2011 - 2012 Season
18th Season!
Friday, July 15, 2011
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
Magic Mushroom children’s summer program and the Irving Park Fine Arts Committee will present “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” on Friday, July 15th at 10:00 a.m. A musical adaptation of the classic children’s novel by C. S. Lewis, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” tells the story of what happens when four children discover a magical wardrobe that delivers them to the fantastic world of Narnia.
American Eagle Productions, a Chicago-based theatre troupe specializing in children’s classics, will bring to life the story of the Pevensie children and their adventures in Narnia with song, dance, costumes and sets.
The performance will be held in the sanctuary of Irving Park Lutheran Church at 4100 N. Harding Ave. This free-will donation event is open to the public, and is sure to please audiences of all ages! Concessions will be sold in the parking lot following the performance where the audience will have a chance to meet and talk with the actors.
Sunday, September 18, 2011, 2:00 p.m.
Ben Melsky, Harp
The Irving Park Fine Arts Committee (IPFAC) is pleased to announce the first concert of the 2011-2012 Performing Arts Series. Lyric Opera harpist Ben Melsky will perform in a solo recital on Sunday, September 18th at 2:00 p.m. The concert will take place at the Irving Park Lutheran Church, 4100 N. Harding Ave., Chicago. Melsky will perform selections from J. S. Bach, Benjamin Britten and Paul Hindemith. Fine Arts patrons last saw Melsky in a performance last winter with the Naperville Chamber Players. Free will donations are welcome; a reception with the artist will follow the concert.
Melsky is an Evanston native who started playing the harp at age eight. He holds both Bachelor’s of Music and Master’s of Music from Northwestern University. As a soloist, he has performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. as part of the Millennium Stage Conservatory Project, was a 2008 winner of the Northwestern University Concerto Competition with Alberto Ginastera’s Harp Concerto, and has performed major concerti with the Instituto Cervantes Orchestra of Chicago and Northwestern University Chamber Orchestra. Recently he was recorded at the Goodman Theater for their production of Animal Crackers.
As an orchestral musician he currently plays second harp with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and has played with the Chicago Philharmonic, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Southern Illinois Summer Music Festival Orchestra and Evanston Symphony Orchestra. He currently maintains a private studio in addition to being an associate faculty member at Glenbrook South and Glenbrook North High Schools.
Sunday, December 11, 2011, 2:00 p.m.
Holiday Extravaganza
Series artistic director Rober Bingaman will be joined by many friends to usher in the holidays with joyful sounds!
Thursday, January 26, 2012, 7:00 p.m.
Plymouth State University Chamber Singers
Hailing from Plymouth, New Hampshire, the Plymouth State University Chamber Singers will perform in a special concert on January 26th. Under the direction of conductor Dr. Dan Perkins, the Chamber Singers' recent repertoire includes Mozart “Mass in C minor” (in collaboration with NH Master Chorale), J.S. Bach “Komm, Jesu, komm,” Francis Poulenc “Four Christmas Motets,” and works by Eric Whitacre, Morten Lauridsen, Arvo Part, and Moses Hogan.
Sunday, February 26, 2012, 2:00 p.m.
The Avanti Guitar Trio
The Avanti Guitar Trio performs an eclectic variety of music including: repertoire from the Renaissance through Romantic eras, music from Spain and Latin America, arrangements of folk and pop tunes, and contemporary compositions that make use of improvisation, effects pedals, and electronics.
Sunday, April 29, 2012, 2:00 p.m.
Dorothy Deen cello, Roger Bingaman, piano
Dorothy Deen, Cellist is a native of Chicago and has been a freelance cellist in the area for over 25 years. She received her Master's degree in cello performance and pedagogy from Northern Illinois University. Dorothy will be joined by series artistic director, Roger Bingaman.