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ESO's Gregory Flint to lead public Masterclass Saturday

Gregory Flint, principal horn of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, will present a masterclass from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 20.

The event, sponsored by the ESO, the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Gail Borden Public Library, is free and open to the public.

Student musicians participating in the class are: Veronica Ayers, Geneva High School; Fernando Chapa and Olivia Halterman, West Aurora High School; and Rebekah Green, Huntley High School.

The ESO, whose mission is to serve and engage a broad audience through the performance of powerful symphonic music and dynamic educational programs, while developing strong community relationships, offers several masterclasses a year. For more information on the ESO's educational programs, visit ElginSymphony.org.

Veronica Ayers, a student of Eric Kaiser and member of the EYSO Sinfonia Orchestra, will perform "Andante" by Felix Mendelssohn.

Fernando Chapa will perform Amadeus Mozart's Concerto No. 2 in Eb major. He is a student of Jason Reiff and a member of the EYSO Youth Symphony.

Rebekah Green, also a member of the EYSO Youth Symphony, will play "Reverie" by Alexander Glazunov or Richard Strauss' Horn Concerto No. 1. She studies with Ingrid Mullane. Olivia Halterman, a student of Olivia Pannell and member of the EYSO Philharmonia, will perform Franz Strauss' "Nocturno."

Flint has been principal horn with the ESO since 2001, where his performance of Richard Strauss' Concerto No. 1 was broadcast nationally. Flint is associate professor of horn at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Prior to his UWM appointment, he taught horn at DePaul University and brass chamber music at his alma mater, Northwestern University. As a soloist, clinician, and chamber musician he has performed and given masterclasses in Spain, Costa Rica, Brazil, Columbia, Taiwan, and throughout the United States. He has performed with the Chicago Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Ravinia Festival Orchestra, Grant Park Symphony, Colorado Orchestra, Honolulu Symphony and the Key West Symphony. He also performs with the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra.

An avid chamber music performer, Flint is a member of the award-winning Asbury Brass Quintet, Tower Brass of Chicago, and the Fulcrum Point Brass Quintet. He has toured internationally with the Chicago Brass Quintet and the Prairie Winds, and is co-artistic director of the Chamber Music Milwaukee series at UW-Milwaukee. His long held position as first horn with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra has provided him opportunities to perform and record with such jazz luminaries as Clark Terry, Roy Hargrove, Nicholas Payton, Jon Faddis and Frank Sinatra. A much sought after freelancer, Flint has performed with The Three Tenors, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow, Celine Dion, Stevie Nicks, Johnny Mathis and Andre Bocelli.

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra, now in its 65th season, offers programming unmatched for an entertaining, informative and relaxing cultural experience. Known for their high-quality performances, ESO musicians represent some of the most talented musical artists in the region. In addition to magnificent music, patrons can also enjoy a drink, spend time with friends and even shop in the lobby of the Hemmens Cultural Center. After Saturday night performances, the audience is invited to the ESO's "Mingle with the Musicians" at the Elgin Public House, 219 E. Chicago St. From start to finish, the ESO brings world class, big city entertainment without the hassles of the big city. Visit ElginSymphony.org to learn more about the ESO.

The Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra attracts a national reputation for providing not only an engaging musical experience for its students, but also a comprehensive learning environment which promotes curiosity, imagination, critical thinking, and collaboration. With nine large ensembles and nearly 30 chamber ensembles, EYSO auditions record numbers of students each year in addition to the many hundreds of musicians who enjoy its rigorous methods of inquiry and "expert noticing."

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