Northwest Symphony Orchestra begins 61st season Nov. 18
The award-winning Northwest Symphony Orchestra will present the first concert in its 61st season at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18. The concert will be held in the Theatre for the Performing Arts
at Maine West High School, 1755 S. Wolf Road in Des Plaines.
This season honors the Northwest Symphony's Maestro, Paul Vermel. After nineteen years of directing and conducting the Northwest Symphony, Maestro Vermel is stepping down at the end of this season, leaving the orchestra with his legacy of exciting programming, outstanding performances and dynamic leadership. Among his many accomplishments, the Conductors Guild presented Maestro Vermel the prestigious Max Rudolf Award, becoming only its 7th recipient. In honor of the Maestro, the NSO annually awards outstanding string players from the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra with the Paul Vermel Young Artist Award.
The opening concert on November 18 is titled "An Evening at the Ballet – Music that Inspires the Ballet". Maestro Vermel will open the concert with Weber-Berlioz "Invitation to the Dance." Ballet Suite by Lully, and Six German Dances by Mozart will follow. The final pieces are two of the most well-known and favorite of dance pieces: Tchaikovsky's "Suite from the Ballet Swan Lake" and J. Strauss' "On the Beautiful Blue Danube."
The NSO will continue its popular pre-concert commentaries by Carolyn Paulin, a producer and program host at radio station WFMT 98.7 Chicago. Her commentaries begin one hour prior to the concert.
Members of the Northwest Symphony Orchestra represent a wide spectrum of interests, backgrounds, and professions, including music performers and educators, as well as students and retirees. The orchestra, founded in 1951, now numbers 70 instrumentalists, who meet weekly to play and enjoy great symphonic orchestral music. Symphony members, whose ages range from the late teens to the 80s, live in Des Plaines and more than 45 surrounding communities.
Individual concert ticket prices are $20 for general admission, $15 for seniors age 65 and over, and $10 for students. Season tickets for the four-concert series are $60 for general admission, $45 for seniors, and $30 for students, a series savings of 25%. Children under age 14 are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Tickets will be available at the door on concert days. Tickets may be purchased in advance by mailing requests and payment checks to the Northwest Symphony Orchestra, PO Box 46, Mt. Prospect, IL 60056-0046, or online at the orchestra's website, www.northwestsymphony.org. PayPal is accepted online. For further information, call 847-965-7271.