“The Elgin Symphony Orchestra has embarked on a search for a new music director following the departure of Andrew Grams, who led his final concert in August after an eight-year tenure,” writes Lawrence A. Johnson in Sunday’s (11/7) Chicago Classical Review. “This 2021-22 roster of guest conductors has not been officially designated as an ‘audition season’ for Grams’ successor. But the ESO lineup is peopled by young conductors and, invariably, feels like a round of tryouts to see who may click with the Elgin players. With her impressive showing Saturday night at Hemmens Cultural Center, Anna Rakitina surely has earned a high spot on any short list. Rakitina … was named a Dudamel Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic as well as assistant conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in September of 2019.” Included is a review of Rakitina’s program with the Elgin Symphony: the Overture to Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, and Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 with Gabriel Martins as soloist. Among conductors leading Elgin Symphony concerts this season are Ankush Kumar Bahl, José Luis Gomez, Andrew Grams, Matthew Halls, Andrew Lewis, Tania Miller, Arturo Rodríguez, and Lidiya Yankovskaya.
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