Local Youth Musicians Join Touring Beatles vs. Stones Show

La Jolla Booking: When the touring show Beatles vs. Stones – A Musical Showdown comes to the Hemmens Cultural Center on September 23, the St. Charles East High School String Quartet will have the privilege of joining the professional musicians on stage to add some orchestral texture to the evening.

The show pits Rolling Stones tribute band Satisfaction against rival Brit boys Abbey Road in an all-out musical showdown for rock dominance. The string quartet will perform seven songs with the bands.

Here's the rundown:

The show: The two greatest rock 'n' roll bands of all time face off in Beatles vs. Stones - A Musical Showdown. Taking the side of the Fab Four is Abbey Road, one of the nation's top Beatles tribute bands. With brilliant musicianship and authentic costumes and gear, Abbey Road plays beloved songs spanning the Beatles' career. They engage in a "showdown" of the hits with Stones tribute band Satisfaction - The International Rolling Stones Show, who offer a faithful rendition of the music and style of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the bad boys of the British Invasion. The production includes multimedia, period costumes and vintage instruments. It has toured for years, with a critic for the Los Angeles Times at one point declaring: "this is the most unique tribute show in decades." The Elgin show is part of a 125 city tour of the U.S., Canada and Australia.

The string quartet: St. Charles East High School seniors Ayu Seiya, Lasey Emmerich, Storey Childs and Trudie Childs will join the bands for the songs "Eleanor Rigby," "A Day in the Life,"'Yesterday," "Hello Goodbye," "Hey Jude," "As Tears Go By," and "Ruby Tuesday."

In addition to performing with the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Midwest Young Artist Conservatory, members have competed at local and regional solo and ensemble festivals where they have consistently received superior ratings.

How the "Beatles" and "Stones" connection was started: The producers of Beatles vs. Stonesapproached St. Charles East High School Orchestra Director Daniel Beder looking for a talented ensemble of high school students which could hold their own with a rock band in front of an audience. The show commonly reaches out to local high school orchestras, making donations to their school music programs in exchange for student participation.

The quartet's Beatles or Stones fans: Storey Childs and Trudie Childs are the quartet’s Beatles fans.

“Blackbird has to be my favorite song,” said Storey.

“My favorite Beatles song is definitely 'Twist and Shout,'” said Trudie.

The details: Two of the greatest bands of all time face off in a high-energy, adrenaline-pumping musical showdown. The Fab Four, represented by tribute band Abbey Road will engage in a barrage of hits against premier Rolling Stones tribute band Satisfaction. Beatles vs. Stones – A Musical Showdown comes to The Hemmens Cultural Center on Monday, September 23 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $35-$75 and may be purchased by phone at 847.931.5900, at the Theatre Box Office or online at www.hemmens.org. The Hemmens Cultural Center is located at 45 Symphony Way, Elgin, IL 60120. The show is appropriate for all ages.

And here is some additional information about the quartet members:

Ayu Seiya, 17, has been playing violin for eleven years. He is a member of the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra.

“I like that orchestra allows me to meet other students that have similar interests as me.”

Ayu is a member of the school’s cross country team, math team and participates in the Honors Societies for Math, Science, and Social Studies.

The senior plans to attend college and double major in Music and a STEM field.

Lasey Emmerich, 17, has been playing violin for nine years. She has participated in the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra for the past seven years.

“I like that I get to play all the music I really like to listen to, while making a lot of friends.”

Lasey is a member of the school’s cross country team, Tri-M, Student Council as well as the Honors Societies for English, French, and the National Honors Society.

The senior plans to attend college upon completing high school.

Storey Childs, 18, has been playing viola for eight years. She participates in the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra.

“I really see viola as a supporting instrument, especially in an orchestra, and that is a position I really enjoy being in.”

Storey is a member of the Spanish National Honor Society, as well as honor societies for Music and general academic.

The senior plans to attend a four year college upon high school graduation.

Trudie Childs, 18, has been playing cello for eight years. She is a member of the Midwest Young Artist Conservatory program.

“I really enjoy the environment of the orchestra. I like how it can go from being so stressful to completely relaxed.”

Trudie is the President of the school’s Music Honor Society.

The senior plans to attend college to major in Cello Performance.

And here is some additional information about the St. Charles East High School Music Program:

St. Charles East High School provides many different performance opportunities for the music students. The program offers concert band, jazz band, orchestra, choir, vocal jazz ensembles, and an AP Music Theory class, all of which meet during the school day for academic credit.

The orchestra program at St. Charles East High School is made up of five curricular orchestra classes, including two auditioned groups, with collaboration with the band program to occasionally perform full orchestra repertoire. Many students participate in youth orchestras and take private lessons, and East High School perennially has students earn spots in District 9 and All-State orchestras. In 2018, the Chamber Orchestra was invited to perform at the Illinois Music Education Conference in Peoria, IL. The orchestra program also travels internationally, most recently combining with St. Charles North orchestras to tour Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic.

And here is some additional information about St. Charles East High School Orchestra Director Daniel Beder:

Daniel Beder the orchestra director at St. Charles East High School, a position he took after four years of teaching orchestra at Loudoun Valley High School in Northern Virginia. Daniel earned a Masters of Music degree in orchestral conducting and a Masters of Music Education from the University of Illinois, where he studied conducting with Donald Schleicher and served as manager of the U of I Philharmonia Orchestra. He graduated from Oberlin College with undergraduate degrees in music and applied mathematics.

In addition to conducting and teaching, Mr. Beder has performed as a cellist with various orchestras, including the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra, Fox Valley Orchestra, and the McLean (VA) Orchestra. He is co-founder and cellist of the Jan Sobieski String Quartet.