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You can hear the Ars Viva Orchestra and Alan Heatherington in concert with the Chicago Master Singers November 6th and November 8th, 2015 and the Ars Viva Strings on December 11 & 13, 2015.
www.chicagomastersingers.org
Ars Viva announces final concert
April 13, 2015
Skokie, IL: Maestro Alan Heatherington and Board President, Robert Quigley, announce that the May 17th concert of the Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra will also be the final concert of Ars Viva, bringing to a close 20 years of providing audiences with performances at the highest level of professional excellence.
“It has been a wonderful run making great music with incredible musicians who are a delight, both professionally and personally,” reflected Maestro Heatherington, adding, “Our collaborations with the Music Institute of Chicago have benefited countless young children and aspiring musicians.”
Mark George, President and CEO of the Music Institute of Chicago commented, “The dissolution of Ars Viva is a devastating loss for those in this region who love great music. Alan and Gayle Heatherington have been missionaries for the art form and great friends to the Music Institute of Chicago. But as befits a champion, Ars Viva is going out on top.”
Mr. Quigley stated that the Symphony is in excellent financial health having many devoted individual and foundation supporters and noted that the orchestra has experienced record subscription and single ticket sales over the last few years. “The decision to ‘call it quits’ is a personal one” explains Gayle [Mrs]. Heatherington, Executive Director. “Alan and I, along with a wonderfully supportive Board of Directors, began Ars Viva 20 years ago and have dedicated ourselves to its success. We have now reached a time in our lives where we wish to pursue new directions and devote our energies elsewhere. We will miss the orchestra, but most of all we will miss performing for our loyal audience, many of whom have become dear friends over the years. We hope that they will continue to hear Alan’s music and the orchestra in performances with the Chicago Master Singers which uses the musicians of Ars Viva for its concerts.”
In addition to his music career (both as a violinist and conductor), Heatherington has also been active for many years in the field of theology and hopes to be ordained as an Anglican priest in the coming months. He and Gayle are currently involved in serving at St. Andrew Anglican Church in Spring Grove and may plant a new church sometime in the future near their home in Libertyville. In addition to their church activities, Alan will continue as Music Director of the Chicago Master Singers and Gayle plans to devote more time to her graphic design business, Windy Day Design.