Student chamber ensembles join Orion for May concerts
Orion coaches student chamber ensembles as part of its educational program, Janet's Stage, and offers them the opportunity to perform on Orion concerts. Orion closes its season featuring two of those ensembles on its May 8 and 15 concerts: the Golden Trio from OPUS Chamber Music Camp and the Earl Clemens Wind Quintet from the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Orion's program will feature works by Mozart and Borodin (see below), with the student groups performing as follows:

MAY 8—AURORA, New England Congregational Church (7 pm)
Piano Trio in C Minor, Op. 1, No. 3, by Ludwig von Beethoven
Prestissimo

The Golden Trio from OPUS Chamber Music Camp
(pictured above)
Sofia Radovic, Violin (St. Charles)
Ian King, String Bass (Lisle)
Miriam Kessler, Piano (Elgin)

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MAY 15—EVANSTON, Nichols Hall (7:30 pm)
6 Bagatelles, by Gyrögy Ligeti
Allegro con Spirito
Allegro Grazioso

The Earl Clemens Wind Quintet from the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra
(pictured below, Kim Ayars Photography) 
Gail Creighton, Flute (Carol Stream)
Lizzy Wallace, Clarinet (Crystal Lake)
Karsin Bader, Bassoon (Huntley)
Anna Creech, Horn (Glen Ellyn)
Linnea Dierson, Oboe (Crystal Lake)
ORION'S MAY CONCERT SERIES
May 8—Aurora, 7 pm
May 11—Chicago, 7:30 pm
May 15—Evanston, 7:30 pm

QUINTET in A Major for Clarinet and Strings, K. 581
by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mozart composed the Clarinet Quintet, K. 581, among the first major chamber works for the clarinet, in 1789 for clarinetist Anton Stadler (1753–1812), one of the first true virtuosos of this newer instrument. Of special interest is the third movement minuet featuring two trio sections, the first a highly expressive episode for strings and the second a pleasing episode for the clarinet, drawing upon mixtures of rustic elegance.

STRING QUARTET in D Major
by Alexander Borodin
Borodin composed the String Quartet No. 2 in 1881, dedicated to his wife as a 20th anniversary present. The third movement Nocturne is perhaps the most famous section. Borodin, who is perhaps best known for the Polovtsian Dances, created a chamber music gem that speaks eloquently of the passions inherent in the Romantic-era sounds from Russia.

Stephen Boe, Guest Violin
Roger Chase, Guest Viola

More information on our website.

“Innovative programming. Unique repertoire.
Thoughtful performances that get to the music’s soul.”
~ Jim Ginsburg, President, Cedille Records
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 Arts Tour Fund of the Illinois Arts Council, the Illinois Arts Council Agency,
and generous donations from our dedicated patrons.