2024 Silver Measure Awards

Gregory Hughes • January 12, 2024

Elmhurst Symphony Announces 2024 Silver Measure Award Winners

Four Community Members and Musicians To Be Honored for Long-time Service

The Elmhurst Symphony Association (ESA) announces four winners of the prestigious Silver Measure Award, the Elmhurst Symphony’s highest honor for outstanding service to the organization. The 2024 winners include past Board of Directors President, David J. Novotny, current Board Member and Treasurer, Carl Amrhein, and long-time musicians, Ken Bohl and Gail Vandon.


The Silver Measure Award, established in 1984, is the Elmhurst Symphony Association’s highest recognition. Its purpose is to recognize outstanding volunteer service to the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra (ESO) exemplified by major contributions of personal effort and involvement in its programs and the community over an extended period of time. 


This year the ESA recognizes four outstanding volunteers, both past and present, who have shown a long-time, passionate commitment to the Symphony. Award recipients will be honored at the following concerts in 2024.


List of Services



May 12, 2025
The Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra is thrilled to announce that Tong-Bai Deng , pianist, has been named the winner of the 2025 Stanger Young Artist Competition. The announcement was made live at the conclusion of the Rising Stars of Stanger concert on Saturday, May 10, 2025, held at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church. Deng earned top honors for his electrifying performance of Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Movement IV , captivating both the audience and judges with his technical command and passionate artistry.  The concert featured three finalist performances by exceptional high school musicians: Tong-Bai Deng , piano — Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2 (Mvt. IV) Sarah Gomez , Sam Deverman , Elyse Schlesinger , and Julian Kolthammer , horns — Robert Schumann’s Konzertstück for Four Horns and Orchestra Neal Eisfeldt , violin — Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto (Mvt. I) The Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Assistant Conductor Eli Chen , also performed Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, Movement I , rounding out a dynamic and celebratory afternoon of music. A panel of esteemed judges— Andrea Lafranzo , Michael Lewanski , and Peter Lipari —was embedded in the audience to evaluate each finalist on musicianship, interpretation, and stage presence before announcing the winner live from the stage. “This competition is one of the most inspiring events we host all year,” said Michael Surratt, Coordinator of the Stanger Young Artist Competition. “We are so proud of all the finalists and extend our warmest congratulations to Tong-Bai Deng for his extraordinary performance.” The Stanger Young Artist Competition is an annual tradition that supports and celebrates the next generation of classical musicians by offering high school performers the opportunity to appear as soloists with a professional orchestra. It is in part sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Elmhurst , whose generous and ongoing support is gratefully acknowledged. For more information on the competition or upcoming performances, please visit ElmhurstSymphony.org or contact the ESO office at 630-941-0202 (Monday-Friday 10AM-3PM).
May 12, 2025
Gallery Photos by Elliot Mandel Photography.
May 5, 2025
Gallery Photos by Ryan Bennett for Elliot Mandel Photography.
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