When Dr. Dieter Kober formed Chicago Chamber Orchestra at the University of Chicago in 1952 he probably never suspected that kind of success and career. After five years the amateur ensemble turned professional and that is when it all started.
The aim that they had in mind was to bring good quality music to all the people eager to listen to it. No matter their age, class or race. Years went on and the Chicago Chamber Orchestra was playing larger auditoriums. They starred in local museums, churches, schools (with the Music for young listeners program), up to performances for the King and Queen of Denmark, Prince Charles and worldwide tours (Germany, Poland, Korea and more). Now, after 56 years of service, Dieter Kober and his friends still show the spectators some great magic hidden in classical music.
On Sept. 2, 2007, at magnificent surrounding of Preston Bradley Hall in Chicago Cultural Center, they put on a really magnificent performance. Starting off with Jean Sibelius’ Andante Festivo, they moved on to beautifully crafted Franz Joseph Haydn’s concerto for Violin, Piano, and Strings in F major, with a great performance from Carol Honigberg on the piano. Following, they performed an amazing rendition of Harold Laudenslager’s Elegy for English horn, Timpani and Strings. After the music and the applause stopped, Terryl Lynn Jares of Chicago Federation of Musicians awarded Dieter Kober a statuette for his 56 years of service. You could see true appreciation in Koner’s eyes when taking the gift. Appreciation you could only see in the eyes of a person truly committed to their work. After that they played Haydn’s Symphony No. 102 in B major. All in all the Chicago Chamber Orchestra devliered a virtuous and depthy performance!
After the concert, when asked what makes him do all this for wide publicity for 56 years now, Dieter Kober simply replied “My wife!”
If you want to see the Chicago Chamber Orchestra perform, the next opportunity is on Nov. 11, at the Chicago Cultural Center 78 E. Washington Street. For more information go to http://www.chicagochamberorchestra.org/schedule.htm.