Concerts

We are excited to welcome Conductor Tania Miller this weekend (October 2^nd and 3^rd ), to lead the Elgin Symphony Orchestra through the works of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Miller, and Respighi in the opening concert of our 2021-2022 season, “Pines of Rome”. Maestra Miller shared this video with us in which she mentions her excitement to return to the stage and to lead works by these notable composers. Tickets are available at: www.elginsymphony.org/concerts/pines-of-rome

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra is excited to announce the return of concerts to the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin, the Raue Center in Crystal Lake and the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie as the Symphony reveals its 2021-22 season.

Subscription sales and renewals begin July 6, 2021 online at www.ElginSymphony.org, or by phone at 847-888-4000 or in person at the ESO box office, 20 DuPage Court., Elgin, Il, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Single tickets will go on sale Aug. 16.

The new season has something for everyone – from classics to contemporary to family-friendly holiday performances.

The works of Respighi, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Beethoven, Mozart, Barber, Copland, Dvořák, Tallis, Vaughn Williams, Mendelssohn, Montgomery, Schumann, Wagner, Shostakovich, Miller, and Rachmaninoff are featured in the Classics series, which includes the following performances:

• “Pines of Rome” on Oct. 2 and 3;
• “Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5” on Nov. 6 and 7;
• “Brahms Symphony No. 2” on Jan. 8 and 9, 2022;
• “Beethoven’s Eroica” on Feb. 5 and 6, 2022;
• “Mozart Requiem” on March 5 and 6, 2022; and
• “Old American Songs” on April 2 and 3, 2022.

The Pops series includes “The Rocky Horror Picture Show Tribute” on Oct. 16 and 17; “The Film Music of John Williams” on Nov. 19, 20 and 21; and “Sergeant Pepper” on Feb. 18, 19 and 20, 2022.

Families will enjoy the “Holiday Spectacular” concerts on Dec. 10, 11 and 12; and “Mariachi!” on April 30 and May 1. Rounding out the Special Events options are the June 11 and 12 performances of “Scheherazade On The Farm”, which will be held at The Venue at Goebbert’s in Pingree Grove.

ESO Musical Director Andrew Grams, who is leaving the ESO in August, will return for a guest conductor appearance at the Scheherazade On The Farm performances. Other conductors for the 2021-22 season include Resident Conductor Stephen Squires, Ankush Bahl, Jose Luis Gomez, Matthew Halls, Andrew Lewis, Tania Miller, Anna Rakitina, Arturo Rodriguez, Lidiya Yankovskaya.

Guest musicians will include Sarah Davis Buechner, Robert Everson, Randall Goosby, Gabriel Martins, and Schaghajegh Nosrati.

Guest vocalists include Soprano Amanda Forsythe, Mezzo Soprano Amanda Crider, Tenor James Reese, Bass Jonathan Woody, Bass Baritone Ryan Speedo Green, and the Elgin Master Chorale.

Guest Artists include Jeans ‘N Classics and Mariachi Acero.

“Our musicians and staff are eager to return to a regular schedule of playing for our patrons. We’ve been fortunate to have the assistance of many loyal supporters as we navigated fewer and smaller concerts during COVID. We are excited to be able to see all of our fans fill the concert halls again,” said Erik Malmquist, executive director of the ESO.

As in the past, subscribers can select from the six-concert Classics series or they can build their own series by selecting any four or more concerts from either the Classics series, the Pops series or two special events to receive a subscriber discount. Ticket packages for the six-performance Classics series start at $150. Subscribers to the Build Your Own series will save $10 per Classic single-ticket price and $5 per Pops or Special Event single-ticket prices. All subscribers receive ticket discounts on subsequent ticket purchases, have no-fee ticket exchanges, and can receive a 50 percent discount on valet parking vouchers.

The ESO was founded in 1950 and became a fully professional ensemble in 1985. Over its history, the ESO has featured a roster of legendary soloists including classical music legends Yo Yo Ma, Kathleen Battle, Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zucherman, Sir James Galloway and James Ehnes. The ESO has been named Orchestra of the Year four times by the Illinois Council of Orchestras (1988, 1999, 2005 and 2016).

