Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra Opens 46th Season with Negative Spaces 

In-Person and Livestream Performances 

[Elgin, Illinois, October 2021) — On Sunday, November 14, 2021, the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra (EYSO) returns to the stage of the Blizzard Theatre at Elgin Community College for in-person performances, after a season of livestream only concerts.  EYSO opens its 46th season with Negative Spaces, the first of three concerts in the FLIPPED concert series that examines how a shift in perspective can make a world of difference in music and life. EYSO, with members from approximately 70 communities, is one of Chicagoland’s oldest and most respected youth orchestras.   

“We invite you to join our wonderful musicians on November 14th as they harness the power of both sound and silence in a stunning range of repertoire, from Debussy’s evocative Clair de Lune and the iconic film score of The Dark Knight to Shostakovich’s mighty Fifth Symphony,” said Matthew Sheppard, EYSO Artistic Director.  

 EYSO will hold concerts at 2:00, 4:30, and 7:00 p.m., with each concert featuring performances by different ensembles.   

• 2:00 p.m.—Prelude, Sinfonia, Flute Choir, Sinfonia Percussion Ensemble 
• 4:30 p.m. —Brass Choir, Philharmonia, Philharmonia Percussion Ensemble 
• 7:00 p.m. —Youth Symphony, Youth Symphony Percussion Ensemble 

In-person tickets will be available beginning November 1st through the ECC Arts Center Box Office.  Per ECC policy, attendees must present at the door proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test within 72 hours of the performance date or a negative antigen test within six hours of the performance.  Unvaccinated children under age 12 will be permitted to attend with the accompaniment of a parent who presents a vaccination card or proof of a negative test.  Blizzard Theatre capacity has been reduced to 50 percent to provide for social distancing and masks are required. Livestream tickets will be sold at EYSO.org. In-person and livestream tickets are $32.00, after fees have been applied.  

EYSO also invites you to an afternoon of livestreamed music, free of charge, by the EYSO Chamber Music Institute on Sunday, November 7th.  If you’re new to classical music, these short, engaging chamber music performances at 12:45, 2:00, and 4:30 p.m. are a perfect introduction. Typically, about one-third of EYSO members are enrolled in the Chamber Music Institute, taking part in an ensemble experience that sharpens vital listening skills and provides further invaluable musicianship training.  

The Illinois Council of Orchestras named EYSO the 2021 Youth Orchestra of the Year for excellence in the field of music performance. EYSO attracts a national reputation for providing not only an engaging musical experience for its students, but also a comprehensive learning environment that promotes curiosity, imagination, critical thinking, and collaboration through methods of inquiry and “expert noticing.”  

The mission of EYSO is to create a community of young musicians, enriching their lives and the lives of their families, schools, communities, and beyond, through the study and performance of excellent music.