Finale Event with Author Brendan Slocumb
Sunday, February 25, 1-2 pm • In-Person or Zoom
Stevenson High School, West Auditorium 1 Stevenson Drive, Lincolnshire Brendan Slocumb shares the inspiration behind The Violin Conspiracy. To kick off the program, enjoy live string music performed by students from the Libertyville High School orchestra. Copies of Brendan’s books will be available for purchase and signing at the event, courtesy of the Book Bin of Northbrook.
The in-person event is almost full but there are a few spots left. |
Past Events
Kick-Off
Sunday, December 10 • All libraries
Stop by a library kick-off event in celebration of this year’s One Book, One Community series and pick up a complimentary copy of The Violin Conspiracy while supplies last. One copy per household. Additional copies are available for checkout. Thank you to our sponsors, Cook Memorial Public Library District Friends of the Library and Foundation for the Vernon Area Public Library District.
Racism and Generational Wealth
Monday, January 15, 6:30-8 pm • Indian Trails Public Library • Hybrid
Professor Omari H. Swinton of Howard University presents a lecture about racism’s influence on generational wealth and the reverse. In-person or Zoom with a virtual speaker.
Mikhaïl Pletnev conducts Glazunov and Tchaikovsky with Janine Jansen
Friday, January 19, 2-3 pm • Indian Trails Public Library
Join us to watch the Medici.tv recording of Mikhaïl Pletnev and the Verbier Festival Orchestra at the 2017 Verbier Festival with a concert dedicated to Russian composers. Musicians perform Glazunov’s “From the Middle Ages” and Tchaikovsky’s “Souvenir d’un lieu cher.” Janine Jansen joins them for Tchaikovsky’s glorious “Violin Concerto in D Major.”
Reel Talk Movie Discussion: The Music of Strangers
Friday, January 19, 3:30-4:30 pm • Vernon Area Public Library • Zoom
Over the past 16 years, an extraordinary group of musicians has come together to celebrate the universal power of music. This international music collective created by acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma, exemplifies music’s ability to blur geographical boundaries, blend disparate cultures and inspire hope for both artists and audiences. Blending performance clips, personal interviews and archival footage, this film focuses on the journeys of a small group of Silk Road Ensemble mainstays from across the globe to create an intensely personal chronicle of passion, talent and sacrifice. Prior to the discussion, watch the movie on DVD or Kanopy with your library card.
Blue Viola: A True Story
Sunday, January 21, 1-2 pm • Vernon Area Public Library
Learn the true story of a priceless viola that disappeared after a Chicago Symphony musician accidentally left it on the Chicago streets, with Matt Boresi, Director of Arts Integration at the Music Institute of Chicago. This story inspired the funny and thought-provoking modern opera, “Blue Viola”, written by Mr. Boresi.
Violins, Music, and Lore
Monday, January 29, 7-8:30 pm • Cook Park Library • Hybrid
Luthier Spencer Hamann of Classic Violins presents a program filled with the history of violins including their construction and evolution through the ages. He also brings tools and violins for attendees to see and touch. Q&A to follow. No signup is required.
Instrument Petting Zoo
Wednesday, January 31, 4:30-5:30 pm • Vernon Area Public Library
For families with children grades K-5. Meet instructors from the Music Institute of Chicago for an opportunity to see, hear, touch, and even play a variety of string, wind, and percussion instruments.
The World of Valuable String Instruments
Monday, February 5, 7-8 pm • Indian Trails Public Library
Erin Cano of the Music Institute of Chicago presents the world of valuable string instruments and their uniqueness. The world has many odd nuances, especially regarding ownership of valuable instruments made by people like Stradivarius and Guarneri. MIC has ties to local instrument dealers and Chicago is one of the “hubs” of string making in the US. Bein & Fushi, located in downtown Chicago, is one of the world’s most famous dealers of valuable string instruments.
Classical Violin Performance
Saturday, February 10, 2-3 pm • Indian Trails Public Library
Roosevelt University violin graduate student Hyacinth Percell performs a collection of pieces by composers including Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Schoenberg and Coleridge-Taylor.
Black Contributions to Classical Music
Thursday, February 15, 7-8 pm • Aspen Drive Library • Hybrid
LaRob K. Rafael developed a love for singing at an early age through the spirit of Gospel songs and nuance of classical music. A graduate of DePaul University with a degree in Vocal Performance, LaRob has studied with world-renowned teachers, directors, and coaches and has had musical opportunities that include traveling internationally to study language, culture and music. Join this classical vocalist and WFMT weekend host for a discussion of the contributions of Black artists to classical music. In-person or Zoom with a live speaker.
The Art of Listening to Tchaikovsky
Sunday, February 18, 1-2 pm • Vernon Area Public Library
Music educator and violinist Stephanie Ettelson explores the unique characteristics of the Stradivarius violin, and why it is considered the crown jewel of all violins. Then, listen to excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s “Violin Concerto in D major” to learn what makes it a masterpiece and audience favorite.
Sunday, December 10 • All libraries
Stop by a library kick-off event in celebration of this year’s One Book, One Community series and pick up a complimentary copy of The Violin Conspiracy while supplies last. One copy per household. Additional copies are available for checkout. Thank you to our sponsors, Cook Memorial Public Library District Friends of the Library and Foundation for the Vernon Area Public Library District.
Racism and Generational Wealth
Monday, January 15, 6:30-8 pm • Indian Trails Public Library • Hybrid
Professor Omari H. Swinton of Howard University presents a lecture about racism’s influence on generational wealth and the reverse. In-person or Zoom with a virtual speaker.
