DECEMBER 9, 2022 @ 8p
@ RAUE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
The Elgin Symphony Orchestra is unmatched for quality music and a fun, relaxing, cultural experience. From start to finish – the ESO brings world-class, big-city entertainment without the hassles of the big city.
The Elgin Symphony Orchestra is one of the preeminent regional orchestras in the United States. Since its founding in 1950, the organization has developed a reputation for artistic excellence, innovative programming, and a deep commitment to the social advocacy and economic development of the diverse communities that it serves.
Named “Orchestra of the Year” an unprecedented four times by the Illinois Council of Orchestras, (1988, 1999, 2005, and 2016) and winner of a 2010 Elgin Image Award, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra is respected for exceptional performance, innovative education programs, and community outreach initiatives.
This event is sponsored by
HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR PROGRAM 2022
Elgin Symphony Orchestra
Timothy Semanik, conductor
Elgin Master Chorale
Andrew Lewis, music director
A. WAINWRIGHT – A Joyful Noel
arr. Wachner “Angels We Have Heard on High”
Elgin Master Chorale
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV – Polonaise from Christmas Eve
TCHAIKOVSKY – Selections from The Nutcracker
ADAM/arr. Rutter Cantique de Noel
Elgin Master Chorale
—INTERMISSION—
arr. Harris “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”
arr. Fry “Still, Still, Still”
Elgin Master Chorale
arr. Sánchez – Selección de Navidad
Campaña sobre campaña
Vamos patores vamos
Elgin Master Chorale
R. BASS – The Night before Christmas
LaTrisha Williams, narrator
HANDEL – Selections from Messiah
“For unto us a child is born”
“Hallelujah”
Elgin Master Chorale
arr. Hayman – “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
L. ANDERSON – “Sleigh Ride”
arr. Rutter “O Come All Ye Faithful”
Elgin Master Chorale
arr. Fry “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”
Elgin Master Chorale
Timothy Semanik, conductor
Timothy Semanik currently serves as music director for the Bradley Symphony Orchestra, the Northwest Symphony Orchestra, and the Salt Creek Chamber Orchestra. He was previously music director for the Carleton College Orchestra, the University of Chicago Chamber Orchestra, the Northern Illinois University Philharmonic and the Central Illinois Youth Symphony. Mr. Semanik has appeared as guest conductor with the Colorado Symphony and Chorus, the Chicago Youth Symphony, the Windsor Symphony, the Pacific Symphony Institute and Youth Orchestra, the orchestras at Northwestern University and the University of Michigan. He was assistant conductor for Welcome Yule! with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.
Mr. Semanik is principal guest conductor for MIOpera and recently completed his twelfth season as music director of the Savoyaires. Additional operatic credits include productions with Winter Opera St. Louis, Festival Opera, Light Opera Works, Great Lakes Lyric Opera, Ann Arbor Opera, Gil-bert and Sullivan Opera Company, Comic Opera Guild, Ann Arbor Civic Theater, Opera in the Ozarks, Bradley University, Northwestern University, the University of Michigan and California State University, Fullerton. He has conducted numerous choral ensembles including the Pacific Chorale, the Brad-ley Community Chorus and the California State University Singers and Men’s Chorus. He has held music director positions for numerous church music programs, including his current position at the First United Methodist Church of La Grange.
Timothy Semanik holds a Doctoral degree in orchestral conducting from Northwestern University and a Master’s degree in orchestral conducting from the University of Michigan. He was a mem-ber of the conducting class at the Tanglewood Music Center and a recipient of the Bruno Walter Scholarship at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music.
Andrew Lewis, musical director Elgin Master Chorale
Recently profiled by John von Rhein in the Chicago Tribune as “the inspiring conductor, scholar, and educator,” Andrew Lewis is Artistic Director of Bella Voce and the Bella Voce Sinfonia, Music Director of the Elgin Master Chorale, Choirmaster at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Evanston, a member of the faculty at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and assistant conductor of the Chicago Symphony Chorus. He has been a guest lecturer at Concordia University Chicago, Loyola University Chicago, the Lectures in Church Music series, Garrett Theological Seminary, and formerly taught the conducting course at DePaul University. He has been a guest conductor with the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus and has appeared on several occasions as a guest conductor with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Lewis’s performances with Bella Voce, the Elgin Master Chorale & Elgin Symphony have been broadcast nationally on WFMT 98.7.
