Fox Valley Orchestra opens summer concert series June 30

The Fox Valley Orchestra is opening its three-concert “Summer Pops” series on Sunday, June 30.

Themed “FVO Goes West,” the inaugural concert will begin at 3 p.m. at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 27 S. Edgelawn Drive in Aurora.

Selections will celebrate America's great westward expansion with music of pioneers, cowboys and fearless explorers. Included is American composer Ferde Grofé's classic “Grand Canyon Suite.” Stephen Squires returns to direct.

Advance tickets until noon Saturday, June 29, are $24 general admission, $20 for students and seniors, or $16 for children under 16.

General admission at the door will be $28, $24 and $18. Parking is free.

The series continues with “Masters of Broadway” at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 21, at St. Mark's Lutheran. Favorite classics by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe, Bernstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sondheim, and others will be performed under the direction of Stephen Squires.

The series will wrap up with “Percussive Jazz” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11, at St. Mark's Lutheran. It will feature jazz, world music and ethnic jazz treats with guest percussionist/pianist Robert Chappell under the direction of Stephen Squires.

For more information, call (630) 891-2526 or visit foxvalleyorchestra.org or facebook.com/foxvalleyorchestra/.

The orchestra is part of Fox Valley Music Consortium, an Aurora-based nonprofit dedicated to providing fine musical performances for people of all ages and educational opportunities for youth.

The nonprofit comprises multiple professional and high level amateur performing groups and youth education programs. Consortium members are Fox Valley Orchestra & Chorus, Fox Valley Brass Band, Fox Valley Jazz Big Band, Fox Chamber Singers, Fox Valley El Sistema, Fox Valley Youth Orchestra, Fox Valley Youth Chorus and Fox Valley Youth Jazz.