Illinois Valley Flute Ensemble
Under the Direction of Sue Gillio

History of the Illinois Valley Flute Ensemble:

OPUS 111 Music Studio in LaSalle is the “homebase” for the Illinois Valley Flute Ensemble which was established in the summer of 1991. As it stands, the ensemble is one of six flute choirs currently at OPUS 111 Music Studio ranging in age from 6 years through adult. The IVFE consists primarily of advanced high school and junior high players from the immediate Illinois Valley and surrounding areas as well.

Most students perform in various groups outside of their band programs including the Illinois Valley Youth Symphony and are participating in this year’s Maud Powell Music Festival. The Illinois Valley Flute Ensemble has performed on television for the Easter Seals Telethon, the Christmas Music Showcase in Ottawa, LaSalle Christmas Open House, Maud Powell Music Festival ('96, '98, ’99, ’01, ‘02, '03, '04, '05, '06) in Peru, Chicago Flute Club Flute Fair (Wheeling, IL), the Deer Park Country Club, St. Margaret's Auxiliary Dinner, Bergners and the Women's Expo at Peru Mall, Liberty Village, Ottawa Community Hospital Cancer Survivor Breakfast, Starved Rock Lodge, LaSalle Federated Women's Club and various private parties and seasonal gatherings.

IVFE Brochure
Letter of Invitation

About the Director:

Sue Gillio, an Oglesby native, is a graduate of LaSalle-Peru High School.  She is Co-owner of OPUS 111, director of the flute program, instructor of flute and director of the Illinois Valley Flute Choir.  She attended Western Illinois University and received a Bachelor of Arts (Magna Cum Laude) and Master of Arts with emphasis in flute performance where she studied with Gerald Carey.  She has performed in masterclasses of Alexander Murray, Eric Hoover, Robin Fellows, Wissam Boustany and attended the Trevor Wye Residential Masterclass in New London, Connecticut. She is currently Principal flute of the Illinois Valley Symphony, a member of the Quad City Symphony and has performed in the Heartland Philharmonic, Knox-Galesburg Symphony, and the Peoria Symphony. She has been a featured soloist with the Northwest Indiana Youth Symphony, Illinois Valley Youth Symphony, Mendota High School Band, Illinois Valley Community College Wind Ensemble and guest soloist with members of the Chicago Symphony and Northwest Indiana Symphony at St. Xavier College in Chicago performing "Brandenburg Concerto #5" by J.S. Bach.  The 2006-2007 Season of the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra featured her on Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp.  Internationally, Ms. Gillio traveled to Italy (1998,2004) as part of the Rome Festival Orchestra, Opera and Ballet.  She is currently on faculty at Illinois Valley Community College and Sauk Valley Community College.  She is a frequent adjudicator at IMEA, IHSA Solo/Ensemble Contest, Rockford Young Artists Competition, Chicago Flute Club Competition and other local festivals. She was a guest clinician at the Western Illinois University “Living Legacy” tribute to Gerald Carey (2006) presenting a lecture on “Developing a Successful Music Studio”.  She is a member of the Illinois Valley Symphony Board, Chicago Flute Club, Rockford Flute Club and National Flute Association where she has performed for the National Conventions in Columbus, OH (2000) and Dallas, TX (2001) and served as the 2006 Co-General Director of the Maud Powell Music Festival.  In 1999, she founded the Annual IVCC Summer Flute Retreat, teaching with her former WIU instructor, Gerald Carey.  Additionally, she is on the faculty of the Summer Flute Camp at Westminster Choir Conservatory in Princeton, New Jersey.

IVFE Scholarship Fund:

As part of the commitment to accessibility and excellence, the Illinois Valley Flute Ensemble Scholarship Fund was established to help promote additional training for young flutists in the Illinois Valley and surrounding communities, who participate in the Flute Program at OPUS 111 Music Studio. All Illinois Valley Flute Ensemble performances are on a donation basis, which enable the Illinois Valley Flute Ensemble to purchase new music, help with the upkeep of instruments and provide full or partial scholarships to IVCC Summer Flute Retreat and the Maud Powell Music Festival.

What does the IVFE do to help the community..

...besides sharing wonderful music with the community

Donations to LP Kiwanis Club, Knights of Columbus, and Ottawa Jaycees have been made. In addition, as part of the OPUS 111 Music Studio in LaSalle, IVFE members have donated money that becomes a part of a larger donation to the Illinois Valley Symphony, Illinois Valley Youth Symphony, and Illinois Valley Youth Choir ~ all important pillars in our community.

Links

• Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra - http://www.ivso.org
• Horine's Pianos Plus - http://www.horines.com