WERMUTH RETIREMENT CELEBRATION
may 23, 2021
1:00—2:30 pm
central time
We are very excited to present a live-stream event celebrating the legacy of Thomas Wermuth and the Chicago Consort. After months of planning and hoping that we might be able to gather together for a live concert event, we have finally had to accept that the State of Illinois Phase Four Covid restrictions prevent us from gathering in any significant numbers and we do not want to put anyone at risk.
The Celebration Concert will feature the current members of the 2020-21 Chicago Consort and special guest alumni soloists. The concert will be live-streamed from the beautiful sanctuary of the First Congregational Church of Western Springs. You can view the event from this page. The Concert will also be recorded and will be available to view on this web page after the event.
PROGRAM
NEVER ENOUGH
Loren Allred Arranged by Chicago Consort Alumni Lauren Culver
Chicago Consort with Violin Soloist Lauren Culver
SABRINA
John Williams Arranged by Thomas Wermuth
Chicago Consort with Violin soloist Patrick Connolly
RECITATIVO & SCHERZO
F. Kreisler
Christina Castelli - Violin Soloist
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POLONAISE BRILLANTE OP. 4
H. Wieniawski
Hillary Hempel - Violin
Melissa Zindel - Piano
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FOR GOOD from the musical WICKED
Stephen Schwartz/Arr. by Thomas Wermuth
Violin soloists Emily Connolly and Allegra Wermuth
SONGS MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME
A. Dvorak Arr. J. Milone
Violin soloist - Ethan Hamel
PASSACAGLIA for VIOLIN & VIOLA
Handel/Halvorsen
Violin - Benjamin Beilman
Viola - Elizabeth Beilman
SONATA NO. 1 in G MAJOR OP. 78: VIVACE MA NON TROPPO
Johannes Brahms
Kiyoshi Hayashi - Violin
Melissa Zindel - Piano
CARMEN FANTASIE
F. Waxman on themes by G. Bizet
Vince Meklis - Violin
Melissa Zindel - Piano
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HALLELUJAH
Chicago Consort
Violin soloist Lauren Culver
Tom Wermuth's Career & Legacy
After an illustrious 32 year career, Thomas Wermuth will retire from the faculty at the Western Springs School of Talent Education. He will be moving with his life partner, Nick Ginandes, to Golden, Colorado where they will enjoy spending time with his daughter, Allegra Wermuth and granddaughter, Satya. Mr. Wermuth will continue to teach the violin and offer teacher training for the Suzuki Association of the Americas.
The Western Springs School of Talent Education began in 1980 when founder Edward Kreitman started teaching in the West suburbs of Chicago. Nine years later, Thomas Wermuth left his position as the principal violist of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and faculty member at the Guelph Suzuki School to join the faculty at WSSTE as the artist in residence faculty member.
Notes for Tom
Congratulations and all the very best for the next chapter of your life.
I am so grateful to have known you as a mentor and colleague over the years. When I was just starting out in the late 1970s and early 1980s, I visited the Guelph Suzuki program and gained so much from watching you teach.
Several years later, I enjoyed watching Allegra in her early teen years as part of a Book 5 teacher training course at Kingston Suzuki Institute with Eleanor Allen.
At the end of my studies with Dr. Suzuki in Matsumoto in 1986, he said to me "very good - you understand tone - but now study Mendelssohn".
I am most grateful for the many years of watching both you and Allegra teach the Preludio program at Ithaca Suzuki Institute.... this gave me so much courage and confidence to play, teach, and adjudicate advanced levels. I also gained so much from the advanced level teacher training courses with you.
I also was inspired to hear about your energy study, and learned Therapeutic Touch which has helped me personally and to be more perceptive as a teacher.
Through all these interactions, you have been a great mentor to me in realizing the potential that Suzuki-sensei saw in me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I wish you a fantastic time in Colorado.
All the best.
Wendy Seravalle-Smith
Wendy Seravalle-Smith
Congratulations, Tom. You were one of the first teachers I saw teaching at a very advanced level while still remaining completely accessible to teachers and students at all levels of experience. This was a gift to me. The authenticity you share has changed countless lives. You see the person before you see or hear the musician. Thank you for changing all of our lives for the better!!! Love and peace to you always.
ANN MONTZKA SMELSER
Congratulations Tom. Thank you for all your wisdom and help over the years. I look forward to a time when we can travel again and look forward to seeing you and find out what you're up to next!
Helen Hines