Elgin Symphony Orchestra issued the following announcement on Sept. 12.
The ElginSymphony Orchestra (ESO) will present American Spectacular, a musical salute to America honoring the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, Friday, October 5 at 7:30 pm, Schaumburg Prairie Center, and Saturday, October 6, 7:30 pm & Sunday, October 7, 2:30 pm at Hemmens Cultural Center.
The eclectic program, led by Resident Conductor Stephen Squires, includes Liberty Fanfare and Suite from Far and Away by John Williams, music by Steven Foster and Irving Berlin, Aaron Copland’s Four Dances from Rodeo and Old American Songs, & familiar favorites Battle Hymn of The Republic, God Bless America, America the Beautiful, and Armed Forces Salute. The concerts feature tenor Joe Shadday,
who appeared with the ESO in Dec 2017, and on Oct 6 & 7, the Elgin Master Chorale, directed by Andrew Lewis. Saturday concertgoers are invited after the show to Mingle with the Musicians at Bennigan’s Elgin. Concert sponsors are ComEd, EFS Foundation and the Francis J. and Patricia A. Houlihan Foundation. Tickets start at just $30. Youth/Students $11. Valet service or free parking. Visit ElginSymphony.Org or call 847-888-4000.
Indianapolis native Joe Shadday, tenor, who appeared on the orchestra’s holiday concerts in 2017, also recently appeared as Hoxton in the Lyric Opera of Chicago production of My Fair Lady. Mr. Shadday is a recent winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. He is also a skilled crossover artist and has appeared as Enoch Snow in the Glimmerglass Festival production of Carousel. Additionally, Mr. Shadday has performed with Santa Fe Opera, Chicago Opera Theatre, Indianapolis Opera, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Grant Park Music Festival, Charlottesville Opera, Kentucky Opera, Pensacola Opera, and was a previous member of the Cantus vocal ensemble. He is currently a chorus member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago. He received his M.M. from the University of Maryland where he studied under Leon Major and his B.M. from DePauw University.
In-residence at Elgin Community College, Elgin Master Chorale presents several concerts per year at the renowned Blizzard Theatre at the college, as well as the Hemmens Cultural Arts Center and other locations in the Chicago area. Under the direction of Andrew Lewis, Elgin Master Chorale is comprised of approximately 100 adult volunteer singers from across the Fox Valley communities. Proud of their rich history, dedicated singers, and drive to excel; Elgin Master Chorale has certainly grown from their valued roots as a 'union' of church choirs, and are dedicated to their mission of being the premiere vocal ensemble in the Fox Valley. Learn more at ElginMasterChorale.org.
Stephen Squires is a musician with a career that blends his passions for conducting, teaching, and performing.
He received his musical training at the Preparatory School of the Eastman School of Music and the Crane School of Music, in his home state of New York. Mr. Squires earned his Master's degree in Instrumental Conducting/Trumpet Performance at California State University, Northridge. Further conducting studies were with Helmuth Rilling, Maurice Abravanel, Daniel Lewis, Tsung Yeh, and at the Aspen Music Festival. Mr. Squires is Professor of Conducting in the Music Conservatory of the Chicago College of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University. His current professional appointments include Resident Conductor of the Elgin (IL) Symphony Orchestra, Music Director of the Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra (Rockford, IL), Music Director of the Millar Brass (Evanston, IL), and Music Director of the Illinois Brass Band (Arlington Heights, IL). In addition, he is an accomplished recital accompanist, freelance trumpeter, and frequent guest conductor at educational festivals throughout the country.
Now in its 68th season, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra (ESO) 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! We strive to create an enjoyable entertainment experience that goes beyond the magnificent music performed by some of the best musicians in the country. There is accessible, free parking around the Hemmens Cultural Center and valet service available. The festive concert event often features musicians performing in the lobby before concerts, and patrons can purchase unique, music-themed gifts at the Elgin Symphony League Boutique. Pre-concert 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. The ESO is a world-class orchestra presenting quality musical explorations of some of the greatest music ever written, conveniently located close to home in the western suburbs. The ESO-Transforming the Symphony Experience. ElginSymphony.Org.
Original source can be found here.
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