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LakeForestLeader.com news
the lake forest leader | October 13, 2016 | 3
Local kids compose new
song for LF Symphony
Erin Yarnall, Freelance Reporter
Most petting zoos feature a variety of
farm animals, but when they’re hosted
by the Lake Forest Symphony, they’re
home to an array of musical instruments
instead.
On Oct. 8, the symphony appealed to
kids with their own take on a petting zoo,
featuring instruments that the kids could
touch and play with to help them gain an
understanding of what goes into playing
an instrument.
The petting zoo followed a presentation
of Compose Yourself!, a nearly hourlong
concert performed by members of
the Lake Forest Symphony in the John
& Nancy Hughes Theater inside Gorton
Community Center, the administrative
home of the Lake Forest Symphony.
Compose Yourself! — which was conducted
and composed by Jim Stephenson,
the composer-in-residence of the Lake
Forest Symphony — helped introduce
children to different instruments by explaining
the families of instruments and
the abilities of the individual instruments.
“It’s very important to me to have our
grandkids involved in music,” said Libertyville
resident Marge Stueckemann,
who attended the concert with her grandson
Pierce Adams.
Individual instruments were highlighted
during the concert, including the
flute as a narrator compared it to blowing
on a bottle before leading the rest of the
orchestra as they blew on bottles along
with the flutist.
“What we hope is the message that follows
through from that is that this is the
moment to get your kids exposed and get
them excited about not only orchestral
music as a thing, but individual instruments,”
Alex Monroe, the general manager
of the Lake Forest Symphony, said.
Monroe’s hopes resonated with Lake
Forest resident Thomas Strong, who was
most excited to see the cello. Strong ran
into the theater, excitedly pointing out
the cellist to the rest of his family.
“I go to Sheridan [Elementary School]
and there’s orchestra class,” Strong said. “I
picked the cello because you get to sit down.
Please see Symphony, 8
Lake Forest Symphony composerin-residence
and conductor of the
program Jim Stephenson watches the
performance on Saturday, Oct. 8, at the
Compose Yourself! youth outreach event
at the John & Nancy Hughes Theater
inside Gorton Community Center. Photos
by Claire Esker/22nd Century Media
Kendall Phillips, 6, of Highland Park,
plays an accordion during the show.
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Betty Bash
2016 at Gorton
Friday,Oct.21
A Girls’ Night Out
full of fun, food, drinks, music, dancing and more!
All to benefit those who need us most...
the least fortunate children in Lake County.
Every Betty is invited!
To purchase tickets or for sponsorship opportunities,
visit our website at motherstrustfoundation.org
Betty (n): every woman who wants to make
a difference in the life of a child.