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Elgin Symphony Orchestra

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Meet the Musicians

Meet the Musician: Sharon Chang, Assistant Principal Violin II

January 21, 2021

Hailed for her, “instantaneously arresting …sweet, clear, vital” sound (The New York Sun), violinist Sharon Chang maintains an active career as a chamber musician, orchestral musician and as a teacher. Ms. Chang has won numerous first prize awards in competition and has had the privilege of performing, as a soloist, with orchestras including the North Suburban Symphony, Waukegan Symphony, and Camerata Chicago.  

As a chamber musician, Ms. Chang has performed on the Wednesdays at One series in New York City’s Alice Tully Hall, and performed in collaborations resulting in radio broadcasts on From The Top and on Chicago’s classical station 98.7 WFMT. A recipient of a Farwell Scholarship from the Musicians Club of Women, Ms. Chang has held positions in several orchestras, including the Akron Symphony, Canton Symphony, and Cleveland Pops Orchestras.  She currently holds the Assistant Principal Second Violin position with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, and is a substitute violinist with several orchestras nationwide.  

Ms. Chang has studied with Stephen Clapp at The Juilliard School, and with William Preucil and Joel Smirnoff at the Cleveland Institute of Music.  Ms. Chang maintains a private violin studio, and has served as violin faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago.

Filed Under: ESO, Meet the Musicians, Strings

Meet the Musician: Nazar Dzhuryn, Assistant Principal Cello

November 5, 2020

ESO-Nazar Dzhuryn, Assistant Principal, Cello 

Nazar Dzhuryn, Assistant Principal Cello

A native of Lviv, Ukraine, cellist Nazar Dzhuryn enjoys a diverse career as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician, and educator. He graduated from the Lviv Music School and earned his Master of Music degree at the Moscow State Conservatory under Igor Gavrysh. Upon graduation, Dzhuryn served as an assistant professor at the Moscow State Conservatory, before moving to Chicago. 

Dzhurin’s solo recitals for the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts and the PianoForte Salon Series have been broadcast live on 98.7 WFMT. In recent seasons, he has appeared as a soloist with the Moscow State Symphony, Moscow Conservatory Symphony, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Lviv Philharmonic, National Symphony of Ukraine in Kiev, Minsk Philharmonic, Ensemble of Soloists Classicus in Zagreb, Sinfonietta Bel Canto IL, Harper Symphony Orchestra, Northwest Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Woodstock Mozart Festival Orchestra, Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra and Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra. In addition, Nazar has given numerous solo recitals and master classes in Russia, Ukraine, Croatia, South America, South Africa, South Korea and the U.S. In 2008 he released his solo debut CD, Cello Monologue, featuring works by Reger and Kodaly. His next CD, Cello Monologue 2 was released in 2013, featuring works of Ysaye, Hindemith, Crumb, Ligeti and Laniuk. 

Nazar has appeared as part of the Rush Hour Concerts Series at St. James Cathedral in Chicago and as a guest artist with the Chicago Chamber Musicians and is a frequent chamber music collaborator of members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Formerly the principal cello of the Moscow State Symphony “Young Russia” and the Moscow Conservatory Symphony, Nazar has served as the assistant principal cello of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra since 2000 and as the principal cello of the Woodstock Mozart Festival Orchestra since 2004. He participated in the Rostropovich Festival in Evian, France, and has performed as an orchestral musician under such conductors as Georg Solti, Mstislav Rostropovich, Daniel Barenboim, and Helmuth Rilling.

Nazar maintains private teaching studios in Chicago and Elgin and serves on the faculties of Northeastern Illinois University and the Naperville School for the Performing Arts. He also coaches chamber ensembles for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO). Nazar’s students have won prizes in numerous competitions, including the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the Walgreens National Concerto Competition, and the Chicago Chamber Music Competition.

ESO-Nazar Dzhuryn, Assistant Principal, Cello

Filed Under: ESO, Meet the Musicians, Strings

Meet the Musician: Rebecca Swan, Viola

November 2, 2020

ESO- Rebecca Swan, Viola

Rebecca Swan, Viola

Rebecca Swan is a graduate of the Juilliard School, where she studied with Heidi Castleman and Misha Amory. A native of the Chicago area, Rebecca recently moved back after several years in Charlotte, NC, where she played Principal Viola for Charlotte’s Broadway Series and subbed regularly with the Charlotte Symphony.

