The Illinois Valley Flute Ensemble, conducted by Sue Gillio, is set to cast a musical spell with their “A Flute Spookacular” concert. This enchanting performance promises to bring a touch of spookiness and flair to Ottawa and Peru, Illinois.
Dates and Venues:
Ottawa: Sunday, Oct. 22, at 3 p.m., Prairie Fox Books, 719 La Salle St.
Peru: Thursday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m., Zion United Church of Christ, 1521 Sixth St.
Attendees of the Ottawa concert at Prairie Fox Books are encouraged to dress in costumes, adding a fun and eerie ambiance to the event.
The concert is a freewill offering event, with the proceeds directed towards the flute scholarship fund. This fund is designed to assist aspiring flutists in attending the Summer Flute Retreat, scheduled for June 2024 in Peru.
The musical repertoire for this unique performance includes hauntingly delightful tunes such as “The Munsters,” “The Addams Family,” “Casper the Friendly Ghost,” “Danse des Mysteres,” and “Mysterious Mansion” (featuring music from Disney World’s Haunted Mansion), among other spine-tingling selections.
The talented ensemble of performers includes musicians from various locations, such as Spring Valley, Cedar Point, LaSalle, Lake Ozark (Missouri), Peru, Ottawa, Utica, Seneca, Wenona, Oglesby, Serena, and Dalzell. Their diverse backgrounds and shared passion for music promise to deliver an exceptional auditory experience.
The concert is made possible through the collaboration of Music Suite 408 and the Illinois Valley Flute Ensemble. Music Suite 408, located in Peru, serves as the headquarters for the Illinois Valley Flute Ensemble, an ensemble with members ranging from six years old through adulthood. Established in the summer of 1991, the Illinois Valley Flute Ensemble has been a longstanding presence in the local music scene, delighting audiences at various events and concerts.
Sue Gillio, an Oglesby native and the director of the Illinois Valley Flute Ensemble, leads this musical endeavor. Her extensive background includes bachelors and masters degrees in flute performance from Western Illinois University, where she studied under Gerald Carey. Gillio holds the position of principal flute in the Illinois Valley Symphony and has performed with several orchestras, including the Quad City Symphony, Heartland Philharmonic, Knox-Galesburg Symphony, DuPage Symphony, and the Peoria Symphony. Her impressive career also includes solo performances with youth symphonies, school bands, and guest appearances with renowned symphonies.
Sue Gillio is the founder of the annual Summer Flute Retreat and is a faculty member at the Summer Flute Camp at Westminster Choir Conservatory in Princeton, New Jersey. She has received recognition, including the 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year award from the Illinois Small Business Development Center and the Omni Arts 2018 Excellence Award for Music.
All Illinois Valley Flute Ensemble performances are based on a donation system. This approach enables the group to acquire new music, support instrument maintenance, and offer full or partial scholarships for young flute enthusiasts to attend the Summer Flute Retreat and other summer music programs.
The “A Flute Spookacular” concert promises a captivating fusion of spooky melodies and musical artistry, making it an event not to be missed by fans of hauntingly beautiful music.
