A small group of string players fight with a larger group of string players. Does this mean they fight against each other? Or do they fight alongside each other?

This suite of six short dances was composed by Béla Bartók for the piano in 1915 and is based on folk tunes from culturally diverse Transylvania. In 1917 he orchestrated it for a string ensemble, and today we are pleased to present Dr. Daniel Sommerville conducting the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra Chamber Strings in this tuneful and dramatic set of dances. Kelsey Klopfenstein is featured on the violin in this episode of our “While We Wait Series”.

While it’s easy to imagine a special occasion that might have inspired Mozart to compose some “night music”, the German word nachtmusik simply means “serenade”. This serenade was merely one of many that Mozart composed, and it wasn’t even published until long after Mozart’s death. However obscure it may have been at one time, it shines today as one of the most popularly recognized pieces of classical music.

Invite the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra Chamber Strings into your home for a special performance beginning this Friday!

In our third installment of our “While We Wait” series, we are excited to introduce you to Eric Ewazen’s Eaglehawk, performed by our trombonists Justin Marxman, Andrew Jacobi, and Brandon Jarot.

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Newly formed Porch Trio came together for the purpose of contributing to our “While We Wait” series. Donna Martin plays the flute, Sarah Reckmeyer is on the clarinet, and Terri McTaggert, the bassoon. Here they play Bach’s Prelude No. 9 in E Major as well as his Fugue No. 2 in C Minor, pieces originally composed for the keyboard, but easily arranged for woodwind trio.

Concertmaster Chantel Davis leads our Principal Second Violinist Alexa Garza, Principal Violist Kylie Little, and guest cellist Gerardo Pastrana in performing the second and third movements of Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 11.

The orchestra may be waiting in the wings, but most of us are still making music! Over the next few weeks we’ll be introducing some industrious musicians and sharing their prerecorded presentations in our “While We Wait” web series.

Dear Patrons, Subscribers, Friends,

The players of the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra and I are very sad and disappointed not to be playing together and performing for you the beautiful, rich and wonderful music composed for the symphony orchestra.