Community Calendar

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra brings elegance and energy to its November program, led by Music Director Chad Music Director Chad Goodman.

Esteemed hornist Greg Flint performs Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s joyful Horn Concerto No. 4, paired with his Symphony No. 13. Benjamin de Murashkin’s orchestration of Clara Schumann’s tender "Three Romances" and Felix Mendelssohn’s exuberant "Italian" Symphony round out the evening.

Performances are Saturday, Nov. 8, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 9, at 2:30 p.m., at the Hemmens Cultural Center. Tickets begin at $20, with $10 student pricing. Contact the ESO Box Office for free youth tickets (age 17 and under) with a paid adult. Visit ElginSymphony.org, or call 847-888-4000 during Box Office hours, Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A Pre-Concert Talk with Music Director Chad Goodman begins one hour prior to each concert and is free for ticketholders.

True Colors Baroque

Step into the moment when chamber music was just beginning to find its voice. This program traces the rise of the string quartet, from playful Renaissance echoes to the fiery brilliance of Vivaldi.

We open with Clèment Janequin's Birdsong motet, a witty Renaissance gem that feels alive with fluttering wings and bright calls. From there, the music deepens into the elegant architecture of baroque and classical four-part harmony. Haydn takes center stage as the undeniable Father of the String Quartet with one of his early Op. 20 works, a daring and emotionally charged piece that stretches every instrument to its edge. Soon after, Joseph Bologne—composer, virtuoso, and trailblazer—brings his French flair with a hauntingly beautiful Concertante Quartet in G minor.

And then comes Vivaldi, the master of drama and color. His music grounds the evening in both tenderness and fire: the meditative Largo for mandolin and strings, followed by the electrifying “Winter” from The Four Seasons. It’s music that shimmers, surprises, and leaves you buzzing long after the final note.

Aaron Wooten
Painter

Sharing the stage is painter Aaron Wooten, whose art finds joy in whimsy and the absurd. His cityscapes, portraits, and figures—painted on reclaimed wood—carry the same spirit of reinvention that lives in the music. Instruments are born from wood, his paintings reclaim it, and together they spark a conversation of sound and color you won’t forget.

As a classical performer, Kara has performed solo and chamber music across North America and Europe. Her orchestral career includes membership in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Paris’s Fontainebleau Chamber Orchestra, and NYC’s DiCapo Opera. She is a member of the Sycamore Music Hall of Fame in her hometown of Sycamore, Illinois.

This hour-long performance, with an intermission, will feature popular and crowd-pleasing classical and romantic pieces for the violin and piano.

Kara has been featured on MTV, NPR, and Daytrotter, and has recorded on Eenie Meenie and Lookout! Records. Her discography includes collaborations with Troubled Hubble, The Gunshy, Inspector Owl, Future Monarchs, Minova, and Andrew Jackson Jihad. In 2023, she released her solo debut, an EP called “Something Might Otherwise Have Profitably Happened.”

Kara has been on the violin faculty at Northern Illinois University, CUNY Brooklyn Conservatory, and has taught music theory at the University of Oregon. Her greatest passion is mentoring young artists at Japan-Seattle Suzuki Institute, Oregon Suzuki Institute, and the Willamette Violin Academy.

This concert is free and open to all. Doors will open at 6:00 and music will begin at 6:30 p.m. No registration is required.

For additional information, please contact Samantha at samanthah@dkpl.org or at (815) 756-9568 ext. 1701.

True Colors Baroque

Step into the moment when chamber music was just beginning to find its voice. This program traces the rise of the string quartet, from playful Renaissance echoes to the fiery brilliance of Vivaldi.

We open with Clèment Janequin's Birdsong motet, a witty Renaissance gem that feels alive with fluttering wings and bright calls. From there, the music deepens into the elegant architecture of baroque and classical four-part harmony. Haydn takes center stage as the undeniable Father of the String Quartet with one of his early Op. 20 works, a daring and emotionally charged piece that stretches every instrument to its edge. Soon after, Joseph Bologne—composer, virtuoso, and trailblazer—brings his French flair with a hauntingly beautiful Concertante Quartet in G minor.

And then comes Vivaldi, the master of drama and color. His music grounds the evening in both tenderness and fire: the meditative Largo for mandolin and strings, followed by the electrifying “Winter” from The Four Seasons. It’s music that shimmers, surprises, and leaves you buzzing long after the final note.

Aaron Wooten
Painter

Sharing the stage is painter Aaron Wooten, whose art finds joy in whimsy and the absurd. His cityscapes, portraits, and figures—painted on reclaimed wood—carry the same spirit of reinvention that lives in the music. Instruments are born from wood, his paintings reclaim it, and together they spark a conversation of sound and color you won’t forget.

ELGIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2025 | 8:00 PM

Tickets start at $63, Members save 30%
(All-in pricing includes $4 Box Office Fee. An $8 Order fee will be applied at checkout to the entire order)
Enjoy Christmas favorites and seasonal music at this annual Yuletide concert at Raue Center For The Arts!

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra returns with conductor and music director Chad Goodman and the Elgin Master Chorale for an unmatched evening of holiday music. ESO brings world-class, big-city entertainment without the hassles of the big city. Celebrate the holidays this year with the Elgin Symphony Holiday Spectacular at Raue Center For The Arts!

Recommended: ALL AGES

This performance is sponsored by Home State Bank.

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Don’t forget to become a RaueNOW Member to save 30%!

*Prices vary according to zone. Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.

Box Office Fee – A $4 per ticket charge to support the ticketing software.

Order Fee – A $8 per order charge that helps operate and invest back in our historic venue.

Premium Seat Fee – $6 Premium seat fee is based on location/additional leg room and indicated with a light blue color on the seating chart.

Patron Code of Conduct: Be courteous. Inform staff if you feel or observe any harassment. We reserve the right to remove any guest at any time. For more information, please visit rauecenter.org.

Questions? Contact our Box Office at 815-356-9212; boxoffice@rauecenter.org
Raue Center For The Arts is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of all through the arts.

Classical Blast’s
“Dark Side of the Yule”
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2025 | 7:00 PM

Tickets start at $39, Members save 30%
(All-in pricing includes $4 Box Office Fee. An $8 Order fee will be applied at checkout to the entire order)
Christmas Meets Classic Rock in this unique take on the holidays, combining rock hits from Metallica to Pink Floyd to Moody Blues to Evanesence and more with traditional carols, popular classical, holiday standards and beyond. Classical Blast has created one of the most unusual and enjoyable holiday shows around. It’s eye and ear candy the Sugarplum Fairy herself would be proud of. The show features music from the bands 2 holiday albums, “Dark Side of the Yule” and “Whiter Shade of Winter.”
Recommended: 12+

——
Don’t forget to become a RaueNOW Member to save 30%!

*Prices vary according to zone. Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.

Box Office Fee – A $4 per ticket charge to support the ticketing software.

Order Fee – A $8 per order charge that helps operate and invest back in our historic venue.

Premium Seat Fee – $6 Premium seat fee is based on location/additional leg room and indicated with a light blue color on the seating chart.

Patron Code of Conduct: Be courteous. Inform staff if you feel or observe any harassment. We reserve the right to remove any guest at any time. For more information, please visit rauecenter.org.

Questions? Contact our Box Office at 815-356-9212; boxoffice@rauecenter.org
Raue Center For The Arts is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of all through the arts.

Share the joy of the season at this year’s CMS Christmas concerts, “O Radiant Dawn.” Accompanied by strings and piano, the chorus will sing lush pieces that will illuminate even the longest, darkest nights. Familiar carols such as O Holy Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, Bring a Torch Jeannette Isabella, and Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, plus choral favorites and our popular sing-along will provide a magical experience that is sure to get you in the holiday mood. Perfect for families and friends, these concerts are an annual tradition you don’t want to miss. Music Director John C. Hughes conducts.

Share the joy of the season at this year’s CMS Christmas concerts, “O Radiant Dawn.” Accompanied by strings and piano, the chorus will sing lush pieces that will illuminate even the longest, darkest nights. Familiar carols such as O Holy Night, O Come All Ye Faithful, Bring a Torch Jeannette Isabella, and Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, plus choral favorites and our popular sing-along will provide a magical experience that is sure to get you in the holiday mood. Perfect for families and friends, these concerts are an annual tradition you don’t want to miss. Music Director John C. Hughes conducts.

An annual tradition, Elgin Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Spectacular returns for three performances Dec. 14, at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 15, at 2:30 p.m. The program includes favorite carols, new spins on modern favorites, and an appearance by Santa Claus.

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra and point2pointproductions are bringing a concert-style performance of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” to The Hemmens Cultural Center on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.

This lushly scored retelling of Victor Hugo’s epic story of love, acceptance and what it means to be a hero showcases music from Disney’s Academy Award nominated 1996 animated film and incorporates new songs by the legendary creative team of Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz.

This production will include dramatic lighting, exquisite costumes, the musicians of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, point2pointproduction actors, and a large chorus. The performance, underwritten in part by The Palmer Foundation, lasts approximately two-and-a-half hours, including one intermission, and is appropriate for ages 12 and older.

Tickets go on sale Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, at www.ElginSymphony.org. Tickets range from $25 - $65. Student tickets are $15.

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra and its Music Director, Chad Goodman, received Orchestra of the Year and Conductor of the Year Awards in 2025 from the Illinois Council of Orchestras.