,” said Bob Lundin, founder and president of the organization. “The arts reveal our common humanity. They remind us that people are not defined by their struggles but by their gifts, resilience, and capacity to create beauty.”
Founded in 1996, The Awakenings Project promotes understanding and acceptance of people living with mental health challenges through the arts. “Music, Mind, and Resilience” continues that mission by inviting audiences to experience great music while reflecting on the resilience of the human spirit.
Admission is free and open to the public. The event is made possible through support from the Illinois Arts Council, the Yang and Olivia Arts Foundation, and the JCS Arts, Health, and Education Fund. For details on the concert, visit awakeningsproject.org.