Rebecca has played with Iris Chamber Orchestra under Michael Stern, New World Symphony with Michael Tilson Thomas, The Perlman Program Orchestra with Itzhak Perlman, and The Orquesta Sinfonia Nacional de Costa Rica in San Jose, Costa Rica. She was the youngest member ever to be accepted into the Civic Orchestra of Chicago under Daniel Barenboim when she was 16. Some of her favorite freelance opportunities have been playing backup for Josh Groban, Stevie Wonder, and Andrea Bocelli.

Rebecca currently is a member of the Grant Park Symphony, Elgin Symphony and is Principal Violist with the Rockford Symphony. This year she played with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Philharmonic, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, and has served as guest principal of the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra.

Filed Under: ESO, Meet the Musicians, Strings

Meet the Musician: Gene Collerd, Principal Clarinet

November 2, 2020

ESO Gene Collerd, Principal Clarinet

Gene Collerd, Principal Clarinet

Gene Collerd holds B.A. and M.M. degrees from Yale University where he studied clarinet with Keith Wilson and conducting with Otto-Werner Mueller. He also studied clarinet with Anthony Gigliotti of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Robert Marcellus at Northwestern University, and with soloist Richard Stoltzman. He is Professor of Music, Emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago where he was active as a conductor and now teaches clarinet, chamber music, and theory. Serving for several years as Coordinator of Music, he was Chair of the Department of Theatre and Music at UIC in 2010-2011.

Collerd plays Principal Clarinet with the Elgin Symphony, Chicago Opera Theater, Ars Viva Orchestra, and the New Sousa Band; he plays Assistant Principal Clarinet and Bass Clarinet with the Grant Park Symphony of Chicago. A founding member of the Chicago Wind Quintet, he continues to be a guest with such notable ensembles as Music of the Baroque, Chicago Chamber Musicians, Rembrandt Chamber Players, the Lyric Opera Orchestra, and the Chicago and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestras.

Recently, Collerd was a featured soloist in Frank Martin’s Concerto for Seven Winds in the Grant Park Music Festival in Millennium Park, Chicago. In 2006 and in 2009 Collerd was a resident artist/teacher at the Fine Arts College of Nanjing, China. As a recitalist and chamber musician he has performed on many campuses and professional series in this country, Canada, and the People’s Republic of China. He can be heard on the recording Embrace the Wind (RealMusic label) and he is currently working on a CD of music for clarinet and percussion for Centaur Records. His New York debut recital was warmly received by The New York Times and critic John von Rhein of the Chicago Tribune has hailed his “virtuoso playing.” His professional conducting includes performances with the Grant Park Symphony and the Arie Crown production of The Nutcracker ballet.

Filed Under: ESO, Meet the Musicians, Woodwind

Meet the Musician: Julia Richter, Flute, Piccolo

October 26, 2020

Julia Richter, Flute / Piccolo


Instrument/Section

Flute / Piccolo

When did you begin to play your instrument?

I picked the flute out of an array of instruments so that I could join my 6th grade school band. I remember my decision was made by careful consideration of which instrument was the shiniest.

Do you play any other instruments?

Piccolo

Where did you study your main instrument; with whom?

I took private flute lessons with different local flute teachers from 6th – 12th grade. At college, I studied with Dr. Marilyn Shotola at Portland State University in Oregon for my Bachelors of Music degree and Dr. Mary Karen Clardy at the University of North Texas for my Masters.

When did you join ESO?

I joined the ESO in 1999!

What other orchestras have you played with/do you play with now?

I’ve played with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra , Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, Grant Park Orchestra, Lyric Opera Orchestra and Chicago Opera Theatre Orchestra.

What was your most memorable ESO performance?

A few concerts stand out in my memory. One was the Opening Season Gala with Sir James Galway as flute soloist. It was incredible to have such a famous musician on the same stage with the ESO! It was also fun to chat with him about all things flute at the reception afterwards. Another concert was getting to play every piccolo players dream piece, Shostakovich Symphony #10.  The piccolo part is very difficult, rewarding, terrifying and inspiring. Everything you could want in a piece as a musician. Andrew Grams was conducting, and I believe it was his first season as music director of the ESO! I’ll never forget the rush of adrenaline as we got to the end of the piece and also a feeling of pride for being a part of the incredible Elgin Symphony Orchestra.

