Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s spring concert to be aired online Saturday

After more than a year since their last performance, the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra has returned to the stage for their 2021 Spring Concert.

The concert was recorded on Northern Illinois University’s Boutell Memorial Concert Hall stage and will be available for free viewing on KSO’s website, YouTube and social media pages. The concert’s link will be available 7:30 p.m. Saturday and can be watched anytime afterwards.

The concert will feature performances by the orchestra’s brass, woodwinds and string sections.

The program includes “March for Timpani and Brass” by Brent Heisinger, “O Magnum Mysterium” by Giovanni Gabrieli, “Serenade in D Minor, Op. 44” by Antonin Dvorak and “Serenade for Strings in C Major, Op. 48” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

In accordance with health guidelines during the pandemic, musicians performed socially distanced while on stage. They also wore face masks with mouth slits to play their instruments and used bell covers that filter the air that comes from their instrument without distorting or muffling the sound. The concert was recorded in three separate sections with industrial fans filtering and circulating the air during intermissions.

Music director and conductor Linc Smelser described being able to perform again on stage as “a little strange and odd after months without performing together, but it’s exhilarating.”

“I can’t express how great it is to finally be back on stage again, performing live for an audience,” Smelser said. “When the pandemic is over, I think there will be a renaissance of people wanting live performances: music concerts, dance recitals, plays, musicals and operas. We’re here now because we have a love of music. It’s a big part of our lives, of a lot of people’s lives, and I think we all missed it greatly this past year.”

Donations to KSO can be made three ways: by mail by downloading and printing a donor form, via Give Lively or by texting KSOATHOME to 44321.

KSO, established in 1976, is a nonprofit community orchestra that promotes its mission of “Enriching and educating the community through music.” The orchestra was named the best in the Live Entertainment category in the Daily Chronicle’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards for DeKalb County.

For more information about the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra, visit www.kishorchestra.org.