“The Blizzard Theatre’s auditorium seats will be empty Sunday at Elgin Community College, but the hall will be filled with music,” writes Rick West in Monday’s (3/8) Daily Herald (suburban Chicago). “Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra … will present Wanderers, a series of three livestreamed concerts…. This is the second set of public performances in EYSO’s Myths & Legends series this season…. More than 270 students from about 70 communities will play in various groupings during the 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. concerts.… The free livestreamed concerts will feature students from all levels in a variety of ensembles. Students had one of their final rehearsals Sunday at ECC … staggered over a nine-hour period. Large groups, like Philharmonia, were divided in half and played with 50 students at a time, practicing for 30 minutes, then taking a 15-minute break to let the room air out, said Emily Krasinski, membership coordinator and music librarian…. Students wore masks that were modified to fit the instrument they played…. The bells … of all wind instruments were equipped with special covers…. ‘This pandemic has reinforced how important music and the arts in general can be to us,’ [Executive Director Eric] Larson said.”
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