A community organization that draws its creativity and artistry from the Elgin area, the ESO is dedicated to giving back to the areas it serves. Ensemble members regularly perform at local hospitals and hospice centers, offer music education programs within local schools, and provide free experiences through the Listeners Club and open-to-the-public rehearsals.

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra (ESO) today announced an amended spring 2021 schedule amid continued state-mandated gathering restrictions surrounding COVID-19.

“We have proactively reimagined our performances to ensure we can continue to provide a world class symphonic experience in a way that keeps our musicians, guests and staff safe,” said Erik Malmquist, executive director, Elgin Symphony Orchestra.

Previously planned spring concerts at The Hemmens have been cancelled and are being replaced with ‘Fridays on the Farm’: a new, three-concert, outdoor spring and summer festival to be held at The Venue at Gobbert’s Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard in Pingree Grove. The tented space allows for social distancing to comply with state guidelines. ESO subscribers have been notified by mail of the cancellation and the option to exchange or donate tickets.

“We are excited to celebrate Maestro Andrew Grams’ final season with the ESO at this beautiful location,” Malmquist said.

Grams, a protégé of Franz Welser-Moest, has conducted orchestras around the world. He was appointed music director of the ESO in June 2013 after a two-year, international search, and was named Conductor of the Year by the Illinois Council of Orchestras in 2015.

The Fridays at the Farm symphonic performance schedule includes:

• A chamber orchestra concert on May 21;
• A full orchestra performance on July 2; and,
• Maestro Grams’ farewell concert featuring the full ESO orchestra on Aug. 6.

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The ESO was founded in 1950 and became a fully professional ensemble in 1985. Over its history, the ESO has featured a roster of legendary soloists including classical music legends Yo Yo Ma, Kathleen Battle, Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zucherman, Sir James Galloway and James Ehnes. The ESO has been named Orchestra of the Year four times by the Illinois Council of Orchestras (1988, 1999, 2005 and 2016).

A community organization that draws its creativity and artistry from the Elgin area, the ESO is dedicated to giving back to the areas it serves. Ensemble members regularly perform at local hospitals and hospice centers, offer music education programs within local schools, and provide free experiences through the Listeners Club and open-to-the-public rehearsals.

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra (ESO) announced the cancellation of its scheduled performances for the first portion of their season – September, October, November, December – due to the ongoing health and public safety concerns related to Covid-19. This includes the season opening concert of Beethoven 9, The Music of Journey & Queen, and the annual Holiday Concert.

“During the past several months, we have been monitoring the global conversation around public health as it pertains to concerts and large gatherings. Facing the prospect of a hall that will remain closed through the end of the calendar year (or open to an audience of no more than 50), we have made the difficult decision to cancel all programming currently planned up to December 31, 2020, ” said Erik Malmquist, Executive Director of the ESO. “While this is difficult news for us as an organization, we hope to use these intervening two months between the cancellation and what was to have been Beethoven 9 to work on safer, smaller-scale events that will keep our audience engaged and the Elgin Symphony playing in a safe and responsible way.”

The ESO has been diligently working on creating alternative concert opportunities in new venues which will allow for social distancing as well as offering the option for live-streaming so patrons may enjoy from their homes.  The alternative concerts will take place on Friday, September 11th at Goebbert’s Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard in Pingree Grove and on Saturday, September 12th at The Haight in Elgin. They will feature repertoire that includes George Walker’s Lyric for Strings and Haydn’s Symphony No 60 and will feature virtuoso violinist and Chicago resident Philippe Quint of Massenet and Sarasate. There will be a very limited number of tickets available to these performances, but streaming tickets will be available for purchase.

“The impact of Covid-19 on the arts and those who create it has been immeasurable, but we will not let this be the end. The fall will look very different, but by being flexible, staying active, staying engaged and adapting to the cultural moment, we will do everything we can to use this time to give the organization renewed purpose and direction,” said Erik Malmquist. The ESO has launched a fundraising campaign to help alleviate some of the financial impact this pandemic has caused.