ESO to perform 'Deck the Halls Holiday Concert' Dec. 14-15 at Hemmens
The Elgin Symphony Orchestra will present its annual holiday concerts, led by resident conductor Stephen Squires, at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin.
In addition to the award-winning ESO, the concerts feature Katelyn Lee, soprano; the Elgin Master Chorale and the Midwest Dance Collective performing holiday favorites.
Featuring the traditional "Ave Maria" and Vivaldi's "Winter" from "The Four Seasons," as well as family favorites such as "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "The 12 Days of Christmas," this is a concert for the entire family to enjoy. The program also includes a singalong and an appearance by a very special visitor from the North Pole.
Tickets are $40-$60 and available at www.elginsymphony.org or by calling (847) 888-4000.
The soprano
Recognized by Chicago Classical Review as having a "beautifully bright and clean tone," American soprano Katelyn Lee is making her mark in Chicago and across the United States. She is thrilled to make her debut with Elgin Symphony Orchestra. Lee is a frequent performer at Lyric Opera of Chicago. She is an accomplished singer of concert repertoire. She has performed various works with Chicago Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Music of the Baroque, Northwest Indiana Symphony, and Grant Park Symphony. She recently performed Handel's "Eternal Source of Light Divine" with Music of the Baroque under the baton of Jane Glover.
The chorale
In-residence at Elgin Community College, Elgin Master Chorale presents several concerts per year at the Blizzard Theatre at the college, as well as the Hemmens Cultural Arts Center and other locations in the Chicago area. Under the direction of maestro Andrew Lewis, Elgin Master Chorale comprises about 100 adult volunteer singers from across the Fox Valley communities. Elgin Master Chorale has grown from its roots as a "union" of church choirs, and is dedicated to its mission of being the premiere vocal ensemble in the Fox Valley.
The dancers
Ellen Werksman, dancer, teacher, choreographer, is the founder of the Midwest Dance Collective, an audition-based youth ensemble that connects young dancers to the professional world of dance. Werksman started MDC to give the young dancers at her Dancewerks studio performance opportunities. The foundation of Dancewerks is built on limited class size in all classes and "Werkshops," hands-on correction and personal classroom attention, instructors with professional, real life dance experience and technique-based classes. Werksman has been a source of inspiration for the thousands of dancers she has taught over the last 25 years.