ETHS presents four music concerts this month

Four upcoming concerts on May 21, 22, 24, 31 will showcase the vocal and instrumental musical talents of students at Evanston Township High School.

On Monday, May 21, students studying voice will present a recital at 7pm in Room A116 at ETHS. These freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are taught by voice teachers Rae-Myra Hilliard, Julie Westbrook, Daniel Henry, and Cole Seaton. This recital is free of charge.

At 7pm the following evening (May 22) in the ETHS Auditorium, the Spring Choral Concert highlights the many ETHS vocal ensembles. Concert repertoire, led by Mary Theresa Reed, ETHS Vocal Director, will include jazz, pop, classical, and more. The main work will be Vivaldi’s “Gloria in D,” featuring two senior soloists. Other selections include music of Lady Gaga and Paul McCartney, as well as favorites such as “Somebody That I Used to Know,” “When Sunny Gets Blue,” “Tuxedo Junction,” “Fireworks.” Featured groups performing in the concert are the Concert Choir and Chorale, Handbell Choir, Chamber Singers, Master Fingers, A Cappella, Vocal Jazz, Treble Makers, Bazao A Cappella, Circle of Fifths, and the Dazzling Dames.

The ETHS bands take the Auditorium stage on Thursday, May 24, at 7:30pm. The Spring Band Concert will showcase the three concert bands and several chamber ensembles (Flute Ensemble, Clarinet Choir, Saxophone Ensemble, and Brass Choir). Music will include Grieg’s “March of the Trolls,” Alfred Reed’s “The Hounds of Spring,” and Kabalevsky’s “Overture to Colas Bruegnon.” The concert concludes with Paul Hart’s “Cartoon,” a hilarious romp through the classic sound of cartoon music. David Fodor is the ETHS Band Director.

The ETHS orchestras take over on Thursday, May 31, at 7:30pm in the Auditorium. The concert features popular classical works and modern pieces played by the ETHS String Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Charles Abplanalp, ETHS Orchestra Director. 

Four seniors, chosen by audition, will solo with the orchestras: violinist James Hanford, who will play the first movement of “Violin Concerto in D Major Op. 35” by Tchaikovsky; pianist Irina Iolysh, performing the first movement of “Concerto No. 1 Op. 35 for Piano, Trumpet and Strings” by Shostakovich; cellist Abraham Ouweleen, performing the first two movements of Elgar’s “Cello Concerto in E Minor Op. 85”; and soprano Hannah Schwimmer, who will perform “O del mio dolce ardor” from Paride ed Elena by von Gluck and “Allelujah” from Exsultate Jubilate by Mozart.          

Other concert highlights will include Copland’s “Hoe Down” from Rodeo, the finale to “Symphony No. 5” by Tchaikovsky, selections from Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite,” “Gymnopedie No. 1” by Satie, and John William’s exciting and dynamic “Star Wars Medley.” 

Tickets for the Choral, Band, and Orchestra concerts, available at the door each night, are $3 for adults, $1 for students, and free to senior citizens and ETHS Booster Club members. The Auditorium is handicapped accessible. Parking is best in the lot on Dodge Ave., directly across from the Auditorium entrance.