Elgin Symphony Orchestra

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra, four-time winner of Orchestra of the Year!

ESO in the News

Meet the Musician: Sara Sitzer, Cello

Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Sara Sitzer, cello

Sara Sitzer, Cello

Instrument/section:

Cello

When did you begin to play your instrument?

I started on piano when I was about five years old and, two years into my piano studies, my parents enrolled me in the week-long Chicago Suzuki Institute. At the end of every day, after lessons and classes that were usually one-on-one in a small room with a piano teacher, I’d head back to my dorm, passing through a room chock full of 30 or so cellists having a grand time making music together as a cello ensemble. Not only did they all get to play together, but the sound was unlike anything I had ever heard before, and they looked like they were having the time of their life! Needless to say, I switched instruments immediately…and the rest is history.

Do you play any other instruments?

Nope, I’m a one trick pony!

Where did you study your main instrument; with whom?

I received my Bachelor of Music degree in Cello Performance from Boston University as a student of Andres Diaz and Michael Reynolds, then earned a Master of Music from the University of Wisconsin – Madison while studying with Uri Vardi. After that, I spent three years in Miami Beach, Florida, as a fellow with the New World Symphony under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas.

When did you join ESO?

I joined ESO in 2011.

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

Besides playing with the ESO, I freelance all around the area, performing somewhat regularly with Chicago Opera Theater, the Milwaukee Symphony, and various other area orchestras and ensembles. Throughout its 3-year run on Broadway in Chicago, I was one of the regular subs that got to play in the pit for Hamilton, which was a blast. In addition to playing, I’m also one of the founding Artistic Directors of Chamber Music on the Fox (along with ESO bass trombonist Mark Fry), and I am the founding Artistic Director of the Gesher Music Festival, which takes place every August in my hometown of St. Louis.

What was your most memorable ESO performance?

Several seasons ago, the ESO was lucky enough to feature the famed cellist Lynn Harrell as soloist with the orchestra. In the music world, Harrell had always been looked up to as kind of a cello God, known for looking like he is exerting absolutely zero effort while playing any number of insanely difficult passages. Despite the fact that his fingers were about the size of large Italian sausages, he nevertheless played so delicately and beautifully that you were tempted to do a double take. So, not only was it a treat performing behind him as soloist, but then, being the absolute dear that he was, he also joined us from the back of the cello section in the Brahms 1st Symphony on the program’s second half. Afterwards, I ended up chatting with him until 1:00 am over beers at the Elgin Public House. Lynn Harrell passed away a few weeks ago and, besides the magnificent legacy he leaves behind, I will never forget his kind and wonderful spirit that week we got to spend with him in Elgin.

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

Since this recent pandemic has put the kibosh on public performances and I’ve got a lot more time on my hands, I thought I’d share what I’ve been up to with my quirky, delightful, entertaining three-year-old daughter. She’s got quite an imagination and plenty of curiosity, and with the recent nicer weather, we’ve spent a lot of time roaming around our neighborhood. So, first things first on our walks: we must pick dandelions to feed to the grotesques. Because…we are now experts on gargoyles vs. grotesques, and the lawn ornaments that you may think are gargoyles are not — if they don’t have a water spout, they are actually grotesques. And, according to 3-year-old Talia, grotesques feed on dandelions. Who knew? Additionally, I never before realized how many houses have frog lawn ornaments! Now, however, we visit each and every one of them daily. We typically transform into the “Old Dark Frog” (from the good old “Days with Frog and Toad” book), which I’m sure really puts our neighbors at ease. Did I mention she’s quirky? Quarantine is definitely not boring around here!

  • Sara’s daughter hunting for dandelions
  • Sara Sitzer, cello

Meet the Musician: Mark Fry, Bass Trombone

ESO-Mark Fry, Bass Trombone

Mark Fry, Bass Trombone

When did you begin to play your instrument?

I started on the trumpet in 6th grade and then switched to the bass trombone my sophomore year in high school. I also started to seriously study euphonium my freshman year in college. I was surrounded by musicians in my family growing up, both professional and amateur. My mother used to be a fine pianist and accompanied all of my recitals until my last couple years of college. My father was a huge classical music fan and I still have most of his vinyl records in my current collection. 

Where did you study your main instrument; with whom?

My trombone teachers in high school were Aubrey Tucker (my uncle and fabulous jazz trombonist and composer) and David Waters (former bass trombonist of the Houston Symphony and Rice University professor). Unfortunately, both of these wonderful gentlemen passed away recently. At the University of Houston, I studied with Allen Barnhill (principal trombone, Houston Symphony) and John McCroskey (Houston Symphony, retired).  Post College — principal trombone Jay Friedman, Chicago Symphony.

