You won’t want to miss one of the year’s greatest musical events when the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra presents the monumentally dramatic oratorio, Felix Mendelssohn’s “Elijah,” on Sunday, March 13 at 3:00 p.m. The concert, under the baton of Musical Director and Conductor Stephen Alltop, takes place at the ESO’s home, Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church in Elmhurst.
 
With a flow of stirring choruses, heartfelt arias and theatrical interplay, Mendelssohn’s considerable gifts as a composer of vocal music will be on full display when the famed Apollo Chorus of Chicago and a stellar cast of soloists take the stage. Baritone Gerard Sundberg, mezzo-soprano Kelsey Park, soprano Michelle Areyzaga, and tenor Patrick Muehleise will join forces with this outstanding choral ensemble to create an unforgettable afternoon of music-making.
 
A generous gift from Dr. and Mrs. David DeHaan underwrites the musical score for this concert.
Special events are being featured throughout this 55^th season of the ESO that celebrates the 20^th anniversaries with the ESO of Maestro Alltop and Concertmaster Rika Seko.   A silent auction featuring restaurant gift certificates, tickets to a variety of entertainment venues, wine, museum passes, hotel stays and other items will take place throughout the afternoon. Proceeds from the fundraiser benefit programs of the ESO, including school visits, the Stanger Auditions, the summer strings class, and a family concert.  These youth programs span kindergarten through high school and touch the lives of students and budding musicians and their families throughout DuPage County.
 
Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church is located at 149 W. Brush Hill Rd. in Elmhurst.  The church has accessible parking and facilities; parking is free. The concert experience at ECRC is enhanced by the informative and lively discussion, Behind the Music Stand, led by audience favorite Dr. Ted Hatmaker, which takes place at 1:45 p.m. prior to the concert. 
 
Tickets, which can be purchased on the ESO web site at www.elmhurstsymphony.org or by calling the ESO Box Office at 630-941-0202, are $32 for adults, $30 for seniors, and $9 for students. There is an additional $5 per ticket charge for tickets purchased at the door.  Group and family rates are also available. For information visit the web site or call the ESO Box Office.
 
The 55th season of the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra is made possible in part by grants from the City of Elmhurst, the Illinois Arts Council (a state agency), the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, and 90.9FM WDCB, Chicago’s Home for Jazz.