April 26, 2023. Vol. 30. No. 48. RockRiverTimes.com.
Kevin Stites Returns to Conduct the Rockford Symphony Orchestra: The Rockford Symphony Orchestra (RSO) will be taking the stage on April 29 at 7:30 pm at the Coronado Performing Arts Center to present Americana, a program featuring works that highlight the American experience. During the concert, the RSO will be honoring their Outstanding Music Educator of the Year nominees and announcing the winners. The concert will be conducted by Kevin Stites, who is originally from Pecatonica, and recently conducted the orchestra in a sold-out performance titled The Works of John Williams. He most recently made his Chicago Symphony and Ravinia Festival debuts, and spent six seasons as Music Director for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. His work on Broadway includes: South Pacific, Tale of Two Cities, The Color Purple, Titanic, Sunset Boulevard, Les Miserables (2006 revival), and Fiddler on the Roof, among others. He also has spent time touring with productions and worked in film and TV. Kevin is a proud graduate of Pecatonica High School, Pecatonica IL, and earned his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign. Before the concert from 6:30-7:00 pm will be a special recital by Andrew Mertzenich on the Grand Barton Organ sponsored by the Land of Lincoln Theatre Organ Society. The Grand Barton Organ is original to the Coronado Theatre. It took five boxcars to move the entire instrument from Wisconsin to Rockford, and the cost to build the instrument today, accounting for inflation, would be approximately $1,000,000. Originally envisioned to play before, during, and after silent movies, the Grand Barton Organ has entertained hundreds of thousands of guests throughout nearly a century of continuous use. For more information, contact the Land of Lincoln Theatre Organ Society at coronado.loltos@gmail.com. Tickets for the concert are available online at rockfordsymphony.com, by phone at 815-965-0049, or by visiting the RSO offices which are open M-F 9-5. (Photo courtesy of RSO)