tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60581022837422319992011-11-12T01:35:36.038-06:00Welcome to the Elgin Symphony Orchestra's 60th Season dedicated to Building Community through the Arts! Throughout our 60th Season we invite you to visit this blog for news, events, articles, and interviews with our musicians, staff, and this season's guest artists. This is the spot to learn all about the music and culture of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra!EdManager521http://www.blogger.com/profile/09838810247424828743noreply@blogger.comBlogger161100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058102283742231999.post-88398731623450934032009-11-10T16:24:00.002-06:002009-11-10T16:31:59.797-06:00

I can't believe it's finally here! All of the time, thought and work everyone has put into making this series happen from the beginning is finally paying off. I hope it all goes as smoothly as we plan. My office is currently exploding with everything we'll be using for the activities - instruments for the petting zoo, goodie bags, and programs for example.Ticket sales for the first concert are

EdManager521http://www.blogger.com/profile/09838810247424828743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058102283742231999.post-33481251006696633402009-11-05T16:35:00.002-06:002009-11-05T16:42:12.739-06:00

I think we don't stress often enough the calibur of artists we bring into the Elgin Symphony Organization - at all levels. From the contracted musicians, the the subs, to the conductors and guest artists we have some of the top people in Chicago and beyond performing on the stage at Hemmens. For example, this weekend not only do we have our usual fantastic orchestra performing with baritone

EdManager521http://www.blogger.com/profile/09838810247424828743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058102283742231999.post-91442351271732483532009-10-26T16:27:00.003-05:002009-10-26T16:31:58.259-05:00

The Gail Borden Public Library District in Elgin has just put up their display of resources for the upcoming Family Fun Series! I dropped by to check it out today and it is really cool - there are some great pictures of Russia and several books, CDs and movies that relate to our first Family Concert theme, Russian Fairytales. If you have a chance you should check it out. It is located on the

EdManager521http://www.blogger.com/profile/09838810247424828743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058102283742231999.post-76027379730325280652009-10-23T15:36:00.004-05:002009-10-23T15:46:52.129-05:00

The ESO's concert from May 2008 will be broadcast on WFMT tonight at 8:00pm as part of WFMT's Music in Chicago program. Hear Maestro Robert Hanson lead the Elgin Symphony Orchestra in their performance of Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F, Ravel's Piano Concerto in G, and Gershwin's An American in Paris. The concert features pianist Pascal Roge. Click here to listenEnjoy the performance!

EdManager521http://www.blogger.com/profile/09838810247424828743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058102283742231999.post-83844629606672235312009-10-23T14:20:00.006-05:002009-10-23T14:34:36.901-05:00

This week we had our first In-School ensemble chamber music program of the season. The "Magic of Music" trio - Michael Folker and George Blanchet on percussion and Daniela Folker on violin - performed at Sycamore Trails Elementary School in Bartlett. It was a wonderful, engaging show filled with magic and music, and the students and teachers alike all seemed to enjoy themselves.For those of you

EdManager521http://www.blogger.com/profile/09838810247424828743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058102283742231999.post-91403522957117664812009-10-06T16:51:00.007-05:002009-10-07T10:56:47.268-05:00

Music Bands Members in ElginBy Glen ElsasserA highly unlikely group meets in the band rehearsal room of Elgin High School - youngsters, oldsters, and persons from varied professions. But they share one common interest - their music.In fact, music has kept this group together since 1950. Known as the Elgin Civic Symphony orchestra, it would have flopped at the start if it hadn't been for the fun

EdManager521http://www.blogger.com/profile/09838810247424828743noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058102283742231999.post-58271348951859555302009-10-06T14:09:00.004-05:002009-10-16T15:59:19.964-05:00

Next weekend the Elgin Symphony Orchestra will present their first pops concert of the new season, an all Henry Mancini program featuring a performers who actually played with Mancini. The program features all of the songs you might expect from a concert like this - Baby Elephant Walk, Moon River, the theme for Peter Gunn, and The Pink Panther of course! What you might not realize is the

EdManager521http://www.blogger.com/profile/09838810247424828743noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058102283742231999.post-88488325796984846402009-10-01T11:18:00.005-05:002009-10-05T11:22:21.223-05:00

