Alastair Willis, currently in his fourth season as Music Director for the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, will be the featured speaker in the popular Hosmer-Williams Lecture Series at Farley Music Hall, Elsah, Illinois, Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at 7:30 PM.
In the past few seasons, the Grammy-nominated conductor has guest conducted orchestras around the world including the Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Mexico City Philharmonic, Orquestra Sinfonica de Rio de Janeiro, Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonic, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, China National Orchestra (Beijing), and Silk Road Ensemble (with Yo-Yo Ma) among others. His recording of Ravel’s “L’Enfant et les Sortileges” with Nashville Symphony and Opera for Naxos was Grammy nominated for Best Classical Album in 2009.
The program will be a “conversation” format where Willis will talk with moderator Tim Tomlinson (Historic Elsah Foundation) and the audience, beginning with the Lincoln Funeral Commemoration concert. . “If I had to pick one highlight (which of course is impossible for me) it would be our final concert of the season” says Willis of the Illinois Symphony’s partnership with the 150th Lincoln Funeral Commemoration in Springfield last May. “The Springfield program was enriched by his commentary. He has a reputation for being witty and amusing. We’re still looking for a title for his talk–my preference is ‘Lincoln in iambic-pentameter.’ I know Alastair will be great at Farley” says moderator Tim Tomlinson.
Willis, who lives in Seattle, has a local connection–he was an international student for one year at Principia College.
The lecture is sponsored by Historic Elsah Foundation. The Series is underwritten by Liberty Bank of Godfrey, Illinois. The program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served following the lecture. Reservations are not required. Parking is available.
For additional information, contact Tim Tomlinson, Historic Elsah Foundation, 618-374-1518, text a request to 618-513-7119, or email a request to [email protected]. And you may download a flier.
Photo(s) courtesy Todd Rosenberg Photography, available for downloading at www.alastairwillis.com/gallery.