June 12, 2026: Beethoven Lives Upstairs

Sarah Cartwright, actor (Christoph)
Thad Avery, actor (Uncle)
Northbrook Symphony
Mina Zikri, Music Director

This concert starts at 1:00pm and will be approximately 50 minutes with no intermission. Recommended for ages 6 and up.

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This world famous production features a lively exchange of letters between young Christoph and his Uncle. Their subject is the “madman” who has moved into the upstairs apartment of Christoph’s Vienna home.

The funereal second movement of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony sets the scene as we travel back in time from March 26, 1827, the day of Beethoven's death, into the more intimate setting of young Christoph's house in Vienna a few years before. Christoph's father has just died and Beethoven has taken the room upstairs. As the correspondence with his uncle unfolds, Christoph recounts the horrors of the composer standing naked at the window, water dripping down into their apartment and Beethoven playing late into the night. Finally, after attending the famous first performance of the Ninth Symphony, Christoph comes to understand the genius of Beethoven, the torment of his deafness, and the beauty of his music.

The original audio recording of Beethoven Lives Upstairs claims dozens of top music, educational, and parenting awards. It has gone multi-platinum, been translated and distributed around the world, and made into an Emmy award-winning film. Based on this highly acclaimed recording, the Beethoven Lives Upstairs theatrical symphony concert is an imaginative way to introduce young audiences and their families to the life and music of Ludwig Van Beethoven in a live performance setting. Audiences are inspired by more than 25 excerpts of the master's music, including Moonlight Sonata, Fur Elise, and the great Fifth and Ninth Symphonies.

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Musical Excerpts

1. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: 2nd movement
2. Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67: 1st movement
3. Piano Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90: 2nd movement
4. Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: 4th movement
5. Romance No. 1 for violin and orchestra in G major, Op. 40
6. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, “Pathétique”
7. Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, “Choral”: 2nd movement
8. Piano Sonata No. 10 in G major, Op. 14, No. 2
9. Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, Op. 60: 2nd movement
10. Minuet in G major for piano & bells
11. Violin Sonata No. 5 in G major, Op. 24, “Spring”
12. Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93: 2nd movement
13. Leonore Overture No. 3, Op. 72b
14. Für Elise, WoO 59
15. Polonaise for Military Band in D major, WoO 21
16. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2, “Moonlight”
17. Variations on "Là ci darem la mano" from Mozart's Don Giovanni, WoO 28
18. Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68: 1st movement
19. Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68: 2nd movement: Birds
20. Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68: 4th movement: Storm
21. Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15: 1st movement
22. Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73, “Emperor”: 2nd movement
23. Variations on Paisiello’s "Nel cor più non mi sento" in G major, WoO 70
24. Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, “Choral”: Finale: Bass Sting
25. Rage Over a Lost Penny, Op. 129
26. Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68: 4th movement: Tremolo
27. Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, “Choral”: Finale: “Ode to Joy”
28. Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, “Choral”: Finale
29. Piano Sonata No. 20 in G major, Op. 49, No. 2: 2nd movement
30. Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68: Finale: Shepherd’s Theme

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Paul Pement
Director and Producer

Paul serves as Executive & Artistic Director of Classical Kids Music Education, a non-profit arts organization focused on introducing children (and their parents) to the lives and musical masterpieces of the great classical composers. A BFA in theatre from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and professional experience as an actor, singer, dancer, director, choreographer and stage manager have enabled Paul to achieve success with Classical Kids LIVE! programming - the “gold-star” leader in the field for creating theatrical family concerts presented by professional symphony orchestras throughout North America and abroad. Production titles include Beethoven Lives Upstairs, Mozart’s Magnificent Voyage, Vivaldi’s Ring of Mystery, Tchaikovsky Discovers America, Gershwin’s Magic Key, and the newest in the series, Saint-Georges’ Sword & Bow.

Sarah Cartwright
Actor – Christoph

Sarah has been performing with Classical Kids as Christoph in Beethoven Lives Upstairs and Karl Mozart in Mozart’s Magnificent Voyage since 2018. She grew up in Minnesota and always had a soft spot for classical music thanks to her music-therapist parents. Growing up, she even listened to the Classical Kids recordings! Sarah moved to Chicago to attend Northwestern University and has worked as an actor and educator in the Windy City ever since. Favorite past productions include Pinocchio (Neverbird Project/Chicago Children's Theatre), Grey House and The Haven Place (A Red Orchid Theatre), A Comedical Tragedy for Mister Punch (The House Theatre of Chicago), and James and the Giant Peach (Northwestern University).

Thad Avery
Actor – Uncle

Mr. Avery performs for Classical Kids Live! as both Uncle in Beethoven Lives Upstairs and Tchaikovsky in Tchaikovsky Discovers America. He is based in Chicago with his wife Cheryl, and two children, Spencer and Grace. A proud union member of all three performing unions, his first professional show was with Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. He received his training from Wayne State University in Detroit. There he performed in a number of shows ranging from the Classics to many musicals. After graduation, he was a company member of Utah Shakespearean Festival and traveled around the world with an international comedy troupe. The troupe was featured at World Entertainment in Japan and at the Wintergarten in Berlin. When Thad returned home, he started a long and rewarding relationship with the musical Forever Plaid. The production took him from Door County, WI to the first national tour, to Las Vegas, and back home to Chicago. Other appearances in Chicago include I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change; The Wizard of Oz; Charlotte's Web; Alice in Wonderland; and The Nutcracker. Thad gives special thanks to his mentor, the late Robert Hazzard.

Mina Zikri
Music Director and Conductor

Mina Zikri was appointed Music Director of the Northbrook Symphony and assumed his artistic leadership duties in the 2019-20 season. As founder, music director, and conductor of the Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago, Zikri uses his considerable talents to forge relationships with artists and musical organizations throughout the world, all in the name of developing new audiences for classical music. As a violinist and assistant conductor to Daniel Barenboim, he travels with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra on their annual tours to major music festivals and concert halls around the world. He returns each season to his native Egypt to guest-conduct the National Symphony.

At a time when even some of the greatest orchestras in the United States are falling under the pressures of financial and cultural uncertainty, Zikri believes that the future of symphony orchestras can, and must, venture beyond traditional expectations.

As a faculty member of the DePaul University Community Music Division, his career distinctions include being named one of 12 finalists in the 2007 Gustav Mahler International Conducting Competition, where he was chosen from 223 candidates from 40 countries. He was awarded a fellowship to the American Academy of Conducting in Aspen, Colo., where he studied with Hans Graf, Hugh Wolff, Christopher Seaman, Robert Spano and Larry Ratcliff. He holds a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Performance Certificate in violin from DePaul University.

Zikri has been the resident conductor for the Lira ensemble since 2011.  In 2018, Zikri made his conducting debut at Carnegie Hall with the Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago, with a return performance in June 2019.

Susan Hammond
Series Creator

Susan has created a whole new generation of classical music fans through her innovative and award-winning Classical Kids recordings. She is the executive producer of a 16-title series of children’s classical music recordings known collectively as Classical Kids, selling to date nearly 5 million CDs, DVDs and books worldwide, and earning over 100 prestigious awards and honors. Each story entails its own adventure featuring a unique combination of music, history, and theatricality to engage the imaginations of children. Susan holds the philosophy that, “Where the heart goes, the mind will follow.” An accomplished concert pianist and music teacher, Hammond searched for recordings about classical music to share with her young daughters. One day, she sat reading to her girls with a classical music radio station on in the background and noticed how they responded to the literature in a different way when enhanced by music. The rest, as they say, is history. Susan is the recipient of Billboard Magazine’s International Achievement Award and is a member of the Order of Canada for her contribution to the arts.

Barbara Nichol
Author

Barbara is an award-winning author and filmmaker. Her book Dippers was a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award, and Biscuits in the Cupboard won the Mr. Christie’s Book Award. She is also well known as the author and director of the Juno award-winning original recording of Beethoven Lives Upstairs and author of the book by the same title. She was awarded a Genie for Best Short Film for Home for Blind Women and was nominated for an Emmy for her work with Sesame Street. Barbara Nichol has published four books with Tundra, including Safe and Sound, Trunks All Aboard: An Elephant ABC, and Dippers.

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Orchestra

Violin I
Vladimir Gebe, Concertmaster
José Viera
Luis Vivas
María Paula Bernal
Kami Ghavi Helm
Jenny Choi
Sara Oliva
Lorena Uquillas

Violin II
Irina Fatykhova, Keith and Kaori Williams Principal Second Violin Chair
María Sofía Alvarado
Amina Knapp
Eva Nicholson
Emma Bruno
Aasheeta Parikh
Marley Haller

Viola
Christopher Kang, Principal
Ben Perez
Michael Langford
Desi Tantchev
Gina Stonikas
Yulong Han

Cello
Dan Klingler, Allen Nottke & Marcia Kirtland-Nottke Principal Cello Chair
Rachel Hsieh
Naza Bektur
Patrycja Likos

Bass
Julian Romane, Cindy & Terry Brady Principal Double Bass Chair
Stephen Reichelt, Ron Bernardi Assistant Principal Double Bass Chair

Flute – John R. Halligan Charitable Fund Flute Section
Maria Schwartz
Katarina Ignatovich

Oboe
Reed Cawley, Carlos & Sandy Früm First Oboe Chair
Lillia Woolschlager

Clarinet
Nora Shaffer
Amer Hasan

Bassoon
Jacob Darrow
Jason Capozucca

Horn
John Schreckengost
Alexander Love

Trumpet
Bryant Millet, Cindy & Terry Brady First Trumpet Chair
Sarah Carrillo, Jim & Julie Karagianis Second Trumpet Chair

Trombone
Thomas Stark
Darren Castellanos

Timpani
Kyle Scully

Percussion
Kevin Tan

Piano
Daniel Szefer