Last night I sat through about half of the ESO's rehearsal at Hemmens, and I have to say, this is going to be a great concert this weekend! I listened to a run through of Pines of Rome by Ottorino Respighi. The rehearsal actually began with the final movement, The Pines of the Appian Way. For those of you that haven't heard it before it begins with this soft, far-off, alomst eerie sounding march

EdManager521http://www.blogger.com/profile/09838810247424828743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058102283742231999.post-33357250765994788392009-09-25T11:46:00.002-05:002009-09-25T12:38:22.655-05:00

The Elgin Symphony and the Elgin Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the City of Elgin will be hosting a "Business After Hours" event on Thursday from 5-7pm in the Hemmens Theatre in downtown Elgin. This should be a great event not only for networking but also highlighting our theme for our 60th anniversary of "Building Community through the Arts". Participants are also invited to attend

MythicalBeastnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058102283742231999.post-7201139266071657192009-09-23T10:47:00.007-05:002009-09-24T10:23:33.524-05:00

This week I have been doing some reading about why music is important to teach in schools and why we need to keep the arts alive in our society. The newest argument seems to be that the arts, and music in particular, can change the way your brain processes information. Why teaching the arts is important is becoming an increasingly important question as school standards are constantly changing

EdManager521http://www.blogger.com/profile/09838810247424828743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058102283742231999.post-19763343898212693472009-09-16T14:50:00.003-05:002009-09-17T10:23:26.270-05:00

Getting the year started is always exciting. This year in particular for me as I am starting the year in a new capacity - I've gone from "Operations and Education Manager" to "Education and Community Engagement Manager". Fortunately, this change has given me the chance to really evaluate and take on new education programs (and write for the blog!).My favorite part about this season is the launch

EdManager521http://www.blogger.com/profile/09838810247424828743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058102283742231999.post-85325849230846167802009-09-15T11:12:00.002-05:002009-09-15T11:18:10.658-05:00

Hello, I am the operations director and artistic administrator for the Elgin Symphony. I’ve been doing this since 1999. I’ll get to the operations part in a future blog. What I’m thinking about today are two recitals I recently heard.One of the most pleasant requirements of my job is that I need to listen to concerts. (Everybody needs to keep up. Scientists go to conferences, accountants take

John Ryannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058102283742231999.post-23666184292012840472009-09-10T13:49:00.005-05:002009-09-14T16:13:29.574-05:00

A veritable institution in the world of classical music, the Romeros’ quartet has dazzled countless audiences and won the raves of reviewers worldwide. Celedonio Romero, founder and creator of The Romeros guitar dynasty, died on May 8, 1996 in San Diego, California. As the family says, "the spirit of the quartet is him; all our concerts now will be to pay homage to him". His sons and grandsons

EdManager521http://www.blogger.com/profile/09838810247424828743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058102283742231999.post-8278039089492394892009-09-09T11:42:00.003-05:002009-09-11T09:51:03.034-05:00

23 days and counting until the ESO's 60th anniversary season launch with the Romeros! We are really looking forward to a wonderful season with lots of great guest artists joining forces with our fantastic Elgin Symphony and Music Director Robert Hanson. In November, we are very excited to launch our new Family Fun Series, with the classic Peter & the Wolf, narrated by Peter Sagal (host of NPR's

MythicalBeastnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058102283742231999.post-5306576078642440732009-09-08T14:33:00.006-05:002009-09-11T09:57:41.552-05:00

It has been a busy couple of weeks in the ESO's Education Department as we get ready to launch all of our programs this season. Some of you may have no idea of the scope of ESO Education Programs in the schools. The beginning of the school year and our season is a great time to tell you since we are in the middle of putting together a brochure and series of emails to promote the programs to area

EdManager521http://www.blogger.com/profile/09838810247424828743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6058102283742231999.post-43958304698971959092009-09-04T13:57:00.004-05:002009-09-08T11:26:12.295-05:00

Thank you for visiting the Elgin Symphony blog! As an extension of both our website and facebook fan page this blog will give you more in-depth information on everything: from the music we are playing, to our guest artists, musicians, conductors and the day-to-day workings of a professional symphony orchestra.There will be several contributors throughout the season to give you unique perspectives

EdManager521http://www.blogger.com/profile/09838810247424828743noreply@blogger.com0