ESO takes a musical journey to Scotland

Maestro Andrew Grams will return again to lead the Elgin Symphony Orchestra through another exciting concert weekend.

The orchestra will be performing Scottish Fantasy in Schaumburg on Friday, Jan. 10, and in Elgin on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 11 and 12. This will be the third concert to be conducted by Grams this season.

Due to Grams’ demanding schedule, this will be your last chance to see him until he returns to conduct in September. Grams will lead the orchestra through seven concert weekends during the 2014-15 season.

As one of America’s most promising and talented young conductors, Grams has already appeared with many of the great orchestras of the world. A native of Maryland, Grams received a bachelor of music degree in 1999 in violin performance from the Juilliard School. In 2003 he received a conducting degree from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he worked with Otto-Werner Mueller. He accepted the position of music director of the ESO in June.

Joining Grams onstage will be guest violinist Michael Ludwig, as he brings the beauty of Scotland alive through music. Soloist Ludwig has performed on several continents and provides master classes around the world. Ludwig studied violin with his father, Irving Ludwig, a violinist in the Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as Raphael Bronstein and Josef Gingold. He attended the Curtis Institute of Music, the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and Indiana University.

Pieces for the night include MacCunn’s “The Land of the Mountain and the Flood,” Bruch’s “Scottish Fantasy” and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3 in A minor.

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra experience is a fun, relaxing, cultural experience. Patrons can enjoy a drink, time with friends and even shopping in the lobby of the Hemmens Cultural Center. After Saturday night performances, the audience is invited to “Mingle with the Musicians” at the local restaurant, Elgin Public House, 219 E. Chicago St.

The ESO’s Scottish Fantasy will be performed at the Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10; and at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 11 and 2:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Hemmens, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. Tickets, starting at $25, can be purchased through the ESO Box Office -- (847) 888-4000 — or by visiting www.elginsymphony.org.