One can hardly blame Dr. Allan Dennis and the Midwest Young Artists for featuring prominent alumni in soloist roles in their concert programs. Given the willingness of these artists (stemming from fond memories, no doubt) and the number of top-flight musicians to finish their program, it can’t require much cajoling to convince first-rate virtuosos to grace the stage with MYA’s Symphony Orchestra as expert accompanists.
Their concert Saturday at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall in Evanston featured one of their more acclaimed graduates, violinist Jeremy Black, in the Tchaikovsky Concerto in D Major. After a formative period with MYA in the group’s early years, the Evanston native continued his studies at Case Western Reserve, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and the University of Michigan. He is now a member of the Pittsburgh Symphony and is renowned locally as the concertmaster of the Grant Park Symphony.

Review by Michael Cameron of the Chicago Tribune.

This past Sunday at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall in Evanston, Midwest Young Artists took the venue by storm, armed with three concerts from an assortment of groups with varied programs. The concert I attended bore the title “Future Virtuosos”, and featured winners of the Walgreens Concerto Competition.  It was a prime opportunity to not only measure the continuing growth of two MYA orchestras under the leadership of Allan Dennis, but also to hear a sample of young soloists primed to try their hands in the highly competitive world of the concert soloist.

This article was written by Mark McGowan.

Despite the word “Woman” in the title, the story is told from the perspective of a man.

Well, the original story bore that viewpoint, at least.

But the tale of a man who escapes his bland existence only to find himself trapped by the alternative will enjoy a decidedly female outlook when it’s reinterpreted at 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, and Monday, Sept. 21, on the stage of the NIU Music Building’s Recital Hall.

Four artists, including Greg Beyer, assistant professor of percussion studies in the School of Music, will present “Woman of the Dunes” as the culmination of a week-long guest artist series and artistic collaboration that revolves around Japanese composer Akemi Naito’s new – and musical – look at the 1960s novel and movie from her homeland.

Today's review is from Chicago Tribune writer, Michael Cameron.

Given the sterling reputation he’s earned in music education circles, it’s no wonder Midwest Young Artist’s director Allan Dennis occasionally submits evidence of the value of his program and methodology through the accomplishments of former students.  Saturday night at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall he presented exhibit A: his daughter and violist extraordinaire, Carrie Dennis.

Today's blog is written by Jeffrey Levine, Marketing and Events Coordinator at DePaul Community Music Division.

I spent last weekend far away from my valentine as I hit the road for my now monthly journey to Peoria to play for the symphony. The program was mostly American music (whatever that nebulous distinction conveys)  but what surprised me the most was not what we played but who we played with: the Central Illinois Youth Symphony.

Growing up in Buffalo, I was fortunate to be a  member of the Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra - the Western New York equivalent of the CSYO - and play a side by side with the Buffalo Philharmonic. Now, many years later, I found myself on stage at the Peoria Civic Center struck by how much more that experience meant to me then I had realized.