“The Elmhurst Symphony Association is throwing a party to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Stephen Alltop as conductor and music director of the 70-member community orchestra,” writes Dorothy Andries in Wednesday’s (4/6) Chicago Tribune. “ ‘Over the twenty years that Stephen Alltop has been its music director, the Elmhurst Symphony has grown in quality as never before,’ said Dr. Ted Hatmaker, faculty member at Northern Illinois University and the symphony’s pre-concert lecturer. ‘The orchestra has sounded the best it ever has, the players love playing for him, and his musical selections have offered new worlds to listeners, at the same time providing vibrant interpretations of time-honored classics.’ Alltop has led the orchestra in all nine Beethoven symphonies, as well as presenting the first three symphonies by Gustav Mahler…. He has also given world premieres of music by living American composers.… Alltop’s innovative programming was recognized by an award from the Illinois Council of Orchestras, and in 2012 the council named him Conductor of the Year…. The ‘Celebrate Stephen’ event, to be held at Harry Carey’s at the Westin Hotel in Lombard, will be a benefit for the orchestra.”
Posted April 8, 2016
