Patrica Foltz, PIano

Patricia Foltz started her accompanying career at Illinois State University in 1987 pinch-hitting on the bench for Civic Chorale, while singing with the ensemble. Her collaboration with music students began some 30 years ago with a soprano and a tubist. She has embraced vocal, string, woodwind, and brass repertoire, working with students for recitals and competitions. She has also collaborated in performances with faculty, faculty candidates, and guest artists. With trombonist Stephen Parsons, she recorded a collection of trombone and piano pieces which were produced by Albany Records in 2008.  She is a founding member of ctp trio (horn, tuba and piano) at ISU and is a seasoned church musician.  

Ms. Foltz holds a piano performance degree from Millikin University and a master’s in accompanying and piano pedagogy from Northern Illinois University. Additionally, she began work toward a certificate of advanced study in chamber music.  Her teaching experience includes a one-year faculty position in group piano and accompanying at East Carolina University. She studied with artist teachers Florence Kirsch DuBrul and Konrad Wolff who became her mentor. Patty has been praised for her artistry, passion, and generous spirit.  She is thrilled to have this opportunity with “…. and friends.”

Courtney Silver, Violin

A native of Peoria, IL, Courtney Silver plays professionally with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Composer’s Orchestra. Ms. Silver has performed across North and South America, in places such as Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, and Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center. While growing up, Ms. Silver was a member of the Central Illinois Youth Symphony, where she was concertmaster for 2 years, and the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, where she was the recipient of the prestigious Mollendorf Award. At age 15, she won the Peoria Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artist Competition and subsequently made her debut soloing with the Peoria Symphony. Ms. Silver is a graduate of Rice University in Houston, Texas. She holds a bachelor’s degree in violin performance from Rice’s Shepherd School of Music, and a degree in neuroscience from the University. Ms. Silver completed her Master’s degree in violin performance at DePaul University in Chicago Illinois, where she studied with renowned violinist, Ilya Kaler. Her previous teachers include Marcia Henry Liebenow, Gerardo Ribeiro, Kathleen Winkler, and Eric Halen

Glenn Block, Conductor

Dr. Glenn Block is the Director of Orchestras and Opera and Professor of Conducting at Illinois State University and Music Director of the Central Illinois Youth Symphony. From 1983-2007, he led the Kansas City Youth Symphony program to being one of the largest and most recognized youth symphony programs in the country. Prior to coming to Illinois in the fall of 1990, Dr. Block served for 15 years as Director of Orchestras and Professor of Conducting at the Conservatory of Music of the University of Missouri - Kansas City and Music Director of the Kansas City Civic Orchestra. From 1972 - 1974, he was Music Director of the San Diego Chamber Orchestra and from 1968 - 1974; he served as Principal Double Bass of the San Diego Symphony and Opera Orchestras.

Born in Brooklyn, Dr. Block was educated at the Eastman School of Music. He also received his Ph.D. from the University of California at San Diego. A frequent guest conductor, he has appeared in 42 states with all-state and professional orchestras. Foreign guest-conducting have included residencies at the Fountainebleau Conservertoire in France, and in Spain, Canada, Colombia, Estonia, Russia, and Italy. Dr. Block led the Youth Symphony of Kansas City on three international tours to Spain (1992), Canada (1996) and Italy (2000) and three national tours to Chicago, St. Louis and New York’s Carnegie Hall. The Youth Symphony of Kansas City was invited by MENC to be the broadcast orchestra for the 1995 World’s Largest Concert and to perform at the 1996 MENC annual convention. Dr. Block and the Youth Symphony of Kansas City appeared as Festival Orchestra at the Western Slopes Music Festival in Crested Butte, Colorado. Dr. Block has served on the faculty of the National Music Camp at Interlochen as Resident Conductor of the World Youth Symphony Orchestra, and at the Interlochen Arts Academy as Visiting Conductor. In addition, he has served as Music Director of the Summer Festival Orchestra at the Rocky Ridge Music Center in Estes Park, Colorado.

Dr. Block has been widely recognized as a teacher of conducting, performing master classes throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and South America. An active researcher, he has been the recipient of numerous Illinois State University, University of Missouri and National Endowment of the Humanities grants that have resulted in critical editions of the orchestral music of Igor Stravinsky, Charles Ives and George Gershwin and study in France and Italy. In 1985, he was appointed Research Consultant to the Orchestra Library Information Service of the American Symphony Orchestra League, where responsibilities included the organization of critical sources and errata information for the orchestral repertoire housed in a national data base in Washington, D.C. He has served as a member of the national Board of Directors of the Conductors Guild of America, representing over 1,000 professional conductors, and the Board of Directors of the American Symphony Orchestra League