Website:       www.elginopera.org

The City of Elgin is proud to present  
A Taste of Italy – An OPERA
GALA CONCERT, Production of ELGIN OPERA.

Elgin OPERA is announcing its production of A Taste of Italy. 
Without a doubt, this gala concert will be a beautiful production with an emphasis on capturing the essence of Italy through the works of famous Italian composers.

Participation of soloists from ELGIN OPERA TRAINING ENSEMBLE
will include Susan Dennis, soprano (Bartlett); Meagan Smeenge, soprano (Elgin); Jeorge Holmes, tenor (Elgin); Larry Brook, tenor (Elgin), Katherine Dalin, mezzo (Elgin); Jim Hinton, baritone (Elgin).

The Elgin OPERA would like to express gratitude to the City of Elgin,
the Grand Victoria Foundation, Florence B. & Cornelia A. Palmer Trust, Barbara and Barre Seid Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council, and Villa Verone for their financial support; and e3 design group for its promotional graphic design services.

A Taste of Italy will be held Saturday, January 31, 2009, at 8:00 PM at the Hemmens Cultural  Center. Tickets prices range from $20 - $40 for adults, $15 - $35 for seniors and students. A 10% discount is offered
for groups of 10 or more.

Elgin OPERA's production of A Taste of Italy will truly capture the essence of Italy in a setting enjoyable for the whole family.  To be a
part of this elite experience, contact the Hemmens Cultural  Center box office at  847-931-5900 or on line at www.hemmens.org
(click tickets.com)

To contact Elgin OPERA call the office at 847-695-5014 or email at office@elginopera.org

Francesco Milioto, Conductor

Biography


Since arriving on the music scene in Chicago Mr. Milioto has garnered praise from critics, colleagues, and audiences alike.  The Chicago Tribune names
him "one of the best young conductors working in the Chicago area". 

He currently holds the positions of Music Director for the Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra and Principal Conductor of the Highland Park Strings. Mr. Milioto is in his eighth year as Music Director of the Summer Opera at the Chicago Cultural Center, where his is also frequently engaged as a chamber musician and accompanist.  Since 2003 he has been a regular rehearsal pianist and assistant conductor at the Ravinia Festival where he works closely with Maestro James Conlon and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  Mr. Milioto consistently makes appearances with Opera Elgin
and Opera on the James.  He is particularly proud of his involvement with
the young dynamic group the New Millennium Orchestra which he co-founded in 2005.  Mr. Milioto also has a long history of serving the community by reaching out to thousands of students as a teacher and performer with the Skokie Valley Symphony, Urban Gateways, Chicago Opera Theater,
Gallery 37 and the Kraft Kids Series at Ravinia.

Born in Toronto, Canada of Italian parentage, Francesco Milioto began playing the piano at age 7. He entered the Royal Conservatory of Music for studies in history and theory, and was accepted into the piano studio of Gordon Hallett. Mr. Milioto earned his Bachelor's of Music in piano performance (with Honors and Distinction) from the University of Western Ontario. He was awarded the top scholarship by the music faculty to study with Ronald Turini, pupil of the great Vladimir Horowitz. 

It was at UWO that Mr. Milioto began to conduct, becoming the assistant conductor to the Symphony Orchestra and leading various ensembles in orchestral, operatic and contemporary works.

Mr. Milioto was invited by the head of Opera McGill to earn his Masters Degree in opera repetition and orchestral conducting at McGill University
in Montreal.  He flourished as an accompanist and conductor.  As assistant
to both the McGill Symphony Orchestra and the Contemporary Ensemble, Mr. Milioto led many concerts and world premieres. He also acted as accompanist, coach, chorus master and music director for productions by Opera McGill as well as the Early Music Ensemble.

Since completing his studies Mr. Milioto has performed operas in Germany and taken part in workshops and conducting competitions in both Hungary and Italy.  Having found his niche in Chicago, he continues to make an impact as a conductor, pianist, and vocal coach.  Mr. Milioto was recently given the honor of being invited to the final stages of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra search for an assistant conductor, as well as the Montreal Symphony Orchestra search for a resident conductor.