Evanston Symphony celebrates 80 years, plans season ranging from Mozart to Motown

Chicago Tribune

7 hours ago

In 1945, the year World War II wound to its conclusion, Lucille and Jack Ryan and conductor Timothy Fetler started a performing arts group they called the Evanston Community Orchestra.
Renamed the Evanston Symphony Orchestra in 1961, the year it was officially incorporated as an Illinois not-for-profit organization, the symphony is celebrating 80 years of bringing music to the Evanston area.
Through the decades, the volunteer orchestra has been led by a series of professionals.
In 1962, Frank Miller, principal cellist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, became the conductor. From 1983 to 2002, Lynn Schornick was music director. His talent was recognized in 1996 when he was named Conductor of the Year by the Illinois Council of Orchestras.
A year after Schornick's retirement, Lawrence Eckerling of Glenview was appointed conductor and music director. He too earned the Conductor of the Year award from the Council, being recognized in 2014.
The Evanston Symphony Orchestra was named Community Orchestra of the Year in 2017 by the Illinois Council of Orchestras, among many other honors.
Eckerling said he decided to apply for the music director position after serving as music director of an orchestra in St. Cloud, Minnesota for 16 years, where he flew back and forth every week.
He wanted to lead the Evanston Symphony Orchestra because, 'This was an orchestra I knew from my high school years and it was close to home,' he said.
It wasn't just a matter of convenience, though. Eckerling praised the orchestra, declaring, 'I have never encountered before a community orchestra that plays at the high level that they play at. They play way better than one would assume for a community orchestra. The dedication is as good as any and probably better than most.'
There is an average of about 100 musicians in the orchestra, Eckerling said, noting that it varies from concert to concert.
Musicians interested in joining the orchestra must audition for him and some of the principal members of the orchestra, Eckerling said.
'It is an all-volunteer orchestra and they actually pay dues to be members,' Eckerling observed. 'It's more like a club that they're a member of.'
During the performance cycle, the orchestra rehearses weekly, and twice the week of the concert.
The orchestra has a four-program subscription series as well as a summer pops concert and a holiday concert.
Suzanne Nelson has been president of the board of directors of the Evanston Symphony Orchestra for two years. Her term as president ends in July but she will continue to serve on the board as she has for around eight years.
'It's a working board,' said Nelson of the group, which ranges from 15 to 18 members. 'Board members do everything from publicize, hang posters, fundraise, and try and get grants from
businesses. We also do the front of the house. We handle ticket sales at the door. We're all committed to the music and making it happen.'
Nelson reported that some of the board members are musicians from the orchestra. 'But others, like myself, appreciate music and especially classical music,' she said.
In terms of fundraising, Nelson noted that the people who attend the concerts are the primary source for fundraising. The board also tries to get donations from businesses in Evanston and beyond. They also apply for government grants to support projects, programs, and the symphony, Nelson said.
In addition, they solicit grants to help sustain the orchestra's Music in Your World program.
'That is a collaboration with schools in Evanston where we go into the Early Head Start program and do music education,' Nelson said.
Another outreach initiative for which the board fundraises is a Young Person's Concert, which occurs about every three years, Nelson said. 'That pairs members of the orchestra with middle-
schoolers where they can sit next to somebody who is playing their instrument and play together,' she said.
Nelson praised the Evanston Symphony Orchestra, saying, 'We play at a very high level. I attribute that to the talent that we've got in the orchestra and we're led by a very talented music director. His skill has brought the orchestra to a very high level of playing.'
Music Director Eckerling has created a diverse series for 2025-26 called 'The Power of Music.'
First up, at 7 p.m. on Aug. 19 is a free 'Concert in the Park' at Gillson Park in Wilmette.
'It is designed as a lighter concert overall,' Eckerling said.
Selections include 'The Bachanalle' from 'Samson and Delilah,' the overture from 'The Barber of Seville,' selections from 'Wicked,' a soul medley from Motown, and the 'Imperial March'
from 'The Empire Strikes Back,' among other pieces.
The Baker Demonstration School will provide activities for children.
The regular season begins at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 19 with 'Tchaikovsky and Mozart' at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall in Evanston. Ticket prices for concerts, ranging from $5 for students to $47 for adults, are cheaper purchased in advance. Ticket info is available at evanstonsymphony.org.
'We're doing a piece by a woman composer, Stacy Garrop,' Eckerling said of 'Song of Orpheus.'
Other highlights include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 'Clarinet Concerto' performed by Stephen Williamson, principal clarinetist of the Chicago Symphony. Other selections include
Tchaikovsky's '6th Symphony, Pathetique.'
The 'Evanston Symphony Holiday Concert' is at 3 p.m. on Dec. 14 in the Evanston Township High School Auditorium. Family package tickets are available.
'The holiday concert has grown into a real community event because we collaborate with other local arts groups,' Eckerling said.
These include the North Shore Choral Society, Chicago Ballet Arts, Evanston Children's Choir, Evanston Dance Ensemble and the Evanston Symphony Holiday Gospel Choir.
'It's Christmas season but there's other cultures in there, too,' Eckerling said, including Hannukah. 'It's a big production.'
The theme of the Feb. 8, 2026 concert is 'Life, Love and Death.' It will be at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall in Evanston.
One highlight will be Beethoven's 'Piano Concerto No. 5, The Emperor,' performed by pianist Albert Cano Smit, who is considered a rising star. 'Prelude und Liebestod, Tristan und Isolde' by Richard Wagner is also on the program.
'Rhapsodies in Red, White, and Blue' at 2:30 p.m. on April 19 at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall in Evanston will feature Peter Boyer's 'Rhapsody in Red, White and Blue.'
'It's an homage to the Gershwin 'Rhapsody in Blue,' Eckerling said. 'But it's a great piece all on its own.'
It will be performed by pianist Jeffrey Biegel. There will also be selections by Coleridge-Taylor and Gershwin.
The 2025-26 season concludes at 2:30 p.m. on June 7 with 'Scheherazade' at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall in Evanston.
In addition to the Rimsky-Korsakov piece, selections will include Glazunov's 'Violin Concerto' performed by Nathan Amaral, winner of the Sphinx Organization's 2024 Medal of Excellence
Award.
Myrna Petlicki is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.