Woodwind

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.

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.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Scott Metlicka, Flute

---

When did you begin to play your instrument?

I started playing piano in first grade and began playing flute when the band program kicked in, in fifth grade.

Where did you study your main instrument; with whom?

Mary Louise Poor was my first flute teacher in Aurora, IL. I did my undergraduate at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and studied with Peter Middleton. Walfrid Kujala was my teacher at Northwestern University, where I did my Master’s degree. I also studied with Mary Stolper in my twenties.

When did you join ESO?

In 1998.

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

In addition to Elgin, I have contracts with three other orchestras: Principal Flute – Rockford Symphony and Wisconsin Philharmonic; Piccolo – South Bend Symphony. I also play with Chicago Opera Theater and sub with the Grant Park Symphony.

What was your most memorable ESO performance?

Debbie Reynolds sang a Pops concert with us in 2003 on short notice when Doc Severinson cancelled on short notice.

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

My great-grandparents bought a cabin in Crandon, WI in 1938 and I became half-owner with my Dad in 2018.  As I write this, I’m up at the cabin doing some work.  I removed the old carpeting to reveal beautiful hardwood floors!  In late August I began a new job as the flute professor at Northern Illinois University.  I am very grateful to have this position at my alma mater.

• 

• 

Trevor O’Riordan, clarinet

---

When did you begin to play your instrument?

I started clarinet in 6th grade, when I was 11 years old.

Where did you study your main instrument; with whom?

I received my Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Clarinet Performance from the Eastman School of Music in 2001 and 2003 respectively.  I studied with Jon Manasse.

When did you join ESO?

I joined the ESO in 2017.

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

I am Principal Clarinetist with both the South Bend Symphony Orchestra and the Illinois Philharmonic, and Second Clarinetist with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra.  I also joined the Chicago Philharmonic in 2019 and have played with the Chicago Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, and ProMusica Chamber Orchestra.

What was your most memorable ESO performance?

The Nutcracker is possibly my favorite piece of classical music, and is something I watched and listened to all the time as a kid.  To have an opportunity to play the full ballet in Elgin with my colleagues was something I’ve been looking forward to since I was 11.

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

I love to read all kinds of literature, and my wife Diane and I make time each day. Most days start Watching movies, listening to music, and making sure my two kids stay busy!

• 

• 

Erik Andrusyak, Principal Oboe

---

When did you begin to play your instrument?

I started oboe when I was 9 years old. My father played bassoon when he was younger, so one day he took me and my two older brothers to a local music school in Lipetsk, Russia, and he assigned us woodwind instruments according to how tall we were! The oldest brother was given a bassoon, the middle brother was handed a clarinet, and of course as the youngest I got an oboe. 

Where did you study your main instrument; with whom?

After my initial studies in Russia I came to Chicago and studied with the ESO’s own oboe and English horn player Joseph Claude! Later I attended DePaul University where I studied with Grace Hong and Alex Klein. 

When did you join ESO?

I just joined the ESO in the fall of 2019. It has been an amazing time with the ESO so far and I can’t wait to get back to the stage with my colleagues to perform for you again soon! 

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

I have performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Philharmonic, the New World Symphony, the Illinois Symphony and the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra. 

What was your most memorable ESO performance?

Besides my very first performance in September when I got to first meet and play with the great musicians of the ESO, my most memorable performance was the Mother Goose Ballet and Bolero program in November! Ravel can be challenging to perform, but despite this his music is often so transcendentally peaceful! 

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

I am obsessed with film and have an enormous list of films I need love to see. I have been passing much of the time introducing my wife to many of my favorite films and franchises, one of which was Star Wars! I have proudly converted her to being a Star Wars fan! We also have two cats and love spending time with them. 

• 

• 

• 

Jean Bishop, Principal Flute

---

When did you begin to play your instrument?

I was 14 – a freshman in high school. I was transferred out of an overcrowded art class and into the beginning band class about a week into my freshman year. Growing up in Chicago, there was at that time no elementary (K-8) music education – occasionally an outside teacher would come in to teach us songs and the like, so high school was my first exposure to instruments and band. The only instrument the band director had left when I arrived in class was a French horn. I tried valiantly, but that instrument made no sense to me! (Horn players everywhere will feel my pain.) The band director wanted to move me into concert band, but I wouldn’t do it unless he gave me a flute, which he did. So here we are, lol.

Where did you study your main instrument; with whom?

I went to Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University, and studied with Ralph Johnson, Mardele Combs Marcellus and Jean Berkenstock. I thought about doing a masters degree and even auditioned at a couple of schools, but then decided against it. It was a different era – these days I would advise anyone and everyone with a BM to continue on and get a MM.

When did you join ESO?

Oooo, a really long time ago!

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

I am a member of Rockford Symphony Orchestra, and have played as a substitute/extra with just about every orchestra in the area. I’ve done performances with the Grant Park Symphony, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Lake Forest Symphony, Chicago Opera Theatre, South Bend Symphony, Illinois Philharmonic, Northwest Indiana Symphony and Wisconsin Philharmonic, to name a few.

Your most memorable ESO performance

So many! I think I would have to choose a concert with a large orchestra playing a really exciting piece, like Beethoven 9, The Planets, or Rite of Spring. Also, any of  Andrew Grams’ Mahler performances stick in my mind. Another one that I remember well was in January 2016, when we performed Copland’s “Appalachian Spring” and Shostakovich Symphony No. 11.

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

I like to read – right now I’m making my way through all the Harry Potter books (for about the tenth time), and I’m doing a few home projects that I’ve never had time for. And experimenting with the Acapella app. I like to bake, but mostly do so at holiday time. Cookies and pie are my specialty. It’s rhubarb season, so I think rhubarb pie will be my next baking project.

• 

• 

• 

•