Fifteen brass players from the District 205 music program have been hard at work preparing for an exciting performance at the upcoming concert of the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra at 3:00 pm on November 11 at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church, 149 Brush Hill Rd. in Elmhurst. The concert, entitled “Heroic Beethoven,” will feature the world premiere of “Fanfare for Elmhurst,” a piece commissioned by the ESO from composer Terry Everson. Joining the young brass players will be Elmhurst native and York High School graduate John Hagstrom, Chicago Symphony trumpet star and featured artist at the concert, and ESO timpani player George Blanchet. In addition to his participation in the “Fanfare for Elmhurst” premiere, Hagstrom will play Hummel’s “Trumpet Concerto in E-flat” with the ESO. Also appearing on the program is Stanger Young Artist winner Susie Lee, who will play the first movement of Saint-Saëns’ “Piano Concerto No. 2.” The concert, which begins and ends with incomparable music by Beethoven, his “Coriolan Overture” and “Symphony No. 3 (Eroica),” is sponsored by a generous gift from Robert and Marcia Goltermann.
Michael Pavlik, Director of Bands at York High School, who has been helping the students prepare for the concert, is enthusiastic about the new experiences the performance offers them. “We really appreciate the vision of the Elmhurst Symphony to reach out to the community, schools, and particularly the youth,” he remarked. “Thank you for all that you are doing to facilitate opportunities like this.”
To celebrate the world premiere of Everson’s composition saluting Elmhurst, Mayor Pete DiCianni and city officials will be in attendance at the concert. Audience members will be able to meet Everson via video conferencing as he introduces the piece and talks about the composing process.
The idea for a commissioned work came from ESO Music Director Stephen Alltop, who recently won the Illinois Council of Orchestra’s Conductor of the Year award, in part for his innovative programming. Everson and Alltop have worked together for many years at the Peninsula Music Festival in Door County, WI, where Everson is Principal Trumpet. Hailed by the Boston Globe for his “dazzling, clarion brightness with elegant edges,” and in the Boston Musical Intelligencer for “virtuosity and musicality that was simply stunning,” Everson is an internationally renowned soloist, educator, composer/arranger, conductor, and church musician. Since 1999 he has been on the faculty of the Boston University College of Fine Arts and Tanglewood Institute. He appears frequently as a recitalist and clinician, and as soloist with orchestras, wind ensembles and brass bands, including the Boston Symphony and Pops, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Everson has been an active church musician for more than two decades and, as a composer, has filled commissions with many distinguished musical organizations. He holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Trumpet Performance from the Ohio State University.
The ESO and its performance of “Fanfare for Elmhurst” have enthusiastic supporters in Kevin and Rebecca Anderson. “We are thrilled to sponsor this commission from Terry Everson and to be part of this collaboration between the students and the Elmhurst Symphony,” the Andersons said. “The ESO’s mission of outreach and education in the community is very important to us; it’s very exciting to see young people have the opportunity to work with accomplished, successful musicians like John Hagstrom.”
You are invited to join the ESO in supporting the young musicians of Elmhurst and in celebrating the world premiere of “Fanfare for Elmhurst.” Tickets cost $29 for adults, $27 for seniors, and $7 for students. Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more are $25 per ticket. A single concert family ticket for $65 will admit two adults and up to three students. Purchase your tickets by visiting the ESO web site www.elmhurstsymphony.org or calling the Symphony box office at (630) 941-0202. Subscriptions for the 2012-13 season are still available. Audience members are invited to learn more about the music at a free concert preview with Ted Hatmaker at 1:45 p.m. in the upper level Gathering Room of the church. Concert doors and the box office open at 2:15. The church is handicapped-accessible and offers free parking.
Following the concert the ESO is hosting a pizza party with food provided by Roberto’s. The menu includes pizza, side dish, dessert and beverage at a cost of $12 for adults and $7 for children 10 and under. Reservations by phone (630-941-0202) or mail (ESO, PO Box 345, Elmhurst, IL, 60126) are due no later than November 7.
This concert is made possible in part by grants from the City of Elmhurst Tourism Fund, the Illinois Arts Council (a state agency), and the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation.