Member Profile: Joanne Nick

JOANNE NICK of Island Lake has been ringing handbells on and off since third grade, and also plays the oboe and euphonium. She graduated with her bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she was a member of the Marching Illini. Joanne works as a psychiatric case manager at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital. Outside of music, she enjoys spending time with her husband and playing with their Labrador Retriever, as well as stamping and cross stitching.

Largo

Another piece on this season's program is the Largo from Antonin Dvorak's Symphony #9 (From the New World), arranged by Valerie Stephenson. Valerie calls it "among the most enduring and appealing" pieces in symphonic literature. You may recognize it as the tune of the spiritual "Goin' Home."

It's arranged for 3 or 4 octaves of handbells, with optional handchimes, oboe, flute or C instruments. Chicago Bronze will be presenting this piece as just that: the bells, the handchimes, oboe by our own Joanne Nick and flute by our own Laura Olsen.