D-64 Students to Perform with Park Ridge Civic Orchestra

The following information was submitted by the Park Ridge Civic Orchestra.

"Performing with the Pro's" is a theme of this season Park Ridge Civic Orchestra's showcasing of young musicians.

"In this 20th season we are highlighting the brilliant talent of our local young people" stated PRCO Music Director, Victor Muenzer in a press release.  "From the first concert to the last, we have worked with District 64, area arts students, and private schools to create performance opportunities for the wealth of talent these students possess."  

On Halloween Eve the PRCO presents a night featuring appropriately scary music both classical and popular. Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera was selected as the collaborative work where violins, violas, cellos, and basses from Lincoln and Emerson Middle Schools will play with the Orchestra on stage at the Pickwick.

"Last spring we met with the staff and administration of District 64" stated Muenzer. "We discussed the possibility of finding a score that both the schools and the PRCO had in common, and Phantom fit the bill.  I'm looking forward to working with the students, and know that they and the Orchestra will have a great time performing together."

Brian Jacobi, Dallas Klytta, Natalie Jacobsen, and Erica Charous are among the faculty working with Victor Muenzer on this event.

The Oct. 30 festivities begin in Uptown Park Ridge at 5 p.m. with wizard-themed activities at the library and Metra station. The Park Ridge Park District will offer face painting, and the Kalo Foundation plans an artist coloring contest, the press release states.

Trick-or-treating at local merchants and scary storytelling adds to the mix, with a costume parade led by Mayor Dave Schmidt at 6:30 p.m. to the Pickwick Theatre.

The one-hour concert features actor Terry Lynch as the Wizard host taking the audience on a musical journey to discover the Immortal Nicholas Flamel.  The Pickwick's grand pipe organ opens the show and surprise special effects are in store along with the opening bars of Bach's Toccata and Fugure in D Minor; Night on Bald Mountain, Sorcerer's Apprentice, and themes from Harry Potter rounding out the night.