Autism affects 1 out of every 150 children in America. Due to the nature of the disorder, families with members who are affected by autism are often unable to attend public concerts. With a little extra preparation, our ensembles can fill this void. This session will address the procedures and considerations of performing a concert for children with special needs.
Joseph Lill
- Biographical Information
Trumpeter and conductor Dr. Joe Lill has been a faculty member at North Park University since 1988. Among his many teaching duties he directs the Jazz Ensemble, conducts the Concert Band, and teaches trumpet. An active performer in a variety of idioms including jazz, classical, and popular, Dr. Lill has been leading his own band, Six of One, since 1979. He has performed with such Chicago-area orchestras as the Ravinia Festival Orchestra, the New Philharmonic and the Elgin Symphony, and with a variety of area big bands. Along with the North Park Chamber Players, he appeared multiple times on WFMT's Live from Studio One, including a live performance of Enescu's Legende, collaborating with pianist Elizabeth Buccheri. He has appeared as lead trumpet on two CD releases by Jeff Hedberg & C11: Too Darn Hot and Nice Work if You Can Get It. During a recent performance as soloist, in 2014, Joe performed the Hummel trumpet concerto with the Buffalo Grove Symphonic band, and returned after intermission as featured soloist with their jazz band. In 2012 Joe was the trumpet soloist with the Park Ridge Civic Orchestra in the world premiere of Daniel Golden's Likht un Shotn (Light and Shadow), a klezmer concertante. A lifelong Chicagoan, he holds a B.A. in secondary education (music) from Northeastern Illinois University, an M.M. in trumpet performance from DePaul University and a D.M. in trumpet performance from Northwestern University, where his primary teacher was Charles Geyer. He is frequently called on as a guest soloist, clinician, and adjudicator.
Dr. Lawrence Van Oyen has served as the director of bands and instructor of saxophone at North Central College since 1992. During his tenure at North Central he has twice received the Dissinger Award for distinguished teaching and leadership. His research article on the relationship between Math, Music and Art, published in the Math Teacher, was selected as an outstanding article by “Real World Math Components.” Dr. Van Oyen has performed as a saxophone soloist throughout the Midwest. He is the principal saxophonist in the Clarion Wind Symphony and the recording Sea Drift, the Wind Music of Anthony Iannaccone. Under his direction, the North Central Concert Winds has performed concerts for children with autism for the last ten years.