IVSO will present pops concert on Sunday
LASALLE — Under the direction of guest conductor Steven Eggleston, the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra will present the “Red, White and Blues Pops Concert,” the first in its lineup for the 2008-09 series. The public is invited to the concert, which will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at Celebrations 150 on Route 6 East of LaSalle.
Sponsored by Old Second Bank Ottawa Banking Center, Ottawa Dental Lab and Ottawa Plant Food, the pops concert promises something for everyone. The patriotic theme will rev up the audience for the exciting upcoming elections. During the Hymn to the Fallen there will be a presentation to honor the veterans of World War II. All veterans are invited and encouraged to attend. Each branch of the service will be represented and veterans will be asked to stand during the Armed Forces Salute.
Vocalist Norm Engstrom will be featured on popular favorites including “God Bless America,” “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “America the Beautiful.” He will also narrate “Lincoln Portrait” by Aaron Copland which uses Lincoln’s own words. Other popular composers will be featured including John Williams and John Philip Sousa.
Engstrom is currently professor of music, theatre and speech at Illinois Valley Community College. He earned bachelor’s degrees in theatre arts and music education from Augustana College in Rock Island and a Master of Fine Arts in acting from the University of Minnesota, Minn. He then spent 25 years working as a professional actor/singer in Chicago. Through Western DuPage Special Recreation Association, he also directs TROOP, an acting program for the developmentally disabled, now in its 18th season.
After working in theater and with several opera companies around the Chicago area, Engstrom has turned his attention to the Illinois Valley. Besides his work at the college, he has directed musicals for Stage 212, River Valley Players and choreographed for Engle Lane Theater. He will soon give his annual recital at IVCC on Nov. 7 with Mary Schallhorn accompanying.
Eggleston is currently professor of music at Illinois Wesleyan University and music director and conductor for the Illinois Wesleyan Civic Orchestra and IWU Wind Ensemble, which he founded in 1979, and has conducted ever since. In 1984 he founded the Illinois Wesleyan Civic Orchestra.
Eggleston is widely recognized as a teacher of conducting and maintains an active schedule as guest conductor and clinician throughout the United States. He has been a guest conductor for Illinois and Indiana All-State Orchestras and Bands and the University of Illinois String Consortium, as well as the Peoria Symphony, Champaign/Urbana Symphony, Volgograd (Russia) Philharmonic, the University of Illinois Symphony Orchestra and the Muncie (Ind.) Symphony. He is also professor of trumpet at Illinois Wesleyan. Born in Royal Oak, Mich., he received a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Butler University and a Master of Music degree in conducting from the University of Michigan.
Tickets for the concert are $10 at the door for adults, and $5 for students with identification or with a season pass. Season passes will be available for purchase at the concert for $40 for individuals or $80 for families. Celebrations 150 is handicapped accessible.
For more information, visit www.ivso.org.
