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Item Description

Celebrate a “suite” Mother’s Day with the ESO and Maestro Eckerling, as he debuts as pianist (while conducting) in Gershwin’s ever-popular Rhapsody in Blue. This all-American season finale includes suites for full orchestra from Bernstein’s Broadway musical, Howard Hanson’s tuneful opera, and Copland’s classic ballet featuring the Shaker melody “Simple Gifts.”

BERNSTEIN

1. Overture and Suite from Candide

HANSON

1. Merry Mount Suite

COPLAND

1. Appalachian Spring

GERSHWIN

1. Rhapsody in Blue
2. Lawrence Eckerling, Pianist

Music Director Lawrence Eckerling is entering into his eighth season with the ESO. He continues to be committed to the on-going artistic growth of the Evanston Symphony and its talented musicians. He has been named as 2007 Illinois Conductor of the Year by the Illinois Council of Orchestras.

Prior to his tenure with the Evanston Symphony, Eckerling served as Music Director and Conductor of the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra in Minnesota from 1986 to 2002. Earlier, he served as Assistant Conductor of the Omaha Symphony, and as Music Director and Conductor of the Omaha Area Youth Orchestra. In 1980, he founded the Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra of Chicago which ­performed a series of free Music Performance Trust Fund concerts.

Born in Chicago, Eckerling grew up in Skokie and began his piano lessons when he was six in the Primary Piano Department at Northwestern University Music School. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education (in both instrumental and choral) at Indiana University, and completed his Masters in Orchestral and Opera Conducting from the same institution.

Eckerling is an active pianist, having performed as guest artist in Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the Mt. Prospect Community Band and the St. Cloud Symphony. He performed regularly with the Chicago-based Duetri Ensemble and is also active in the jazz and pop fields. Since 1984, as leader of Larry Eckerling and His Orchestra, and recently as Owner and President of his new company Momentum Talent Group, he has been presenting live music from classical to rock and roll for private functions throughout the Chicago area. Eckerling is now on the faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago, where he is Conductor of the Community Symphony and Quartet Strings.
Maestro Eckerling makes his home in Glenview, Illinois with his wife, Sharon, and their son, Jeremy.

Read more about Lawrence Eckerling at www.eckerlingconductor.com.

Item Special Note

• Two Adult Tickets
• Concert Venue:  Pick-Steiger Concert Hall, Northwestern University Campus
• Tickets will be mailed to the winning bidder at close of auction