News Release Monday, March 19, 2012 ESO unfurls World of Change for its 63rd performance season

Internationally-renowned conductors showcase their talents in front of an award-winning orchestra as the transformative winds of change dance across the stage. The Elgin Symphony Orchestra treats music lovers rd to an exciting slate of conductors, music and themes for its 63 season, opening Saturday, September 8, 2012. The overarching theme, World of Change, reflects the music director search as a catalyst for change at the ESO, the global nature of the music director candidates and guest artists, and several works in the seasons programming that were inspired by nature and appreciation for world culture. A full listing of all concert dates and music to be performed are provided in the season preview brochure available on the ESO web site at http://www.elginsymphony.org/ Musically, the ESOs classics series, known as Classic Masterworks, brings audiences the greatest works from throughout classical repertoire. Staying within the classical tradition, the ESO will present many works not previously performed by the orchestra. Examples of pieces that are new the orchestra and ESO audiences include Piazzolas The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, Stravinskys Dumbarton Oaks, Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending, and Shostakovichs Symphony No. 10 in E minor. In the ESOs Spotlight Pops series, the talents of a headlining performer are showcased against the backdrop of the extraordinary ESO. An example of such partnerships includes A Night in Havana on October 20 and 21, in which three-time Grammy-nominated Cuban music group Tiempo Libre accompanies the orchestra for an exciting weekend of Latin rhythms. Tiempo Libres Miami-based members are true modern heirs to the rich tradition of the music of their native Cuba. Classically trained at Cubas premier conservatories, today, the group is a hit in the U.S. and abroad, celebrated for its joyful performances of timba, an irresistible, dance-inducing mix of high-voltage Latin jazz and the seductive rhythms of son. The ESO enters the second year of a multi-year search for a new music director, resulting in a series of guest conductorsselected from among the finest conducting talent in the worldwho are vying to be the next music director. Eight of the 13 finalists will take the podium in the new season. In order of appearance in the 2012-13 season, the finalists are Dorian Wilson (September 8-9), Rafael Payare (November 3-4), Stephen Squires (November 17-18, December 15-16 and January 26-27), Ignat Solzhenitsyn (January 11-13), Donata Cabrera (February 9-10), Alastair Willis (March 8-10), Marcelo Lehninger (April 5-7), and Andrew Grams (May 4-5). The remaining five finalists conducted the orchestra in the 2011-12 season. The internationally-renowned candidates were selected from a pool of nearly 200 applicants. According to industry experts, the ESO has attracted prospects from among the finest available anywhere, both

nationally and internationally. The ESO continues to make numerous efforts to involve the community in the music director search, including opportunities to provide feedback to the organization after each guest conductors appearance. Henry Fogel, prior president and chief executive officer of the League of American Orchestras and former president of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association, is providing counsel throughout the process. Currently, the ESO is working with existing subscribers to renew their subscriptions until April 27, after which time subscription packages will be available to the general public. Ticket sales for individual events begin with an Internet-only presale from July 14 through July 22. General ticket sales by phone, walk-in and Internet begin Monday, July 23. For additional information about the Elgin Symphony Orchestras 2012-2013 season or to be added to the ESO mailing list, please call 847-888-4000 or write to boxoffice@elginsymphony.org. The ESO box office is located at 20 DuPage Court in downtown Elgin near Al's Cafe & Creamery and the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce. ESO box office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Hemmens Cultural Center, ESOs primary concert home, is located at 45 Symphony Way, just south of Kimball Street and adjacent to The Centre of Elgin.

Please direct media inquiries to Tracy Hulett Director of Marketing & Communications t.hulett@elginsymphony.org Heidi Zwart Healy Marketing & Communications Manager h.healy@elginsymphony.org