In a musical coup for two dynamic orchestras, world-renowned violinist Midori will be calling the western suburbs home during a five-day residency jam-packed with teaching clinics and arts advocacy events, capped by concerts.

Only two such residencies are awarded in the United States each year by Midori, and in an unprecedented move, the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra was granted a special request to have the famed artist not only work with its most advanced group, but to teach and perform with three of the organization’s orchestras.

“I think it’s going to be inspiring for the students and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them and their parents,” said Kathy Matthews of St. Charles, executive director of the EYSO, which has 300 students from 60 communities.

In the residencies, Midori spends a week with a youth ensemble with ties to a professional orchestra, in this case the Elgin Symphony, the only group to be named Orchestra of the Year three times by the Illinois Council of Orchestras. That organization honored the EYSO as Youth Orchestra of the Year in 2000 and again in 2007. “Midori is not only one of the greatest violinists of our era, but is also a wonderful and compassionate educator — her residency is certain to be one of the high points in our history,” said Robert Hanson, ESO music director.

“I am delighted to be working with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra. ... Their ideas for activities during the residency are engaging, creative and progressive,” Midori said.

She will participate in the St. Charles North High School String Festival from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, for orchestras from St. Charles School District 303. EYSO Music Director Randal Swiggum, who penned the residency application, will lead the orchestra clinic, while Midori and her protege, Korbinian Altenberger, will play alongside students in the violin section.

“Think of a young child that gets to sit next to Midori,” Matthews said. “My dream is that the students will be so inspired by her that they will want to be as good as she is and (it will) give them some impetus to keep practicing, to keep taking lessons and to see how far somebody can come.”

Midori’s appearance echoes another famous violinist with ties to the Fox Valley, said Joyce Dlugopolski of Batavia. The first U.S. recording artist and pioneering female musician was violinist Maud Powell of Aurora (1867-1920), who was named to the Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame and whose name also lives on through the EYSO’s Maud Powell String Quartet, an honors chamber ensemble. Dlugopolski is a board member with the Hall of Fame and the ESO.

Midori will coach the quartet during her stay and will perform the first movement of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in concert with the EYSO’s Youth Symphony, an advanced orchestra for high school and college-age students.

“Maud Powell premiered that piece in the United States,” Dlugopolski said.

She notes Karen Darling of St. Charles is a local member of the quartet, as is Gabi Pittsford of Wheaton. 

Midori, who was sworn in this month at the United Nations as a Messenger of Peace, is a pioneer in her own right.

“All her philanthropic work — she started that when she was a young woman in her 20s,” Matthews said. “Most musicians don’t begin that until much later in their careers.”

Public appearances by Midori

• Midori master class

2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, The Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. The free class will feature one violinist from three orchestras that are part of the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Concerts, chats

• Elgin Symphony Orchestra, with Midori playing the Brahms Violin Concerto at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, at The Hemmens. For tickets, call (847) 888-4000. One hour before each concert, Midori will speak at the Pre-concert Chat.

• Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, featuring Midori, at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, at The Hemmens. For tickets, call (847) 662-0300 or visit www.elgin.edu/arts.

For a list of all the Midori events between Oct. 1 and 5, visit www.eyso.org/PRESS/MIDORI.pdf.