When did you join ESO?

I joined the ESO officially in 2002 but subbed for three years before that. I’m currently on a leave of absence and am the acting bass trombonist of Lyric Opera of Chicago.  

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

Other orchestras that I have performed with: Chicago Symphony Orchestra (frequent sub since 1998, including tours), Houston Symphony Orchestra (frequent sub since 1992, including several recordings and tours), Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, Colorado Symphony, Charleston Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Chicago Philharmonic (member since 2000), Chicago Sinfonietta, Kalamazoo Symphony and Spoleto Festival, Italy. 

What was your most memorable ESO performance?

My most memorable performance with the ESO was getting to perform Carl Nielsen’s Flute Concerto with Amy Porter as our flute soloist and Jose Luis Gomez, conducting. This is a work for a smaller chamber orchestra with only three brass players, two horns and bass trombone. The bass trombonist has several solos throughout the work that are a dialogue with the flute soloist.  It’s a great piece by one of my favorite composers!

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

I’m having no problem keeping busy these days! I’ve been working on a lot of solo literature for my instrument and plan on doing a bunch of recitals once this thing is over. I just bought a house last summer and have been working on it…gardening, painting and other minor repairs and upgrades. I have a small yet bountiful vegetable garden. I’m a vegan and it has been coming in handy! I love to cook and have been experimenting with a ton of new recipes. I’m also brewing beer a bit more and just started kegging it. I have a two tap kegerator.  

Since I’m home more these days, I took in a foster cat. Riley is an adorable tortoise-shell cat. She’s tiny but with a huge personality. I’m still looking for a great home for her. My other two cats, Josephine and Buddy, get along with her okay but they’ll be happier when they have the house back to themselves. I also started volunteering at Illinois Equine Humane Center twice a week. It’s a wonderful horse rescue in Maple Park. It’s a tremendous joy to be helping out these magnificent animals! 

  • Mark and Buddy
  • Josephine
  • Foster Cat, Riley
  • Illinois Equine Humane Center

Meet the Musician: Helen Kim, Violin

Helen Kim, Violin

Instrument/section:

I’m a member of the ESO’s First Violin section.

When did you begin to play your instrument?

I started when I was 5.

Do you play any other instruments?

I love to play the piano. I enjoy being able to cover all voices with the piano.

Where did you study your main instrument; with whom?

My main teachers were Syoko Aki at Yale University, Zvi Zeitlin at the Eastman School of Music and Robert Mann at The Juilliard School. Other important teachers for me include Robert Lipsett and Sylvia Rosenberg.

When did you join ESO?

I joined in 2013.

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

I play with the Chicago Philharmonic and often with Music of the Baroque. Before moving to Chicago with my family in 2008, I lived in New York City where I led an active freelance career, performing on Broadway as a member of the orchestra for Mel Brooks’ shows The Producers and Young Frankenstein and also as a member of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra.

What was your most memorable ESO performance?

My most memorable ESO performance is probably the concert with Andrew Grams conducting the Shostakovich 11th Symphony. It was such an emotionally charged, committed and well-received performance! Another great memory involves our performance of Leonard Bernstein’s string orchestra arrangement of Beethoven’s final string quartet, Opus 135. This was very challenging and Andrew really encouraged us to embrace pushing our boundaries, overcome our limitations and make beautiful music.

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

I never had a lot of toys as a child but I was given a violin. I remember coming home from Kindergarten one day after a little boy brought his violin to school for Show and Tell. I don’t even remember his playing and yet it somehow made an impression on me and I told my parents that I wanted to play. As I was already taking piano lessons and doing well with that, and as my parents loved and listened regularly to classical music (especially the music of Beethoven), I suppose it was a request they were happy to fulfill. Soon after I got my own violin, a 1/16th size in a small black case lined with orange fluffy fur. On the outer rim of the case my father had affixed a black electrical tape label with my name punched in. I was given lessons as well, the full package! I began studying with a strict nun named Sister Valentia who taught in the Suzuki method. I ended up choosing the violin again and again, including in middle school when the dean of the conservatory where I was attending brought me into her big office to encourage me to choose piano as my main instrument, and again later in college, though I was at first on track to go into either medicine or law. The violin prevailed, however, and there is nothing I would rather play for as long as I am able. No other instrument moves me quite the way the sound of a beautifully played violin does.

