ESO musicians to perform with Midwest Mozart Festival Aug. 5 and 12

Elgin Symphony Orchestra musicians first violin Carol Dylan, assistant principal cello Nazar Dzhuryn, Collin Anderson on bassoon and Julia Richter on flute will perform in the upcoming Midwest Mozart Festival concert series at 3 p.m. Sundays, Aug. 5 and 12, at the Woodstock Opera House.

Dylan is also a founding board member of the Midwest Mozart Festival, which is comprised of musicians who have been presenting works by Mozart for many years at the Woodstock Opera House, and the August concerts will mark 32 years of performances of Mozart's magnificent music at the historic venue.

Tickets for the August concerts are $31-$48, $10 for students with an ID. August performances feature preconcert talks at 2 p.m. To purchase tickets and to learn more, visit midwestmozart.org.

This year marks the 32nd year the accomplished musicians of the Midwest Mozart Festival orchestra will perform at the Woodstock Opera House and other venues. Midwest Mozart Festival Inc. is a nonprofit organization with world-class musicians who present classical music performances of the highest caliber, with a particular focus on works of the great Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Midwest Mozart Festival is McHenry County's only resident professional orchestra. Its mission is to provide northern Illinois with classical music performances of the highest caliber, offer the unique cultural experience of fine music to a diverse public audience at an affordable price, and to extend support and assistance to the communities in which we perform through partnerships with local businesses, and active participation in local economic development programs. Another significant goal is to interact with and support music students.

Besides providing concerts and the cultural experience of fine arts, its youth-serving mission strives to promote and encourage music education. All Midwest Mozart Festival concerts offer youth and student tickets available at a significantly reduced price, or for free, based on sponsorship availability. Midwest Mozart Festival musicians deliver support to local school systems by volunteering at summer music camps. Musicians from the orchestra also play alongside music students at sponsored events and hold student/professional musician concerts afterward. More than 70 percent of Midwest Mozart Festival musicians are also professional music educators.

Now in its 68th season, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra offers programming unmatched for an entertaining, informative and relaxing cultural experience. The ESO's won Illinois Professional Orchestra of the Year a record-setting four times - in 1988, 1999, 2005 and 2016! The ESO strives to create an enjoyable entertainment experience that goes beyond the magnificent music performed by some of the best musicians in the country. The festive concert event often features musicians performing in the lobby before the performance, and patrons can purchase unique, music-themed gifts at the Elgin Symphony League Boutique. Preconcert chats are given by music director Andrew Grams, guest artists and others one hour before most performances. Saturday night patrons are invited after concerts to meet Andrew Grams, guest artists and ESO musicians at "Mingle with the Musicians," held at area restaurants. Music historian Jim Kendros offers free Listeners Club discussions the Wednesday before ESO Classics Series concert weekends at Greenfields of Geneva and the Gail Borden Public Library. Flex passes are available for choosing concerts at a later date, and if a patron can't make a concert, the ESO offers free exchanges to subscribers and to single ticket buyers for a small fee. There is accessible, free parking around the Hemmens Cultural Center and valet service available. Visit ElginSymphony.org.