 Our 45th Season
As we prepare to embark on our 45th season, we take pride in all we have achieved We regret to announce the departure of DR. ROBERT G. HASTY, our conductor for the past six years, who has accepted a position at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. We thank him for his great musicianship, hard work, patience, and for all that we have learned. Embracing the future. we are very pleased to announce the engagement of DR. ALLAN DENNIS as our new Principal Conductor. Dr. Dennis is the founder and President of the MIDWEST YOUNG ARTISTS CONSERVATORY located in Fort Sheridan and we look forward to sharing our joint visions with MYAC. The mission of the Strings remains the same–to provide community concerts free of charge where families, friends, and north shore neighbors can gather for an afternoon of music enjoyment at the highest level. With MYAC and Dr. Dennis as our new partners, the future is bright indeed! The opening concert on October 15 will feature our brilliant friend and neighbor, DESIREE RUHSTRAT, returning for her record setting SEVENTH appearance with the Strings. She will perform the Violin Concerto in D Major by William Bolcom, contemporary American composer. Written for the violinist Sergiu Luca, a classical musician reveling in a newly acquired jazz technique, inspired by the playing of the great jazz violinist Joe Venuti, the work is a true hybrid. The Program begins with a piece by Jean Milew entitled: "A New America-Highland Park Strong – Response to July 4" and includes the great Symphony No. 2 of Brahms. For our "Holiday" Concert on December 3, we welcome back another dear friend and neighbor, American Steinway Artist, SUSAN MERDINGER, performing her sold-out recital debut in Carnegie Recital Hall at age twenty-four, Merdinger has been internationally acclaimed for her virtuosic concert performances and recordings and made a triumphant Chicago Orchestral Debut in 2013 at Harris Theater with the Chicago Our Gala Benefit Concert in the acoustically perfect Bennett-Gordon Hall at Ravinia on February 4 brings back the exciting cellist ALEXANDER HERSH who earned an immediate return invitation after his smashing performance of the Herbert Cello Concerto last season. Hersh, who has quickly established himself as one of the most creative talents of his generation, will perform the iconic Cello Concerto of Dvorak which is believed to have been inspired by the Herbert Concerto. On this all-Dvorak Concert, the Strings will add his triumphant Symphony No. 8 in G Major. The final concert on May 5 will present the return engagement of KIMBERLY HAN, a 22-year-old pianist from Lake Forest. Having performed brilliantly with the Strings in 2016 at age 15, she has been awarded the "Young Steinway Artist "since 2019 and was chosen to be a 2016-2018 Lang Lang Scholar. Kimberly will perform the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat and the Strings will present the magnificent Symphony No. 1 ("Titanic") of Gustav Mahler.
Lawrence Block |
Dr. Allan Dennis Conductor        
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