On Saturday, May 12th at 7pm, pianist Inna Faliks plays Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in D-flat Major with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church 149 West Brush Hill Road Elmhurst, IL. The season finale program also includes the Hebrides Overture by Felix Mendelssohn and Symphonie Fantastique by Hector Berlioz. The performance will be conducted by Stephen Alltop.

Pianist Inna Faliks has set herself apart in thousands of performances as a sincere, communicative and direct performer whose virtuosity, power and risk taking serve the depth, intelligance and poetry of her interpretations. Inna’s command of standard solo and concerto repertoire is highlighted by her love of rare and new music, and interdisciplinary and audience-involving programs and lectures. These include her award winning Music/Words, where she alternates music with readings by contemporary poets, her program of piano music of the poet Boris Pasternak (on MSR Classics Sound of Verse, which drew comparisons to Argerich and Cliburn), 13 Ways of Looking at the Goldberg – new variations on Bach’s Aria , music of women composers, and many other programs. She makes sure to present programs that include both beloved crowd pleasers and music that is new and challenging, creating an adventurous, moving and involving experience for the audience. She is a musical omnivore. Faliks debuted as a teenager with the Chicago Symphony and at the Gilmore Festival to rave reviews, and has been exciting and moving audiences worldwide since then.

Stephen Alltop has built a career based on excellence in several disciplines, conducting both orchestral and choral ensembles, and performing as a keyboard artist. The 2010-11 season marks Mr. Alltop’s fifteenth anniversary season as Music Director of the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra. This year will also be Dr. Alltop’s eleventh season as Music Director of the Apollo Chorus of Chicago. He also serves as Associate Conductor of the Peninsula Music Festival in Wisconsin and on the faculty with the Green Lake Festival in Wisconsin. Dr. Alltop has been a member of the conducting faculty of Northwestern University since 1992. In addition to conducting, he has appeared extensively as keyboard soloist, orchestral and chamber musician, and recording artist. Between June and October of 2006, he conducted concerts in the Italian cities of Perugia, Bologna and Rovereto.