Northbrook Symphony Shares Beauty, Peace and Hope During COVID
Press release from Northbrook Symphony Orchestra:
Feb.8, 2021
“I promise you: Music is Life and music will never stop,” were the words of Mina Zikri, Music Director of the NSO upon hearing that live performances for an audience were cancelled for the foreseeable future. Mr. Zikri has remained true to his promise. When restrictions eased he gathered his musicians, masked and socially distanced, and recorded two performances, one featuring Robert Chen, Chicago Symphony Concertmaster, and the other celebrating Beethoven’s 250th birthday.
The Northbrook Symphony performed virtually for not only its subscribers, patrons and ticketholders stranded at home, but the Orchestra also has reached out and provided complimentary broadcasts to area schools, including many in underserved communities, and to healthcare workers on the frontline of COVID. The virtual fieldtrips for schools include works of Mozart or Beethoven with a live introduction and Q & A from Maestro Zikri. So far this year more than 400 students have enjoyed these performances. Additional broadcasts are scheduled in February, March and beyond. “This effort dovetails nicely with our mission of encouraging attendance by young audiences. We always offer complimentary admission to children ages 7 to 18 with a paying adult,” informed James Karagianis, President of the NSO Board.
“This outreach segues well with our other community engagement efforts to support underserved communities,” advises board member Cindy Brady who leads the NSO outreach initiative. “These efforts include the complimentary concert admission to the entire family of the NSO partner schools serving underserved communities, a year-round musical instrument collection drive and college scholarships for students from the NSO partner schools pursuing careers in music.”
The NSO partners with Bravo Waukegan to help support the Waukegan school music programs. The donated band and orchestra instruments and guitars benefit the Waukegan students. This year’s scholarship recipients are Brandon Carranza, Esai Torres and Brittney Huerta, all graduates of Waukegan High School. All are pursuing fine arts degrees in college.
Expanding the Orchestra’s community engagement, the NSO wanted to recognize the tireless efforts of healthcare workers during the pandemic. The Orchestra decided to provide complimentary broadcasts to healthcare workers in area hospitals and will offer all healthcare workers complimentary season subscriptions when in-person concerts resume.
“Music reminds us of the depth and beauty of our human experience. It has always provided peace and hope, especially during stressful times throughout history. Music is Life after all,” concludes Mr. Zikri.
Schools and healthcare organizations interested in enjoying a complimentary broadcast or music instrument donors may contact the Northbrook Symphony offices at 847-272-0755 or info@northbrooksymphony for further details.
This press release was produced by Northbrook Symphony Orchestra. The views expressed here are the author's own.
This article originally appeared on the Northbrook Patch
