Please click on THANK YOU for an Armed Forces Day Serenade

When people ask me if playing the violin is hard I can only say no – not compared to how hard it is to be able to give a big enough      THANK YOU to all of the men and women who serve in the United States military.

God Bless America!

The big smile on my face is still there from the standing ovation from Tuesday night's performance for the "Women at the Well"

It was such an honor and a privilege to entertain at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Schaumburg Tuesday night for their women’s ministry, “Women at the Well”. My special thanks to Betty and Sister Marianne for asking me to perform my one-woman show, “A Day in the Life of a Strolling Violinist” and a big thank you for the audience and the standing ovation they gave me!!! Wow…if only my teachers had told me I would be doing this for a living and having this much fun, I SWEAR I would have practiced more!

Many thanks to all of the wonderful volunteers of Schaumburg Township for their selfless service. It was an honor and a privilege to play a part in your recognition dinner at The Seville Banquets.  Photos by Mona Morrison.

No excuses just an explanation…okay enough stringing you along!

Have you read the news?  Please do because then you will see why I am so proud to promote the Jazz Consortium Big Band led by none other than my talented husband, Roy Vombrack! I hope to see you this Sunday, April 15th 6 p.m. at Durty Nellie’s in Palatine. I can’t wait to hear the trumpet section blast from the past, the theme from “Rocky”!
Technically, I am not a “real blonde” but I am the only (that means I am both concertmaster and last chair fiddle at the SAME time) “real violinist” for the upcoming musical, “Legally Blonde” at Stagg High School next week under the direction of Bob Mecozzi.

I am honored once again to “play” a part in the Volunteer Recognition Dinner for Schaumburg Township on Tuesday, April 24th at the Seville Banquets.  Many thanks to Elegant Ensembles of Schaumburg for making the arrangements!

Please mark your calendars for Sunday, April 29th – the 150th Anniversary Service at First Congregational Church in Glenn Ellyn! The choir will be accompanied by a HUGE orchestra with yours truly as concertmaster.
That’s if for April – stay “tuned” for May events starting with a repeat performance at the Metropolitan Family Services Gala at Bobak’s on May 4th and my one-woman show for the Women at the Well of the Church of the Holy Spirit on Tuesday, May 8th – thanks!!

My viola part of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4

I am deeply honored and privileged to be performing again (on viola!)
with the wonderful New Philharmonic Orchestra at the McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, March 2nd and 3rd, 2012.

http://home.cod.edu/atthemac/events/MacEventsDetails.aspx?Channel=/Channels/Admissions%20and%20Campus%20Wide&WorkflowItemID=80ab5ae2-9e2c-4092-84cd-66ea7b583323

Love is in the Air with the sweet sounds from Chicago's Favorite Strolling Violinist

Love is in the air! The Village of Hoffman Estates Commission for Senior Citizens is proud to present a Valentine’s Luncheon today, Friday, February 10th at the Village Hall, 1900 Hassell Road. The event starts at noon, with doors opening at 11:30 a.m. The cost is $8 per person, which includes food and entertainment by “Chicago’s Favorite Strolling Violinist” Jennifer Silk. Seating is limited, and reservations are required. For more information or to make reservations, call 847-781-2606.

The great viola section of the New Philharmonic Orchestra, Kirk Muspratt conductor

Sunday, February 12th 3 p.m.

Valentine’s Day Pops Concert

New Philharmonic Orchestra

For more information and ticket purchases for this weekend’s performance of Madama Butterfly at the MAC, click here.

New Philharmonic – Madama Butterfly (concert version)

Friday, January 27, 2012 starting at 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM

ALSO APPEARING: Saturday, Jan. 28, 8 p.m. McAninch Arts Center, Mainstage.Giacomo Puccini transports us to a faraway land, Nagaski, Japan, in his tragic, love-story masterwork. Filled with memorable arias and heart-felt duets, Puccini’s music will soar at the hands of Maestro Muspratt and a cast of fine young opera singers. In Italian with English supertitles and featuring soloists Michele Areyzaga, John Sumners, Kathryn Leemhuis and Paul Scholten. Tickets: $38 adult/36 senior/28 youth. For more information, call the MAC Ticket Office, (630) 942-4000, or purchase tickets online.

Kirk Muspratt, Conductor 

 MAC CHAT Information: 7 to 7:40 p.m., Room 139
Speaker:  Steven J. Pearson, Ph.D.
COD and Wheaton College Instructor

Ah, could it be that you “know” you like music and you want to “know” how?

As a strolling violinist, I have had many people tell me time and again that they “used” to play and how they wished their parents hadn’t let them quit! I have only had less than a handful tell me otherwise.

You can still capture that magic of discovery!

Did you learn how to read music with “Every Good Boy Does Fine” or “Elvis’ Guitar Broke Down Friday”?  Did you attend music concerts and enjoy them and now you wish you could capture that priority in your life again?    If the answer is yes, then go from the “known to the unknown” from there!

So many clients book repeat performances of ”A Day in the Life of a Strolling Violinist”.  Why?   Though they “know” what is in store for them is a reliable performer with an entertaining program, they also want the “unknown” because no two performances are alike. That is because different requests change the music portion of the program and different audiences change the dynamics of it.

Some people claim they don’t know how to “play” anything but the radio or they were told they have a tin ear. I find that those people are the biggest music appreciators I have ever had the privilege to entertain for.

If money were no object and you had the choice to listen and/or learn music from the best computer program out there or from talented musicians, which would you pick?    I thought so….have a great day!