Jean (Wideroe) Berkenstock, 89, handed away together with her husband at her aspect on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at Evanston Hospital in Evanston, IL. She is survived by her husband of almost 50 years, James Turner Berkenstock, a daughter, Nina Swanson, a stepson, Paul Berkenstock, grandchildren Jake Hoogheem, Keven Hoogheem, Christian Hoogheem, and Nicholas Swanson, and step-grandchildren Megan Berkenstock and Tate Berkenstock. She is preceded in loss of life by her son, Peter Jay Hoogheem, sister Marcia Wideroe Loellbach, and brother Bernard Marshall Wideroe.
Jean was born in Chicago on February 6, 1934, and grew up in rural Northbrook, IL. Her childhood was one in all music, crafts, and outdoor. Western Northbrook was largely farmland, and Jean’s household raised animals together with horses, one in all which Jean rode to highschool. She attended a personal college in Northbrook referred to as the Farm School, which taught common topics within the morning and crafts and animal husbandry within the afternoon. She finally attended Northbrook High School. Her early coaching on piano was from her mom, however her actual love was the flute, which stemmed from her early research of the recorder beneath the steerage of David Dushkin, founding father of a music college which finally turned the Music Center of the Northshore after which the Music Institute of Chicago. As a youngster, she appeared on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour, a weekly TV present from New York City.
After making an attempt unsuccessfully to win a flute spot within the Chicago Youth Orchestra, she made an finish run to get into the orchestra by choosing up a double bass at college and instructing herself how you can play it. After she gained admittance on the bass, the orchestra director realized that she was not really a bass participant and that he had seen her beforehand at flute auditions. He was gained over by Jean’s willpower and admitted her to the flute part.
She attended school at Illinois Wesleyan University, receiving her bachelor’s diploma in music. Upon commencement, she gained a place with the Atlanta Symphony as second flute. Returning to the Chicago space after a number of years, she devoted herself to elevating her household however saved up her flute taking part in with the Evanston Symphony. She finally joined the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and studied flute, first with Ralph Johnson of the Chicago Symphony, after which with the orchestra’s Principal Flute, Donald Peck. During this time, she was a featured soloist with Civic.
In 1967, she turned Principal Flute with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, a place she held till 2001. Two years later, she turned Principal Flute with Lyric Opera of Chicago, leading to a profession of 43 years in that place. Her lovely taking part in in essential flute solos in operas like Magic Flute, Carmen, and Lucia di Lammermoor was legendary and led to many favorable opinions and laudatory articles. She was typically dubbed “The Magic Flute,” and one shut colleague affectionately referred to her as “Songbird.”
In 1991, she joined her husband, Jim, in founding Midsummer’s Music, a chamber music pageant in Door County, WI. For 28 years, she carried out extensively with this summer time collection and will be heard on 4 industrial recordings launched by the group together with A Bel Canto Summer, which options her and violinist David Perry. She additionally labored behind the scenes as a board member, coordinator of volunteers, music librarian, and arranger of musician housing. She was a constitution member of the Chicago Philharmonic, performing with them as Principal Flute till 2012.
Jean taught extensively, primarily as a Professor of Music on the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. Throughout her profession she appeared quite a few occasions as a soloist with the Grant Park Symphony, the Chicago Philharmonic, the Orchestra of Illinois, and the Decatur Symphony. In addition, she additionally carried out ceaselessly as an additional with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and is heard on quite a few recordings with them.
Beyond music, Jean’s love prolonged to her household. On holidays, she was the frequent host of enormous household gatherings that typically included her college students from overseas international locations. She additionally relished the time she may dedicate to stitching. She made most of her garments ceaselessly utilizing her personal design. As a mother, she made lots of the garments her younger kids wore and taught her daughter to stitch as properly.
She took an energetic position as an orchestral musician serving on audition committees, negotiating committees, and because the Grant Park Symphony’s consultant to the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM). She was instrumental in promulgating the constructing of the Petrillo Music Shell, writing a convincing cowl article in Sensa Sordino in her position as ICSOM consultant. She additionally attended Chicago Planning Commission conferences as an advocate from the orchestra.
Although Jean was very comfy on the stage, she relished her quiet time with household, an excellent guide, crosswords, cooking, stitching, and gardening. She particularly loved her time in Door County, notably when grandchildren came around.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to Midsummer’s Music, Ltd., a tax-deductible charitable establishment Jean was very dedicated to, is usually recommended. Services will happen on Tuesday, October 24 at 4:00pm at Church of the Holy Comforter, Kenilworth, IL. An further service is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 1 at 3:00 pm at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Sister Bay, WI.