EYSO ensembles to perform at St. Charles library Dec. 15
On Sunday, Dec. 15, the St. Charles Public Library invites the public to kick off the holiday season with a concert featuring the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra's Maud Powell String Quartet and Sterling Brass Quintet. The concert begins at 2 p.m. in the Carnegie Community Room, 1 S. Sixth Ave.
These two ensembles are part of the EYSO acclaimed Chamber Music Institute, where the members are selected by competitive audition.
Since its beginnings as a small string orchestra in 1976, EYSO has grown to a community of eight large ensembles and nearly 30 chamber music ensembles. Today, the EYSO comprises nearly 400 students from over 70 area communities. Directed by nationally-recognized leaders in music education, EYSO ensembles have performed at the Aberdeen International Youth Festival, the Ravinia Festival, the Illinois State Capitol, and on 98.7 WFMT, Chicago's classical music radio.
This event is part of the library's Sunday Concert Series, featuring a wide variety of live musical performances.
This performance is funded through generous donations to the St. Charles Public Library Foundation.
The public is welcome and the concert is free to attend.
For more information, visit www.scpld.org or call (630) 584-0076.
The Maud Powell String Quartet features violinists Claire Collins of Carpentersville and Zylle Constantino of Gilberts, violist Grace Morby of St. Charles; and cellist David Betz of Elgin.
The Maud Powell String Quartet is named for America's first international violin superstar. This string quartet is coached by cellist Timothy Archbold, who has performed with orchestras and string quartets throughout the world. It is offered tuition free each year since it was founded in 2007 through the generosity of EYSO patrons Ed and Joyce McFarland Dlugopolski.
The Sterling Brass Quintet features Jackson Baker of Elgin and Avanish Narumanchi of South Barrington on trumpet; Acacia Steenberg of Crystal Lake, horn; Garrett Rider of Aurora, trombone; and J.T. Butcher of Algonquin, tuba.
The Sterling Brass Quintet is one of Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestras four Honors Chamber Ensembles that represent an unparalleled experience to advanced high school and college aged musicians, including an active and high-profile performance schedule.
Coached by Matthew and Kari Lee of the acclaimed Millar Brass Ensemble, the quintet focuses on performance techniques unique to brass playing, and an eclectic mix of repertoire from the Renaissance to the 21st century.
Their guest coaches have included former Chicago Symphony Orchestra trumpeter Will Scarlett, Stephen Burns of Fulcrum Point, and tuba virtuosi Rex Martin.
It is offered tuition free with the generosity of EYSO patron and the quintet namesake, Sterling (Stu) Ainsworth, who passed away in 2018.