Illinois’ Rockford Symphony Orchestra.
In Monday’s (2/24) WIFR (Rockford, Illinois), Jake Pearson reports, “Celebrating the Forest City’s long history of welcoming immigrants and their heritage, the Rockford Symphony Orchestra shares the stories of seven immigrants who came to America through Ellis Island between 1910 and 1940. Ellis Island: Dream of America is from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on March 8 at the Coronado Performing Arts Center in downtown Rockford. Rockford Symphony Orchestra connected with local historical societies and asked area residents to share their immigration stories. The concert includes a prelude talk with local historian and architect, Gary Anderson, who will highlight the vital contributions and impact immigrants have made on our community’s growth.” Ellis Island: Dream of America was composed by Peter Boyer; the work combines music, visuals, and onstage narration from actors, provided at the March 8 performance by the local Artists’ Ensemble Theater. Music Director Yaniv Attar will lead the concert, which also features clarinetist Kinan Azmeh, a contemporary immigrant, as composer and soloist of his Suite for Improvisor and Orchestra, and will include Arturo Márquez’s Conga del Fuego. In the WIFR video, Pearson interviews Javier Roman, the Rockford Symphony’s marketing and engagement manager.