Living in lockdown and with concerts cancelled these past several months has allowed much time for reflection. Amidst all the challenges that life presents, I keep coming back to how essential music is for me. The amount of incredible, mind-blowing music that has been written in the history of mankind (and has yet to be written) is enough to fill countless lifetimes with meaningful pursuit. I feel so privileged to be able to participate and engage with this music whenever I play. When I think about how much playing the violin means to me I suppose I should thank my 5-year-old self for asking for it in the first place!

Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Helen Kim, violin

Meet the Musician: Mary Buscanics-Jones, French Horn

ESO-Mary-Buscanics-Jones, French-Horn

Mary Buscanics-Jones, French Horn

When did you begin to play your instrument?

I started horn in 7th grade. Previous to that I took piano lessons starting in 3rd grade then played flute in 6th grade. Needless to say, switching to horn was wonderful!!

Where did you study your main instrument; with whom?

In high school I studied horn with Patricia Standley through the CMU Saturday Extension School. (Fun Fact : As a member of the Pittsburgh Symphony she was on “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” in March of 1968!) I went to Carnegie-Mellon University 1972-1977, where I studied with Forrest Standley through five years of college and beyond. In Aspen I studied with Michael Hatfield. When I moved to Chicago I studied with then-Chicago Symphony Orchestra principal hornist Dale Clevenger, Eugene Chausow and Arnold Jacobs, and had just a couple of lessons with Gail Williams.

When did you join ESO?

I auditioned for Margaret Hillis and Robert Hanson and began with ESO the fall of 1981.

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

The many groups I’ve played with include Chicago Opera Theater 2018, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Lake Forest Symphony, Illinois Philharmonic and the Pittsburgh Symphony.

What was your most memorable ESO performance?

This past February I played second horn on the Strauss Oboe Concerto. The part was very unusual in that it was mostly separate from the first horn part and really fun. It had these neat parts interwoven with other instruments including the solo oboe. I was so glad that I did my “homework” before that ESO week began! Before Covid-19 social distancing was put in place, I had just finished a week of  Ein Heldenleben with Madison Symphony. Overnight I lost weeks of orchestra work that I was preparing to perform. It was so sad to miss out on the weeks of orchestra playing, but just having played wonderful interesting music in two different orchestras helped me to cope.  

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

I’ve truly been enjoying my walks outside. They seem to help me to stay grounded. My husband and I walk a bike trail and it is a good way to remember how much we enjoy time together. I’ve been sorting music and stuff and listening to WFMT. I’m surprised that I am enjoying just listening to music. For many years listening to music has been almost exclusively to learn it in order to perform it! I am reading much more, and really just learning to relax!!

Meet the Musician: Greg Flint, Principal French Horn

ESO musician Greg-Flint-French-Horn

Greg Flint, Principal French Horn

When did you begin to play your instrument?

In the 4th grade. It was going to be the horn, or the oboe. Luckily, my aunt and uncle had an old horn that was not being used in their attic. It stuck with me right away.

Where did you study your main instrument; with whom?

I started with Anna Cloud (formerly of the Seattle Symphony) when we lived in Seattle. In Wenatchee, Washington, I studied with Glenn Kelly (conductor) and Verne Windham (principal horn of the Spokane Symphony). At Northwestern University I studied with Richard Oldberg and Dale Clevenger, both of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

When did you join ESO?

I officially joined the ESO around 2000.

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

My main orchestral experience outside of the ESO has been with the Milwaukee Symphony, the Santa Fe Opera orchestra, the Joffrey Ballet orchestra, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago orchestra. I have also played with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Florida Orchestra, the Honolulu Symphony, and the Key West Symphony.  (I like working in warmer climates. 🙂)

What was your most memorable ESO performance?

There have been many, but if I were to pick one, it would be our performance of “Ghost Ranch” by Michael Daugherty.  The piece was new to me, by a composer I really admire (who was in the audience for Saturday night’s performance), and the piece prominently featured the outstanding ESO horn section.

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

I am the horn professor at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, so my big consuming passion is working with music students, and the study of brass pedagogy. Teaching online has been an interesting challenge, but like any creative endeavor, I think it’s much more effective and satisfying in “real life”.

I enjoy reading both fiction and non-fiction, and am getting much more of that in now, along with horn practicing, and learning new repertoire. Traveling is also a love of mine, but right now that consists of many walks around our neighborhood in Wauwatosa, WI.

My wife Karen is a fine pianist and horn player (she often plays with the ESO), and my daughters play trombone (Zoe) and viola (Kate). It is an interesting combination of instruments, and we are hoping to become more of an online musical presence soon 🙂. We are also preparing a program for hospital patients and staff.

Wishing everyone good health, and strength during these difficult times. 

Meet the Musician: Trevor O’Riordan, Clarinet

ESO Trevor O'Riordan, Clarinet

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!