Mr. Lewis attended Northwestern University, receiving his Bachelor of Music degree in music theory. While a student at Northwestern he received a scholarship to observe the rehearsals of Daniel Barenboim and Asher Fisch at the Staatsoper-Unter-den-Linden, Berlin. After college he moved to California, worked as a church musician, and was an original member of the Philharmonia Baroque Chorale of San Francisco, having sung with Baroque specialists Nicholas McGegan and John Butt. He then attended the Eastman School of Music to study choral, orchestral, and operatic conducting with William Weinert and orchestral conducting with David Effron, receiving his Master of Music degree in 1998.
Mr. Lewis has also studied with conductors Helmuth Rilling, Robert Shaw, Robert Spano, James Paul, Gustav Meier, Stephen Cleobury, Duain Wolfe, and Dale Warland in the United States and Michel Tapachnik in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Mr. Lewis is married to singer and conductor Kirsten Hedegaard. He and Kirsten have three boys, all of whom sing with their dad at St. Luke’s.
ELGIN MASTER CHORALE
Elgin Master Chorale was formed in 1947, under the name Elgin Choral Union, when local musician Dean Chipman had a vision of a large-enough vocal ensemble to perform Brahms’ famed German Requiem. His dream became reality when 192 singers from over 15 local choirs joined together to give voice to this grand work. The premiere took place on May 7, 1948, at the First Congregational Church of Elgin. Frank Kratky directed the performance accompanied by two pianos. The house was full, the audience enthusiastic, and the largest vocal group in the Fox Valley was underway.
Incorporated as a not-for-profit in 1966, the organization changed its name to Elgin Master Chorale in 2014 to better reflect our mission emphasis on musical excellence. In-residence at Elgin Community College, Elgin Master Chorale presents several concerts per year at the renowned Blizzard Theatre at the college, as well as the Hemmens Cultural Arts Center and other locations in the Chicago area. Under the direction of Maestro Andrew Lewis, Elgin Master Chorale is comprised of approximately 85 adult volunteer singers from across the Fox Valley communities.
We are proud of our rich history, dedicated singers, and drive to excel; we have grown from our valued roots as a ‘union’ of church choirs, and are dedicated to our mission of being the premiere vocal ensemble in the Fox Valley.
Elgin Master Chorale Roster:
This event is supported by
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tim Paul, board president
John Jacobsen, vice president
Chuck Stevens, treasurer
Luanne Flavin, secretary
John Green
Mike Johnson
Richard Kuranda
Stacey McInerney
Jack Minsley
Rich Naponelli
Michelle Nowland
Sandra Pierce
William Schmiel
Regan Shepley
Steven Szalaj
Jerry Trachsler
RAUE CENTER STAFF
Richard Kuranda, executive director/founding artistic
director (CEO)
Justin Wellington, managing director
Meredith Schaefer, director of marketing & institutional advancement
Robin Irwin, director of education/cultural partnerships
James Knight, economic development manager
Michele V. Knight, marketing manager
Chris Tumblin, technical director
Ryan Meadow, technical manager
Billy Seger, institutional advancement associate
Maribeth Ling, institutional advancement assistant/box office lead
Savannah Thomas, box office associate
About Raue Center For The Arts
Raue Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of all through the arts. For 20 years, they have provided quality programming – striving to make it pertinent, available, and affordable to all. As a painstakingly restored, 1920s regional showcase theatre named for its benefactor—Lucile Raue—Raue Center has attracted the finest stars, Broadway shows, musicians and artists. Named on the League of Historic American Theatres, Raue Center is one of the finest examples of restored art and decor in the nation. The 750-seat theatre, located in historic downtown Crystal Lake, Illinois, is a gathering place for our region’s citizens and has become a true destination.
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