By Gargoyle news staff


Posted Thursday, March 15, 2007, The OG, arts & news

ALEX CAHILL (Gargoyle photo by

Carl Zielinski) (click to enlarge)

SENIOR ALEX CAHILL has been selected by Music for All to perform on the double bass in one of the nation's finest honor ensembles for high school students — the 2007 Honor Orchestra of America.

Cahill was selected through audition from among hundreds of applicants across the nation for membership in this honors ensemble. He is one of only 12 students from Illinois in the 82-member orchestra.

“To be selected for this unique opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for these students,” said Scott McCormick, president and CEO of Bands of America.

Cahill's orchestra directors are Rick Murphy of Uni High and Kevin Kelly of the East Central Illinois Youth Orchestra; he studies privately with Margaret Gawienowski and Alexander McHattie.

The Honor Orchestra of America will perform 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Hilbert Circle Theatre in Indianapolis as part of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra subscription series.

The Honor Orchestra is conducted by Larry Livingston, founding music director of the Illinois Chamber Orchestra.

Renowned violinist Pinchas Zukerman will perform Antonin Dvorak's “Romance in F minor for violin and orchestra, Op. 11” with the ensemble, directed by guest conductor Mario Venzago, music director of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

The ensemble will also perform Giuseppe Verdi's “Overture to Nabucco,” Edward Elgar's “Nimrod from the Enigma Variations, Op. 36,” and Dmitri Shostakovich's “Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47, Mvt. IV.”

The Honor Orchestra of America will perform on the first part of a shared concert with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

The Honor Orchestra is part of the Music for All National Festival, held today through Saturday in Indianapolis. Music for All is an Indianapolis-based national music education organization.

RELATED

— Gargoyle coverage: Six Uni musicians to perform at all-state festival this week

— Gargoyle coverage: Uni musicians selected for all-state honors

— Gargoyle coverage: First person: Performing in the IMEA all-district concert

— Gargoyle coverage: Uni musicians impress their way to all-district honors

— Gargoyle coverage: Behind the music

— Gargoyle coverage: Six Uni musicians chosen as among best in state