News from
 
 ELMHURST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
 
Date:  July 13, 2010
Elmhurst Symphony Announces Silver Measure Award Recipients
 
The Elmhurst Symphony Association is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Silver Measure Award, presented at the ESA annual dinner each June to volunteers for outstanding service to the Elmhurst Symphony over many years.  The award, which was begun in 1984, recognizes contributions made by each of the recipients to the welfare of the orchestra and to the quality of life in the community.  This year’s winners, Michelle Bindeman, Linda Lyman, and Robert Pine, truly represent the spirit of volunteering both within the Symphony and in the wider community.  The awards were presented on June 8.
 
Michelle Bindeman is a volunteer musician in the ESO and has been its librarian and responsible for writing bowings for all the orchestra’s strings  since 1997.  Michelle’s efforts in securing funding for community outreach programs and youth concerts through writing grant requests have made a major contribution to the ESO’s mission of bringing symphonic music to young people and their families.  She has also organized the performances by orchestra members at schools throughout Elmhurst and surrounding communities which have been funded by these grants.  Under her leadership, school visits have increased yearly. In addition, Michelle has arranged for visiting ESO guest artists to present programs for Elmhurst school children.  In keeping with her commitment to children and youth, Michele volunteers in District 205 with one of the beginning orchestras, working with students and tuning, repairing, and adjusting instruments.  She has also been a board member and past president of the Elmhurst Instrumental Music Boosters, a volunteer parent group that raises funds to support grade school instrumental music. “Michelle never says no,” commented Marie Price, one of last year’s Silver Measure winners. “She is a talented musician and a perfectionist in her work, and is a deserving recipient of this award.”
 
Linda Lyman, an ESO volunteer since 1999, took on the job of writing and sending out publicity and feature articles for the orchestra in 2003.  Since then, ESO news has been sent to increasing numbers of  local media outlets, schools and colleges, governmental entities, community and religious groups and organizations, and individuals.  Linda’s efforts have helped spread the word about the ESO and introduce it to new audience members while keeping loyal supporters informed, contributing to the ESO’s continued success.  Linda’s involvement in music began in childhood and continues today as a member of the Music at Bethel Board at her church, Bethel United Church of Christ in Elmhurst, where she is actively involved in the music program and has served in leadership positions and on numerous boards and committees. She also writes and sends out publicity for Bethel.  In earlier years she was a board member of the Elmhurst Instrumental Music Boosters and a PTA president, and she is gratified to have been a member of the  citizens’ Steering Committee which planned and directed efforts to pass the York High School referendum. 
 
Robert Pine has been a volunteer with the Elmhurst Symphony since 2004, but in that relatively short time has served the organization in myriad ways.  He has been on the board and long range planning committee, chaired the marketing and financial development committees, coordinated fundraisers, served as an ESO representative to numerous civic and community organizations in Elmhurst and surrounding communities, coordinated tours for ESO patrons, and created a system for displaying information about the ESO at businesses and community facilities throughout the western suburbs.  Bob is an author and a noted sculptor, and his creative efforts have been evident in the design and production of season brochures and program books, and in ESO displays in local libraries.  His outreach to community groups and businesses in Elmhurst and throughout the area have benefited the ESO in many ways, from audience growth to increased financial support.  Bob has served on the board of the Elmhurst Art Museum and is active with local artists’ groups and the Historical Museum as he works to promote all of the arts in Elmhurst.  His recommendation for the Silver Measure Award cites his impact which “can be measured by the many innovative ideas and projects that have been implemented and by the creative approach he employs to bring the ESO to the attention of the community.”
 
The ESA salutes and thanks its Silver Measure Award recipients!
 
In addition to the Silver Measure Award ceremony, the annual dinner included a presentation by Perry Fischer, a board member of the Illinois Council of Orchestras, honoring the Elmhurst Symphony with the Programming of the Year Award for 2010.  Accepting the award was Stephen Alltop, Music Director of the ESO, who concluded the celebratory evening with a preview of the ESO’s Golden Jubilee 50th Anniversary season, which begins October 16.