Mikhaïl Pletnev conducts Glazunov and Tchaikovsky with Janine Jansen
Friday, January 19, 2-3 pm • Indian Trails Public Library
Join us to watch the Medici.tv recording of Mikhaïl Pletnev and the Verbier Festival Orchestra at the 2017 Verbier Festival with a concert dedicated to Russian composers. Musicians perform Glazunov’s “From the Middle Ages” and Tchaikovsky’s “Souvenir d’un lieu cher.” Janine Jansen joins them for Tchaikovsky’s glorious “Violin Concerto in D Major.”
Reel Talk Movie Discussion: The Music of Strangers
Friday, January 19, 3:30-4:30 pm • Vernon Area Public Library • Zoom
Over the past 16 years, an extraordinary group of musicians has come together to celebrate the universal power of music. This international music collective created by acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma, exemplifies music’s ability to blur geographical boundaries, blend disparate cultures and inspire hope for both artists and audiences. Blending performance clips, personal interviews and archival footage, this film focuses on the journeys of a small group of Silk Road Ensemble mainstays from across the globe to create an intensely personal chronicle of passion, talent and sacrifice. Prior to the discussion, watch the movie on DVD or Kanopy with your library card.
Blue Viola: A True Story
Sunday, January 21, 1-2 pm • Vernon Area Public Library
Learn the true story of a priceless viola that disappeared after a Chicago Symphony musician accidentally left it on the Chicago streets, with Matt Boresi, Director of Arts Integration at the Music Institute of Chicago. This story inspired the funny and thought-provoking modern opera, “Blue Viola”, written by Mr. Boresi.
Violins, Music, and Lore
Monday, January 29, 7-8:30 pm • Cook Park Library • Hybrid
Luthier Spencer Hamann of Classic Violins presents a program filled with the history of violins including their construction and evolution through the ages. He also brings tools and violins for attendees to see and touch. Q&A to follow. No signup is required.
Instrument Petting Zoo
Wednesday, January 31, 4:30-5:30 pm • Vernon Area Public Library
For families with children grades K-5. Meet instructors from the Music Institute of Chicago for an opportunity to see, hear, touch, and even play a variety of string, wind, and percussion instruments.
The World of Valuable String Instruments
Monday, February 5, 7-8 pm • Indian Trails Public Library
Erin Cano of the Music Institute of Chicago presents the world of valuable string instruments and their uniqueness. The world has many odd nuances, especially regarding ownership of valuable instruments made by people like Stradivarius and Guarneri. MIC has ties to local instrument dealers and Chicago is one of the “hubs” of string making in the US. Bein & Fushi, located in downtown Chicago, is one of the world’s most famous dealers of valuable string instruments.
Classical Violin Performance
Saturday, February 10, 2-3 pm • Indian Trails Public Library
Roosevelt University violin graduate student Hyacinth Percell performs a collection of pieces by composers including Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Schoenberg and Coleridge-Taylor.
Black Contributions to Classical Music
Thursday, February 15, 7-8 pm • Aspen Drive Library • Hybrid
LaRob K. Rafael developed a love for singing at an early age through the spirit of Gospel songs and nuance of classical music. A graduate of DePaul University with a degree in Vocal Performance, LaRob has studied with world-renowned teachers, directors, and coaches and has had musical opportunities that include traveling internationally to study language, culture and music. Join this classical vocalist and WFMT weekend host for a discussion of the contributions of Black artists to classical music. In-person or Zoom with a live speaker.
The Art of Listening to Tchaikovsky
Sunday, February 18, 1-2 pm • Vernon Area Public Library
Music educator and violinist Stephanie Ettelson explores the unique characteristics of the Stradivarius violin, and why it is considered the crown jewel of all violins. Then, listen to excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s “Violin Concerto in D major” to learn what makes it a masterpiece and audience favorite.
Book DiscussionsTuesday, January 9, 10:30-11:30 am
Indian Trails Public Library Tuesday, January 23, 10:30-11:30 am Indian Trails Public Library Wednesday, January 31, 7-8 pm Vernon Area Public Library Thursday, February 1, 7-8 pm Indian Trails Public Library Judy Levin Book Discussion Thursday, February 8, 10-11:30 am Vernon Area Public Library • Zoom Monday, February 12, 2-3 pm Vernon Area Public Library • Zoom Tuesday, February 13, 2-3 pm Cook Park Library • Hybrid • No signup required Thursday, February 22, 7-8 pm Aspen Drive Library • Hybrid • No signup required DROP IN |
Movie ScreeningsThe Red Violin
(1998) An epic adventure of mystery and obsession unfolds when an appraiser of rare music instruments discovers a one-of-a-kind red violin that changed hands from rich to poor, from 17th-century Italy to modern Montreal. Rated R for some sexuality. Friday, January 12, 1-3 pm Vernon Area Public Library Tuesday, January 16, 5:30-8:30 pm Indian Trails Public Library Thursday, February 8, 1:30 pm Libertyville Civic Center 135 W. Church St., Libertyville Friday, February 9, 1:30 pm Aspen Drive Library Janine Jansen: Falling for Stradivari (2021) Dutch virtuoso Janine Jansen and Royal Opera director Sir Antonio Pappano embark on a journey to record an album on 12 of the world’s greatest Stradivari violins. This film is not rated, but suitable for all ages. There will be an informal, 30-minute discussion following the movie. Friday, February 23, 2 pm Indian Trails Public Library REGISTER |