LFHS Orchestras, North Suburban Symphony Combine in Sunday Concert

Two years ago on March 22, a noteworthy orchestra concert, Diverse Generations, was presented in the Lake Forest High School Auditorium.  

The concert partnered the North Suburban Symphony, a community orchestra of 40-volunteer musicians based at the in Lake Forest in association with the since 2001, with student musicians of the Lake Forest High School orchestras.

The partnership had great value at the time, enabling Lake Forest High School musicians to learn and perform repertoire that might otherwise been impossible. 

Community orchestras like the North Suburban Symphony can function later on in life as avenues through which student musicians can continue to play their instrument as an enjoyable and rewarding avocation.   

After the successful orchestra partnership in 2010, Ron Arden, now in his fifth year as music director of the North Suburban Symphony, and Robert Basill, director of orchestras and theory at Lake Forest High School for the past nine years, were eager to partner another combined orchestra collaboration.

If you missed hearing that concert two years ago, you have another opportunity to enjoy it at 4 p.m. Sunday (March 18) at the high school, 1285 N. McKinley Road.

North Suburban Symphony's Arden will share the podium with LFHS orchestra director Basill in the performance of Tchaikovsky's spectacular and delightful-to-listen-to Symphony No. 4. 

Basill has been hard at work since January working with students of his two orchestras to have the music performance-ready.  

Basill need not be worried about the readiness of his players. From my observation of the caliber of the high school students as a cellist in the North Suburban Symphony section, Basill's orchestra members are excited, enthusiastic, eager to play, and are near the point of readiness with very challenging music.  

The Sunday afternoon program will feature music by the renown Russian composer, P. I. Tchaikovsky, in a performance of his spectacular Symphony No. 4 and the Walzer and Elegie from Tchaikovsky's Serenade for String Orchestra.  

Lake Forest orchestra members will sit side-by-side with those of the North Suburban Symphony. When  Arden is on the podium conducting, Basill will join the first violin section as a player. With Basill conducting, Arden will augment the viola section.

Also featured on the program will be a rare performance of Ernest Bloch's Concertino for Violin and Viola, which will provide an additional workout for violinist Basill and  Arden as they perform the solo parts of this delightful piece accompanied by a small string orchestra. Jenene Kessler, director of bands at LFHSl, will conduct a small accompanying string ensemble.

Other facts that attest to the fine orchestra program at Lake Forest High School as related to me by Basill:

• There are 62 students in the orchestra program with two separate orchestras: A Symphony Orchestra (32 members) and a Concert Orchestra (30 members).   

• 32-member Symphony Orchestra will be on stage in the performance of the Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4; 63 high school musicians (combined Symphony and Concert Orchestra members) will perform Tchaikovsky's Serenade.   

• Seven of his orchestra students are also in Midwest Young Artists. 

• His kids are dedicated. Seventeen students take orchestra instead of lunch. This is one of four major concerts of the year. 

• Three orchestra students also take choir; 2 orchestra students are in AP Music Theory. 

• Often the smartest kids are in orchestra. Many are in NHS (National Honor Society) and are members of Cum Laude and have earned awards in math and science over the years. There have been many valedictorian and salutatorians in orchestra as well. 

• School activities include orchestra students who participate on debate team, math, scholastic bowl, forensic and others. Athletic activities involve swimming, diving, track and field, football, lacrosse, field hockey, tennis, badminton, volleyball and water polo.  

• The best players from the band will also be on stage, numbering 28 students from the top LFHS band (Wind Ensemble). 

It is amazing that Basill can find the time to be director of chamber music at Midwest Young Artist, coach chamber music, conduct a summer orchestra, and serve on the board of the International Chamber Artists, which is a professional group that puts on free chamber music concerts in the city. 

The final concert of the North Suburban Symphony's 2011-2012 Concert season will be 4 p.m. May 13 at Gorton Community Center in Lake Forest. 

This concert will feature beloved composer Beethoven and the winner of the recent NSS-sponsored James Glacking Young Musicians Competition. Christopher Gao, violoncello, a freshman at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, will solo with the North Suburban Symphony. 

Plan to attend the second  partnership concert of the Lake Forest High School Orchestra and the North Suburban Symphony. You won't be disappointed!

After the dress rehearsal on Friday evening, I went home thoroughly convinced that this is a concert you do not wish to miss. The enthusiasm and the instrumental technique exhibited by the Lake Forest High School orchestra players under the leadership of its very competent orchestra director and violinist, Basill, should be supported and applauded by the community.   

Ticket price: Adult - $18; Seniors/Students - $10; Children under 12 are admitted free with a paying adult.   

If interested in joining the community-based North Suburban Symphony, call (847) 234-4150.