Taking Note – Issue 22
Since Our Last Note
Back to Rehearsals!
We are so excited to be rehearsing in person at ECC this fall, and it's such a joy to hear students making beautiful music as they explore Myths & Legends together each Sunday.In the first weeks of this unusual season, the EYSO community has shown remarkable dedication to our pandemic-related health & safety guidelines. Everyone is wearing masks (bell covers, too), sanitizing their hands, and keeping a "jumping jack" distance from those around them. We're entering through the "enter" doors and exiting through the "exit" doors so as not to bump into our colleagues as we adapt to new seating charts and rehearsal locations. Staff and volunteers speedily sanitize music stands between ensembles to make sure we're only sharing the stands—not our germs.
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who is working so hard to help keep us safe.
Honors Chamber Ensembles Announced
The Honors Chamber Ensembles (HCEs) are part of the EYSO Chamber Music Institute (CMI) and represent the highest level of chamber music making in EYSO. All four groups got off to a wonderful start back in August with a socially-distanced HCE Retreat Day, and we're looking forward to a season of musical excellence!
Maud Powell String Quartet: Zylle Constantino, violin, Gilberts; Perry Li, violin, Algonquin; Harry Graham, viola, St. Charles; Kennedy Buehler, cello, Campton Hills
Named for Maud Powell, America’s first international violin superstar, this string quartet is coached by Timothy Archbold, who has performed with orchestras and string quartets throughout the world. MPSQ is offered tuition-free through the generosity of EYSO patrons Ed and Joyce Dlugopolski.
Hanson String Quartet: Zachary Stordahl, violin, Cary; Cate Winsor, violin, Campton Hills; Lillian Cano, viola, Bartlett; Lydia Gruenwald, cello, Lombard
This second honors quartet is named for the EYSO’s founding conductor Robert Hanson, and is coached by cellist Timothy Archbold. HSQ is offered tuition free to its members.
Sterling Brass Quintet: Emanuel Vasquez, trumpet, Carpentersville; Camden Hildy, trumpet, Elmhurst; Luke Suarez, horn, Peru; Daniel White, trombone, Batavia; J.T. Butcher, tuba, Algonquin
Coached by Matthew and Kari Lee of the acclaimed Millar Brass Ensemble, the quintet focuses on performance techniques unique to brass playing, with an eclectic mix of repertoire from the Renaissance to the 21st century. SBQ is offered tuition free through the generosity of the family of the late EYSO patron and SBQ namesake, Sterling (Stu) Ainsworth.
Earl Clemens Wind Quintet: Chanel Antoshin, flute, Elgin; Abigail Sledden, oboe, Yorkville; Dylan Rhodes, clarinet, Batavia; Anna Creech, horn, Glen Ellyn; Jacqueline Fernandez, bassoon, Elgin. Click here to see a clip from their first rehearsal this season!
Established in 2016, the Earl Clemens Wind Quintet is named after Earl L. Clemens, oboist and professor of music education at Northern Illinois University for 36 years. Coached by acclaimed Orion Ensemble clarinetist Kathryne Pirtle, CQ explores pillars of the woodwind quintet repertoire. CQ is offered tuition free thanks to the generous sponsorship of Drs. Jeffrey and Leslie Hecht.
Photo Credit: Dan Gold
Mission Moment
Turning a Lens on Our Own Values and Beliefs
Myths explain a society to itself, promulgating its concerns and values. They describe patterns of behavior as models for members of a society, especially in times of crisis…This season, EYSO will, through the study of great orchestral music, explore Myths & Legends. By exploring Myths & Legends, students will build and examine connections between music and our wider world, explore preconceived notions and societal and cultural constructs, and turn a lens on their own values and beliefs. We’ll ask the question: how do our myths and legends, both cultural and personal, influence our worldview?
The May 2021 concert, Heroes, is especially timely today when we as a nation are looking to – and searching for – heroes in every sense of the word.
Heroes will challenge preconceptions and encourage creative thinking in EYSO students and the community at large. In the words of Artistic Director Matthew Sheppard, “In Heroes we explore not only who our heroes are, but who they perhaps should be – and why they were overlooked. Who are our every-day heroes, our unsung heroes, and our silent heroes? Why are they silent heroes and how can we, as musicians lift up their songs?”
The pandemic has brought forth many heroes and we are grateful for each and every one. Join us on November 15th as embark our musical journey with EYSO's first concert of the 2020-21 season, Origins.
Spotlight
Spotlight on EYSO board members, students, and alumni. Get to know EYSO in a whole new light!
• BOARD MEMBER •
Spotlight on Board Member Ed Snoble
In this issue we are highlighting EYSO Board Member Ed Snoble, ChFC, CLU, AEP. Ed is a Lead Advisor for High Net worth families, for a large Global Private Bank. He has 20 years of planning and leadership experience. He lives in South Elgin with his wife and son, and is a passionate musician.Have you ever wondered about donor advised funds? Donor advised funds are a great way to make grants to charities that are important to you (like EYSO). Learn more about this financial planning tool below. Thanks for the insight Ed!
Article Link: Donor Advised Funds and Charitable Giving by Edward J. Snoble CHFC, CLU, AEP
Thank You
Two words that mean SO much! We are grateful to ALL EYSO supporters. On that note, we'd like to highlight this month's special supporters...
Illinois Arts Council Agency
Thank You for Another Season!
The Illinois Arts Council Agency (IACA) has been supporting EYSO through its grant making for many years. We were notified last week that the IACA will be supporting EYSO for another season. We are TRULY grateful!
THANK YOU IACA for supporting our students and the future of our communities!
A Note From Development
EYSO's Special Events Team Needs YOU!
There's no FUNdraising without FUN! Special events are one way we meet our annual financial goals. We had our first team Zoom meeting last Tuesday evening. Our goal is to have FUN while raising funds and friends. Our second Zoom meeting is on October 6th at 6:15 pm. If you're interested in finding out more, please contact me. Call or text at (847) 558-2246 or email me at KLChristensen@eyso.org.
Join me and my small but mighty team of volunteers! With YOUR help we can have the best year of FUNdraising ever!
Simple Ways to Support EYSO
If you're an Amazon shopper, please bookmark: smile.amazon.com and select "Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra" as the nonprofit to support. This is an easy way to give to EYSO doing what you're already doing. Every amount adds up and is a great help to our fundraising efforts.
Tisbest.org is fueling the movement to replace gifts of stuff with gifts of good that meaningfully connect individuals with important causes. EYSO is one of the nonprofit organizations gift card holders can support. Here's a list of all U.S. nonprofit organizations supported via tisbest.org: All U.S. Charities (click here).
Are you an EYSO fan? Do you (or even your pet) have a birthday coming up? Consider hosting a Facebook birthday fundraiser benefitting EYSO. We will even send thank you birthday notes to your supporters. We can send electronic OR paper birthday thank yous. Simply send your list of birthday fundraiser supporters to our development director and we'll be happy to thank everyone accordingly. Reach out to Kari at KLChristensen@eyso.org. Happy Birthday!
THANK YOU FOR TAKING NOTE!
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