Copyright Chicago Tribune
While at last Friday’s sold-out 84th season opening for the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, I discovered that some of our musicians for NISO also help out as available talents on the roster for the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra, the latter which launched in 1989 after being created by musicians from the Lyric Opera Orchestra. “Of our 70-plus musicians, you’ll find our talented musicians listed on the same expansive list of both the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra and the Lyric also pulls from the same list for productions and concert schedules when in need of freelance musicians to step in,” said Karen Dickelman, NISO orchestra manager. “Our musicians are a dedicated group, and as with so many of the musicians around Chicagoland, that means being willing to travel.” On Saturday, merged musicians from Northwest Indiana and throughout Chicagoland will be in the pre-Halloween spirit at The Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, when The Chicago Philharmonic continues with the second season of the Auditorium Philms Concert Series, a multi-media experience showcasing iconic films paired with scores performed live in concert. Disney and Tim Burton’s “Nightmare Before Christmas” in concert was so popular when presented in 2019, the cult-classic stop-motion masterpiece with the incredible score by Danny Elfman is back for one curtain event at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25. Tickets start at $72 and are available at auditoriumtheatre.org or by calling The Auditorium’s Ticket Service Center at 312-341-2300. Subtitles will be shown during the live performance in the 3,875-seat historic venue, which opened in 1889. Before the performance, The Auditorium is hosting a fun lobby pre-Halloween party with specialty themed food and drink and a costume contest. Costume contest competitors can win a range of prizes, including gift cards and free tickets for upcoming Auditorium and Chicago Philharmonic events. The VIP Halloween Party starts at 6 p.m. and requires an additional $45 ticket. Only a modest box-office success when released in 1993, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” eventually found a cult fan base, earning a ranking as an enduring film favorite. It is the tale of Jack Skellington, who is hailed as the king of Halloween Town. When he accidentally discovers Christmas Town, he decides to invite his spooky counterparts to join him to try to take over Santa’s holiday. The film includes the vocal talents of Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara, Paul Reubens and Patrick Stewart, among others. Composer Elfman said he drew on musical influences from the past like Kurt Weill, George Gershwin and Gilbert and Sullivan to make the music in this film feel “both nostalgic and otherworldly,” with the resulting tunes still haunting audience ears of all ages today, such as “This is Halloween” and “What’s This?” “We are proud to co-present this film with The Auditorium and to bring Danny Elfman’s score to life for Chicago audiences,” Chicago Philharmonic Executive Director Terell Johnson said. “This project highlights what great cultural partnerships can do to combine cinematic storytelling with the power of live orchestral music to create an immersive, communal experience.” More music The LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra’s 2025-26 subscription season begins on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. at the La Porte Civic Auditorium, 1001 Ridge St. in LaPorte, with a concert themed as “Dream of America,” a special event offering an early celebration of the country’s 250th birthday as well as the rich history of immigration in the U.S. and the pursuit of “the American dream.” I’m told the centerpiece of the concert will be Peter Boyer’s “Ellis Island: The Dream of America,” which features seven actors and projected images from the Ellis Island archives paired with the music addition of the full orchestra. Music Director Dr. Carolyn Watson leads the engaging program, which also includes John Williams’ “Escapades,” better known as the theme from the Leonardo DiCaprio film “Catch Me If You Can.” The orchestra will also use the evening to unveil the world premiere of rising star composer Kevin Day’s “Upwelling” for solo saxophone and orchestra. Soloing on both “Escapades” and “Upwelling” will be Nick May, the accomplished saxophonist who hails from Kansas City. The Lubeznik Center for the Arts will host an American-themed art-making station during the pre-concert hour. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the concert begins at 7 p.m. Central time. Café table seating is available for $37, as well as the option of adult balcony seats for $26 and senior balcony seats for $23. Students with ID and children are free, and the balcony is all general admission. Joining the LCSO for the first time is the new principal tuba musician Colby Fahrenbacher, who is also the current librarian for the South Bend Symphony Orchestra. An active freelancer in the Northern Indiana and Chicago areas for concert musician needs, he has subbed with orchestras such as the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, South Bend Symphony Orchestra and Illinois Symphony Orchestra. He also performs regularly with Alpine Thunder, an authentic German band that keeps a busy Oktoberfest schedule this month. Before moving to South Bend, Colby served as a tubist in the United States Air Force Bands, where he had the opportunity to perform for President Obama, President Trump, and many domestic and foreign dignitaries. While touring through the eastern coast of the United States, Europe, and Africa, Colby was frequently a featured soloist with the Air Force Bands. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he studied with Mark Moore and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music performance. Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and radio show host on WJOB 1230 AM. He can be reached at PhilPotempa@gmail.com.
