2020-2021 Concerts for Kids
EISMA Performances Suspended for the School Year
Posted October 20, 2020
All of us on the board of the Evanston In-School Music Association (EISMA) remain deeply sad that we were unable to present our Concerts For Kids in schools during the spring portion of our 2019-20 concert season, which was cancelled when schools went remote in mid-March. Our performers share our sadness that we couldn’t be together, and we all appreciate what a hard time this has been, and continues to be, for everybody. As these past months of physical isolation have illuminated more than ever, bringing live performances to all of our students is irreplaceable and will be satisfying on so many levels when we are safely able to provide this experience again.
In response to the current state of the ongoing pandemic and with much regret, the EISMA board has made the difficult decision to suspend our entire 2020-21 season for the first time in our 45+ year history.
Our mission is still to bring live music performances presenting diverse genres into the Evanston schools. We recognize that it is neither safe nor feasible to do so this fall, and it is unlikely that large assemblies will be returning to schools even by the spring.
Our current plan is to resume EISMA performances in the 2021-22 school year, when we will present the Gaudete Brass Quintet (with District 65 parent Paul Von Hoff on trombone) in November 2021, and the much-anticipated (and postponed since April 2020) Irish ensemble Wild Rose Collective in spring 2022.
In the meantime, the EISMA board is carefully strategizing ways to maintain the organization’s ongoing functions so we can spring back into action next year. The board and our Executive Director, Annalee Letchinger, will continue to work throughout the 2020-21 year so our organization is set up to serve all District 65 schools when students–and concerts–return in person, and in the years to come. We will once again be there for the schools and the students we serve, to continue our mission to bring high quality world music performances directly to all students in the District 65 elementary and middle schools, St. A's and Pope John XXIII, once it is safe to do so.
We hope that everyone is staying healthy and upbeat during this time of adaptation and social distancing. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact either of us at the addresses below, or Executive Director Annalee Letchinger at eismaconcerts@gmail.com, or send us a note through the contact form on this site.
Thank you for your support and your patience as we all try to keep our community’s best interests and well-being at the forefront and plan for a return of live music next fall! Please enjoy our education guides and performance clips from our recent past performances (and more to come!) for an uplifting musical reminder of positive past experiences!
Ellen Frolichstein
Co-President
cellenstein@gmail.com
Jen Martensen
Co-President
jenmartensen@gmail.com
All of us on the board of the Evanston In-School Music Association (EISMA) remain deeply sad that we were unable to present our Concerts For Kids in schools during the spring portion of our 2019-20 concert season, which was cancelled when schools went remote in mid-March. Our performers share our sadness that we couldn’t be together, and we all appreciate what a hard time this has been, and continues to be, for everybody. As these past months of physical isolation have illuminated more than ever, bringing live performances to all of our students is irreplaceable and will be satisfying on so many levels when we are safely able to provide this experience again.
In response to the current state of the ongoing pandemic and with much regret, the EISMA board has made the difficult decision to suspend our entire 2020-21 season for the first time in our 45+ year history.
Our mission is still to bring live music performances presenting diverse genres into the Evanston schools. We recognize that it is neither safe nor feasible to do so this fall, and it is unlikely that large assemblies will be returning to schools even by the spring.
Our current plan is to resume EISMA performances in the 2021-22 school year, when we will present the Gaudete Brass Quintet (with District 65 parent Paul Von Hoff on trombone) in November 2021, and the much-anticipated (and postponed since April 2020) Irish ensemble Wild Rose Collective in spring 2022.
In the meantime, the EISMA board is carefully strategizing ways to maintain the organization’s ongoing functions so we can spring back into action next year. The board and our Executive Director, Annalee Letchinger, will continue to work throughout the 2020-21 year so our organization is set up to serve all District 65 schools when students–and concerts–return in person, and in the years to come. We will once again be there for the schools and the students we serve, to continue our mission to bring high quality world music performances directly to all students in the District 65 elementary and middle schools, St. A's and Pope John XXIII, once it is safe to do so.
We hope that everyone is staying healthy and upbeat during this time of adaptation and social distancing. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact either of us at the addresses below, or Executive Director Annalee Letchinger at eismaconcerts@gmail.com, or send us a note through the contact form on this site.
Thank you for your support and your patience as we all try to keep our community’s best interests and well-being at the forefront and plan for a return of live music next fall! Please enjoy our education guides and performance clips from our recent past performances (and more to come!) for an uplifting musical reminder of positive past experiences!
Ellen Frolichstein
Co-President
cellenstein@gmail.com
Jen Martensen
Co-President
jenmartensen@gmail.com
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