Lake Forest Symphony's Fall Season Builds On More Than 50 Years Of Community Music

Lake Forest Symphony's Fall Season Builds On More Than 50 Years Of Community Music

Lake Forest Symphony's Fall Season Builds On 50+ Years

This weekend marks the beginning of the Lake Forest Symphony’s fall season and 54th overall.

The opening concerts will include a solo appearance by Ilya Kaler, concertmaster and gold-medal-winning violinist. Lake Forest resident Jim Stephenson, composer-in-residence, will appear conducting his work, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, with narration by Alan Heatherington, music director.

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The Lake Forest Symphony’s first ensemble gathered in the 1950s at the suggestion of Richard Kalter, music department chair and teacher at Lake Forest School, according to the Lake Forest Symphony History Narrative by Pat Nissen.

Kalter played viola alongside the original ensemble's seven other members: two violins, two cellos, two flutes and another viola. Unfortunately, Kalter died at the age of 35 and never got to see the symphony grow.

Dr. William English, Kalter's successor, held a memorial concert for Kalter at the in the spring of 1957. The concert featured choral and instrumental performances by 31 musicians.

• In 1959, English and nine other musicians from the memorial concert officially created Deer Path Community Music Inc., with the goal of encouraging musical appreciation in the area.

• In 1961, the organization was renamed the Community Music Association with a redefined goal that focused more on education.

• In 1967, in the 10th anniversary season, the CMA was first referred to as the Lake Forest Symphony Orchestra. That year, Victor Aitay, co-concertmaster for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and concertmaster for Ravinia, became music director for the Lake Forest Symphony Orchestra, a position he retained for two decades.

• In 1968, Aitay promoted Alan Heatherington to concertmaster and assistant conductor of the symphony. Although he left the symphony in 1977 to pursue other interests, he became music director in 2000 and has held that position since. In 2004, Heathington was named “Chicagoan of the Year” in arts by the Chicago Tribune.

• 1976 was the first year the symphony performed for Lake Forest's Fourth of July celebration. The first performance of the 1812 Overture was accompanied by cannon fire from the Great Lakes Naval Base and fireworks. The tradition continued for 26 years, funded by local donors.

• In 1978, the organization's name changed officially to Lake Forest Symphony Association Inc.

• In 1988, the symphony gained notoriety under music director Paul Anthony McRae and began to attract international guest artists. The symphony became an all-professional organization. Twenty-two nonprofessional members left and later formed the North Suburban Symphony.

• The 2007-08 seasons marked the symphony's 50th anniversary. The mission statement was realigned in 2010 to focus on “present(ing) exciting, outstanding, and diverse musical programs of the highest artistic and professional quality for audiences of all ages ... Education programs reach young people, including underprivileged and minority audiences, through school and concert hall performances, providing enrichment and inspiration.”

For ticketing information, call 1-847-295-2135.