Local Efforts to Help Hurricane Katrina Victims

How you can help from the Daily Herald

Hurricane Katrina Taize Prayer Service - Tuesday, September 6th at 7:00 pm
First Congregational Church
256 E. Chicago St.
Elgin, IL
(847) 741-4045

Hurricane Katrina ESO Benefit Concert - Wednesday, September 7th at 7:30 pm
On Wednesday, September 7, 2005 the Elgin Symphony Orchestra will hold a benefit concert to assist in the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Hemmens Theatre, 45 Symphony Way in downtown Elgin.

The concert was inspired as Robert Hanson, Music Director of the ESO, viewed the horrific scenes of devastation left in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Tom Roeser, ESO Board President said “When we started placing calls to our musicians and other community organizations to organize the event, the response was overwhelming. Everyone wanted to do something to help. ESO musicians and community organizations are donating their services so that all monies raised can go directly to relief effort.”

Community partners in this event include the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, the Elgin Choral Union, the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, Heartland Voices, EFS Foundation, Otto Engineering and the City of Elgin. Originally, the Elgin Children’s Theatre had a scheduled rehearsal in the Hemmens Theatre and generously offered to move their rehearsal so the benefit concert could take place.

Admission to the concert is free and all donations will go directly to The McCormick Tribune Foundation Hurricane Katrina Relief Campaign. This fund was established by The McCormick Tribune Foundation and many of its Communities Program Partners to raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina. The McCormick Tribune Foundation will match the first $2,000,000 contributed to the campaign at 50 cents on the dollar.

The Elgin Choral Union, the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra and Heartland Voices will join the Elgin Symphony Orchestra in the performance. The program will include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, choral selections from Mozart and Mendelssohn, America the Beautiful and more. Also, guests from the City of Elgin and members of the clergy will speak during the concert, lending support and uniting the community in this cause.

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra last held a benefit concert after the September 11th disaster. Over 1,000 area residents attended that benefit, donating more than $13,000 to the effort.

“We hope that the concert will serve to unite the community, the music we’ve chosen is uplifting and it will help people come together to do what we can in the face of this disaster” remarked Robert Hanson, Music Director.

A musician from the Louisiana Philharmonic (out of New Orleans) will speak about what she saw and experienced.

For more information about the concert, visit the ESO’s website at http://www.elginsymphony.org/ or call the administrative office at (847) 888-0404.