The Western Springs Music Club will mark its 95th anniversary this year with a special concert --“The Gift of Music” which will be held at 2 p.m., January 24, at the First Congregational Church, 1106 Chestnut St., Western Springs. Please join us for this free concert to celebrate this milestone.
Former president and concert coordinator, Kathryn Price of Western Springs, has brought together several of our club member pianists, vocalists and instrumentalists who will showcase their talent. The program’s musical composition spans centuries -- featuring works by J.S. Bach, Brahms, Poulenc, Rachmaninoff, Barrios, and Louis Cahuzac.
Performers include: Jason Deroche (LaGrange) guitar; Margaret Hilgendorf (Western Springs) piano; Jennifer Petkus (Chicago) clarinet; Steven Sigurdson (Western Springs) cello; Victor Sotelo (Chicago) cello; Karin Ursin (Countryside) flute; James Winfield (Darien) organ; and the WSMC Chorale.
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Western Springs Music Club offers a venue where performers generously share their talent by presenting great live music for a very appreciative audience. “The best aspect of the group for me is the joy of hearing a friend perform and share their talent with me and others,” Hilgendorf writes in her history of the club.
The club was founded in 1921 by Grace Hilton and 11 music-minded women from Western Springs and LaGrange. Today, with over 80 members, a third of whom are performing members, the club continues to uphold its tradition of presenting, encouraging, and supporting fine musical participation and education in the area.
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Performing members include professionals and well-trained private teachers. Many are active in groups such as the Chicago Symphony, The College of DuPage New Philharmonic, the West Suburban Symphony Orchestra, Salt Creek Chamber Orchestra, The Tower Chorale, and Acappellago.
The club hosts an annual piano festival to encourage young pianists. This festival offers an opportunity for young musicians from elementary through high school to receive a fair and helpful critique of their playing. Older students have the opportunity to be judged for one of the two scholarships awarded each year by the club. The Honor Recital, a venue where scholarship awardees and outstanding pianists from the festival perform, is held annually in spring.
