Barrington's White House Emerges as Premiere Venue for International Performers

Barrington’s White House hosted another spectacular performance by world-renowned performers. Wednesday evening’s packed performance featured Nancy Braithwaite, a former Barrington resident, and now an internationally acclaimed clarinetist and educator, living in The Netherlands.

Braithwaite commented that the acoustics in Barrington’s White House are ideal for ensemble performances. “The tall ceilings allow the sound to flow upwards and fill the hall.” She especially liked the intimate setting, allowing the audience to be up close to the performers.

Many past performers have also enjoyed the unique venue, including famed violinist Rachel Barton Pine. Daniel Avshalomov, of the American String Quartet, said of his performance at the White House that “every seat was taken, all attention focused, and the audience drew from us the best we had to offer. Players enjoy applause, of course, but rapt silence at the appropriate moments…is a more powerful reward.”

On Wednesday, March 1, pieces included works from Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms, and six lively, short songs based on poems from Robert Louis Stevenson’s “A Child’s Garden of Verses’.

Braithwaite was joined by her equally accomplished musical friends:

• The audience was mesmerized by the rich tones of cellist Walter Preucil, a member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra. The press described his recital at Carnegie Hall’s Weil Recital Hall as “beautifully expressive,” and having “color, warmth, and freedom.”
• Local Barrington resident Joanne McDade, a lyric soprano, was featured in the lively Garden of Verses’ songs, as well as Franz Schubert’s beautiful “The Shepherd on the Rock”. Joanne has a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance, teaching voice and piano to students of all ages.
• William Koehler, a frequent performer and recording artist, was masterful on piano, and has taught piano at Northern Illinois University.
• Pianist Kenneth Smith also gave a memorable performance. Smith has a Master of Music degree in piano and taught at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University.

The Braithwaite concert is the second of three cultural events at Barrington’s White House in eight days. On Sunday, February 26, the White House welcomed Harper College President, Kenneth Ender, in his first official presentation of a new concept in post-secondary education, called the “Communiversity”. In his lecture, followed by a reflective question-and-answer session with the audience, Ender discussed the need to expand career paths and employment opportunities for all young adults, and how the creation of a network of secondary schools, the community college, and a local state college or university, could provide a more accessible and seamless educational opportunity.

This coming Sunday, March 5 at 3 p.m., former Barrington High School teacher Dale Griffith will be featured in a special humanities presentation exploring how stories orient us to the world—either consciously or unconsciously. He’ll be joined by Dr. Rebecca Schorsch as they explore the understanding of religion in literature with dramatizations and discussion of Albert Camus’ The Fall and Joseph Soloveitchick’s The Lonely Man of Faith. It was a favorite topic of his former BHS students.

Upcoming events include the following performances:

• Miró String Quartet on Sunday April 9 at 3 p.m.
• Bella Voce Camerata, small vocal ensemble performance on Sunday April 30 at 3 p.m.
• And to finish the spring season, a rare performance by Elgin Symphony Orchestra maestro Andrew Grams. Performance and wine tasting to take place Sunday, May 21 at 3 p.m.

For tickets to these events, please visit the website: www.barringtonswhitehouse.com.

The Barrington White House team gratefully acknowledges its cultural events season sponsors, without whose generosity this series would not be possible: Barrington Bank & Trust, Barrington District 220, BMO Harris Bank and BMO Wealth Management, Earle M. and Virginia M. Combs, Kim Duchossois, and The Northern Trust Company. Programs are coordinated through the Barrington Cultural Commission.

Barrington’s White House is a unique, historic venue in Chicagoland’s Northwest suburbs, located at 145 West Main Street, Barrington. This meticulously restored 1898 mansion hosts cultural and community events, including musical performances, such as chamber music, vocal ensembles and singer/songwriters; as well as lectures and plays. The home is also available for private event rental. Elegant and intimate, it’s the perfect setting for small weddings, showers, non-profit fundraisers, family celebrations, bereavement gatherings and corporate meetings. Visit the website at www.BarringtonsWhiteHouse.com or call 224-512-4292.