Elgin Symphony Orchestra announces next year's schedule and 8 finalists for music director
The Elgin Symphony Orchestra recently announced its 2022-23 season schedule, as well as eight finalists under consideration to take over as music director for Andrew Grams, who left for another job.
The ESO's 73rd season will feature works by contemporary and historic composers. Seven of the eight director finalists will appear as guest conductors.
The season begins Oct. 8 at the Hemmens Cultural Center with music from Antonin Dvorak's "Carnival Overture," Wynton Marsalis' "Violin Concerto," and Edward Elgar's "Enigma Variations," and will feature guest conductor Andres Lopera and violinist Kelly Hall Tompkins.
Monthly concerts, with rotating conductors and guest performers, are booked through May 2023, and a full schedule is available at elginsymphony.org. Other special concerts are still in the works. Most concerts take place on Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons.
Marc Thayer, CEO of the symphony, also announced new family-friendly pricing in hopes of making the symphony more accessible to the community. Adult ticket prices will start at $20, and entry for children 17 and younger will be free with a paying parent, guardian or grandparent.
"Our new pricing structure makes it affordable for parents and grandparents to share the beauty of a live symphony experience with the next generation," Thayer said in a news release.
The new music director will be named at the end of the 2022-23 season from among the eight finalists. The ESO began what will be a two-year search for Grams' replacement when he announced he would depart after the 2020-21 season.
One finalist, Canadian conductor Tania Miller, led the ESO in its October 2021 season-opening concert. Miller will conduct the Calgary Opera next season.
Other finalists are:
• Andres Lopera, associate conductor of the Columbus Symphony and music director of the Columbus Youth Symphony Orchestra.
• John Gennaro, music director of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra.
• Andrew Crust, associate conductor of the Vancouver Symphony and music director of the Lima Symphony.
• Kyle Ritenauer, founder and artistic director of the Uptown Philharmonic.
• Lee Mills, associate conductor of the Seattle Symphony.
• Alex Amsel, assistant conductor for the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.
• Chad Goodman, conducting fellow for the New World Symphony, and founder and artistic director of the Elevate Ensemble.