A Letter from our President...

Hans Christian Andersen said, "When words fail, music speaks." It is difficult to define exactly why choral singing is so powerful, but studies show that it can provide hope, acceptance, and a sense of community for those who are disenfranchised or simply lonely. The 110-member, volunteer Elgin Choral Union takes pride in providing our community with inspiring performances that fill our patrons' hearts with every emotion from hushed, reverent silence to hand-clapping joy.

The Elgin Choral Union is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, self-sustaining organization that has been presenting the highest-quality choral music to the Chicago region for over 60 years. Organized in 1947, we are the oldest performing arts organization in the Fox Valley.

Under the direction of Maestro Andrew Lewis, one of the Chicago area's finest up-and-coming conductors, in 2009–2010 we performed some of the world's most beloved arias, a Christmas program featuring all English composers and our first completely unaccompanied choral concerts. This year promises to be even more spectacular, as you can see by the enclosed brochure, with five diverse programs led by three different conductors in three locations. In October we joined the Elgin Symphony Orchestra to present Beethoven's extraordinary Ninth Symphony. The Choral Union's performance was described as "stunning, "spectacular," and "equal to any chorus in the nation." On December 18–19 we perform "A Choral Christmas" featuring Benjamin Britten's "A Ceremony of Carol" for harp and chorus and Conrad Susa's companion piece "Carols and Lullabies from the Southwest" based on Spanish folk songs. In 2011 we perform with the Elgin Opera and also sing "Gershwin in Blues" with the ESO. Finally, we conclude our season with the beloved Mozart Requiem Mass. Join us to hear the joy of live choral music yourself.

Our members range in age from 18 to 80 and reside in Elgin and 33 surrounding communities. Our self-sustaining, independent status means that we rely on grants, private donations, and fundraising to pay the expenses associated with our concerts, including high-quality orchestral musicians, stage technicians, marketing, and music fees.

During the recent recession, our Board of Directors and staff have successfully implemented strategic plans to raise our level of artistry and organizational professionalism while trimming and tightening expenses, reducing administrative support personnel, and carefully assessing each project's potential return on investment. We have made responsible and deliberate choices about every penny in our coffers. And yet, our future survival relies on securing new funding sources to replace the revenues that have been lost to the downturn.

In these turbulent financial times, it is relatively easy to forego donations to the arts until there is more financial certainty. But it is precisely in these times that we need the benefit of quality music the most. Please consider a generous gift to the Elgin Choral Union so that life with music can continue in the Fox Valley. We are grateful for your support.

Sincerely,
Rita de Pedro President, Elgin Choral Union Board of Directors