ESO: Fun for more than just the family

At 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra will present a Halloween "Spook-tacular," the first part of the ESO Family Fun Series.

The orchestra will perform John Williams' music for the Harry Potter films. Tickets to each show in the Family Fun Series are $45 per adult and $30 per child.

Randal Swiggum will conduct the "Sppok-tacular" at the Hemmens Theatre, which seats 1,200 patrons. Swiggum joined the Elgin Symphony Orchestra in the 2005-2006 season as its education conductor. He works with the education and artistic departments in designing, developing, administering and evaluating all education and community engagement programs offered by the Elgin Symphony Orchestra.

Swiggum also conducts the annual Kidz Konzerts, a Music In the Middle program that takes place in April. According to the Elgin Symphony Ochestra website, Swiggum is very active in music education and enjoys a diverse teaching career that has spanned first grade general music, high school choir, college orchestra, music theory and conducting. He is also the music director of the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra.

There are three concerts in the ESO Family Fun Series. The other two are "Bring On the Brass" at the end of January and "Beethoven Superhero" in April.

-- Jason Duarte, Freelance Writer

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