What are some of your interests, and how are you passing the time?

I love rock climbing, biking and generally being active outdoors. I also love listening to live music of any style during summer evenings with a picnic and a good bottle of wine. Since we’ve had to be more homebound recently due to the pandemic, I’ve been playing a lot of board games with my daughter. The whole family participates in a Skee-Ball tournament we’ve created in our house every Sunday evening. We have a big scoreboard and my daughter makes certificates and prizes for us all.

I’ve also been spending a lot of time experimenting with a multi-frame video app called Acapella. I used it originally to create practice videos for a student flute choir, but I’ve found that it is fun to do just for my own fun and it keeps my flute playing in shape. The ESO flute section did a virtual flute trio using Acapella a few weeks ago! It was so much fun to still be able play with my colleagues even though we couldn’t be together in real time.

Here is a link to one of Julia’s Acapella projects.

  • Julia with fellow ESO flutists Jean Bishop and Scott Metlicka
  • Julia with Gerry Loughney and Sara Sitzer
  • Julia playing a pink piccolo

Filed Under: ESO, Meet the Musicians, Woodwind

Meet the Musician: Greg Heintz, Double Bass

October 26, 2020

Elgin Symphony Orchestra - Greg Heintz, Bass

Greg Heintz, Double Bass


Instrument/Section

Double Bass

When did you begin to play your instrument?

I started playing the Bass at the beginning of my junior year of high school. The music teachers were more than a little skeptical when I showed up, out of the blue, asking to join the jazz band and orchestra! Luckily, they took a chance on me.

Do you play any other instruments?

I can play a few things on the guitar. I can plunk even fewer things out on the piano.

Where did you study your main instrument; with whom?

I earned my Bachelor of Music Degree in Double Bass Performance from Northern Illinois University, where I studied with ESO bassist John Floeter. I then received a Master’s Degree in Bass Performance from Roosevelt University, studying with Lyric Opera bassist Andy Anderson and Milwaukee Symphony Principal Jon McCullough-Benner.

When did you join ESO?

Fall, 2019

What other orchestras have you played with/do you play with now?

The Elgin Symphony is the first orchestral job for which I successfully auditioned. I played in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago for 2 years, where I was fortunate enough to serve as Principal Bass for many concert cycles. I’ve also been very privileged to appear as a substitute player with many of the fantastic ensembles in the Midwest; including the Milwaukee, Chicago and St. Louis Symphony Orchestras.

What was your most memorable ESO performance?

To be honest, despite the pandemic cutting the season short, this entire season has been my most memorable. Auditioning is an extremely difficult and competitive process for all musicians, but because of about 20 minutes of playing my best, I was selected to join this fantastic orchestra! I will certainly never forget sitting on stage with the orchestra for the first rehearsal of the season. That first week was a lot of fun.

What are some of your interests, and how are you passing the time?

I remember going to the Elgin Symphony for the first time with my mother and grandparents many years ago. The big piece on the program was Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz.

During my senior year of high school, our orchestra took a field trip to Symphony Center to see the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra play Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony. The moment I stepped into that hall to hear that orchestra play, I knew what I wanted to do with the rest of my life: it was a life-changing experience. I fell in love with the pre-concert energy that filled the hall, from the stage to the audience. The silence that came when the lights dimmed enchanted me, and the superb musicality of that orchestra was astounding.

A few years ago, I began playing chess online for fun. I see a lot of correlations between chess and the performing arts. Much like learning an instrument, it takes years and years of study and practice to become a good chess player. Similar to performing, there are many things in chess you must commit to memory. Chess has themes and variations, composed puzzles, and even its own notation. The pandemic has stopped all in-person tournaments, but many of the top players in the world are still competing in online tournaments. I’ve had a lot of fun watching!

For two years I played in a Bluegrass band called “Truman’s Ridge.” I had to learn around 100 tunes by ear during rehearsals.

I have a wonderful cat named Dancer. She is a big fan of classical music! My fiancée Emily is currently pursuing her Doctorate Degree at UMKC in violin, which for Dancer is fantastic because violin happens to be her favorite instrument. The attached picture shows Dancer helping Emily practice by napping in Emily’s violin case.

ESO - Greg Heintz
Dancer in Emily’s violin case
ESO - Greg Heintz

Filed Under: ESO, Meet the Musicians, Strings

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