The Orion Ensemble to Welcome Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras' Quartet Bolero

The Orion Ensemble, winner of the prestigious Chamber Music America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, is pleased to welcome the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras' Quartet Bolero for the final performance of "Harp Fantasy," its second concert program of the 2015-16 season. The high school-age performers join Orion as its Janet's Stage Artist Partners Wednesday, December 2 at 7:30 p.m. at PianoForte Studios, 1335 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago.

The Quartet Bolero musicians are violinist Lauren Conroy, a senior at Barringon High School; violinist Vincent Wong, a junior at Maine Township High School West from Des Plaines; violist Kayla Cabrera, a home-schooled junior from Crete; and cellist Amelia Smerz, a senior from Downers Grove North High School. They will perform the first movement (Allegro) of Haydn's String Quartet, Op. 76, No. 3.

"Harp Fantasy," Orion's second concert program of its 23rd season, welcomes guest harp virtuoso Ben Melsky, a member of the highly acclaimed Ensemble Dal Niente and principal harpist for the Joffrey Ballet and Ann Arbor Symphony, for his Orion debut. The program includes Jacques Ibert's Trio for Violin, Cello and Harp (1944); Camille Saint-Saëns' Fantaisie in A Major for Violin and Harp, Op. 124 (1907); Ralph Vaughan Williams' Six Studies in English Folksong for Clarinet and Harp (1923); John Ireland's Fantasy Sonata for Clarinet and Piano (1945); and Frank Bridge's Phantasie Trio in C Minor for Violin, Cello and Piano (1908). Prior to the December 2 performance with the Quartet Bolero, Orion performs this program at the First Baptist Church of Geneva November 22 and at the Music Institute of Chicago's Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston November 29.

Janet's Stage is a one-of-a-kind collaboration with the orchestra departments at Geneva and Glenbard East High Schools, with the Orion musicians-clarinetist and executive director Kathy Pirtle, violinist Florentina Ramniceanu, pianist Diana Schmück and cellist Judy Stone-providing multifaceted, year-long student support. The program offers practical, individualized learning through master classes and chamber music coaching, performances for students and parents at each school, invitations to attend Orion concerts and the opportunity for student ensembles to perform on the Orion concert stage.

Orion's 2015-16 season

Orion's 2015-16 season, Fantasies and Enchantments, continues with "American Landscape" in March, with music by Berkey, Sowash and Dvorák, and "Musical Enchantments" in May and June, with guest violinist Mathias Tacke and guest violist Stephen Boe performing works by Dvorák, Beach and Brahms. Also during the season, Orion appears on the broadcast series "Live from WFMT" March 28, 2016 at 8 p.m.

The Orion Ensemble
Founded in 1992, The Orion Ensemble, winner of the prestigious Chamber Music America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming for its critically acclaimed millennium celebration "An Inside Look at Contemporary Music," features a roster of four superb musicians--Kathryne Pirtle (clarinet), Florentina Ramniceanu (violin), Diana Schmück (piano) and Judy Stone (cello)--who have performed throughout North America, Europe and Asia, as an ensemble and individually in solo, orchestral and other chamber music roles. The Chicago Tribune called Orion "one of Chicago's most vibrant, versatile and distinctive ensembles," and the Chicago Sun-Times said Orion is "what chamber music should be all about: Individual virtuosity melded into a group personality." The Orion Ensemble is supported in part by grants from the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the John R. Halligan Charitable Fund, the Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation Fund, the Illinois Arts Council and generous donations from its patrons.For a brief history, click here.

Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras

Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras (CYSO) has provided music education through orchestral programs and performance opportunities of the highest caliber since 1946. CYSO currently serves 500 Chicago-area musicians ages six through 18 through three full orchestras, three string orchestras, multiple steel orchestras and supplemental programs that include chamber music ensembles, music theory and composition. CYSO also reaches the diverse population of Chicago Public School students, educators and community members each year through its Music Pathways program. Music Pathways includes an In-School Residency Program with several partner CPS elementary schools, Clinics for partner CPS high schools, free Community Concerts, a Private Lesson Program for current CYSO students and Neighborhood Ensembles. CYSO, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is investing in the future of music and the next generation of leaders. For more information visit cyso.org.

Performance and ticket information

The Orion Ensemble's concert program "Harp Fantasy" takes place Sunday, November 22 at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Geneva, 2300 South Street in Geneva; Sunday, November 29 at 7:30 p.m. at Music Institute of Chicago's Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue in Evanston; and Wednesday, December 2-with the CYSO's Quartet Bolero-at 7:30 p.m. at the Pianoforte Studios, 1335 S. Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Single tickets are $26, $23 for seniors and $10 for students; admission is free for children 12 and younger. A four-ticket flexible subscription provides a 10 percent savings on full-priced tickets. For tickets or more information, call 630-628-9591 or visit orionensemble.org.

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