PEORIA -- Thousands of children listened attentively on April 24 to a concert by the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, designed especially for them.
There were no visuals, no video games, no lyrics, rap or otherwise -- just lush classical music, played with the symphony's usual energy and verve.
The children from around 70 schools attended three 45-minute concerts at the Peoria Civic Center Theater. Some came from as far away as Normal.
They filled the theater for the first two concerts, but there were were some vacant seats for the third concert, and attendance was down a little this year. Students pay $4 to attend.
Conductor David Commanday introduced the pieces and talked about the instruments in the orchestra.
The music selected for the children made no concessions to their youth. The pieces included "The Ride of the Valkyries" from Wagner's opera The Valkyrie; a movement from Handle's Water Music; a dance from Stravinsky's ballet The Firebird; a movement from Beethoven's Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93, and "In the Hall of the Mountain King," from Grieg's Peer Gynt.
A 17-year-old violinist, Hannah Dremann, winner of the Peoria Symphony Guild's 2007 Young Artist Competition, performed as a soloist with the orchestra.
She played well and look great in a lovely red satin gown.
The concert concluded with movie music from a pirate film, showing the pervasiveness of classical music in our culture.
These concerts have been taking place since the 1950s, have introduced thousands of children to classical music, and inspired them to become performers and listeners. What could be more worthwhile?
--Elaine Hopkins
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