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Observing the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death (March 26, 1827), Elgin Symphony Orchestra Music Director Chad Goodman and concert pianist Tony Siqi Yun examine the great composer’s enduring legacy and popularity, and they answer the question: Why does Beethoven still matter?
Maestro Goodman returns to Wednesdays @ One after a 2024 program introducing him to the community as the ESO’s then-new conductor. He shares his insights into Beethoven’s centuries-long influence, discussing the composer’s life and music with visiting guest artist, Tony Siqi Yun, who will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto #3 on April 10 and 11 with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra under Goodman’s direction. Augmenting and illustrating the discussion, you will hear examples and excerpts of Beethoven’s music performed live by Tony Siqi Yun, along with relevant orchestral recordings.
Join us for this fascinating glimpse into the life and music of one of history’s greatest music composers, and share the insights of two prominent classical musicians to learn why Beethoven’s legacy has endured through the ages.
About Chad Goodman
Since his appointment as Music Director of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra in 2023, Chad Goodman has been praised for elevating the orchestra to new artistic heights and dramatically expanding its impact in the community. In his first three seasons he led the ESO premieres of more than twenty works, increased community engagement through run-out concerts and captivating presentations, and spearheaded the orchestra’s first-ever Día de los Muertos concert, uniting the symphony with folkloric dance and vocals in a city-wide cultural celebration. In recognition of his committed work, Goodman was named Conductor of the Year by the Illinois Council of Orchestras in 2025. In 2026, it was announced that his contract was extended for 3 years through the 2028/2029 season.
As a guest conductor, Goodman has led orchestras including the Minnesota Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Utah Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Pacific Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, Greensboro Symphony, Baton Rouge Symphony, San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, and Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de Puebla (OSEP).
From 2019 to 2023, Goodman served as the Conducting Fellow of the New World Symphony and Assistant Conductor to Michael Tilson Thomas. In addition to leading the orchestra on subscription, education, and special event programs, he collaborated with videographers, animators, and light designers to push the boundaries of how classical music can be presented. Goodman has also served as an Assistant Conductor to the San Francisco Symphony, working with Esa-Pekka Salonen, Herbert Blomstedt, Elim Chan, Manfred Honeck, Daniel Harding, and Simone Young, among others.
About Tony Siqi Yun
The Canadian-born pianist Tony Siqi Yun, Gold Medalist at the First China International Music Competition (2019) and awarded the Rheingau Music Festival’s 2023 Lotto-Förderpreis, is quickly becoming a sought-after soloist and recitalist. At the age of 23, he has been hailed as a “poet of the keyboard” (Pianist Magazine), and The Philadelphia Inquirer noted his thrilling performance and “interpretive flashes that point to an emergent big personality: moments of grandness or deep expressivity.”
Recent performances include a debut recital at Ravinia, a concerto debut at the Aspen Music Festival, and concerts with Orchestre Métropolitain, Louisville Orchestra, Las Vegas Philharmonic, the Nashville Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, and Lincoln Symphony, among others. Major recital debuts this season include Wigmore Hall, Concertgebouw, Flagey, Harrogate, Royal Conservatory in Toronto, Celebrity Series of Boston as well as returns to Vancouver and Ghent. He also returned to China, appearing with orchestras in Beijing and Hangzhou.
Mr. Yun is a 2024 graduate of The Juilliard School, where he was a recipient of the Jerome L. Greene Fellowship.
Baker Community Center, April 7, 2027, 1:00 p.m.
