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Arts & Entertainment

Margie Arito, Musician

Margie Arito of La Grange Park lives her passion: the oboe. This Sunday, she and her fellow musicians will perform at St. Francis Xavier Church at 3 p.m. in a one-hour concert entitled 'Baroque and Beyond.'

When Margie Arito of La Grange Park was in fifth grade, she and her dad attended an introductory session on musical instruments that was available at her school.  Arito was all set on signing up to be a drummer, but Margie’s dad had another idea when he heard the music teacher say, “Hm, no one signed up for the oboe,” as she heard her father offer her for the position.

That was the beginning of what would become one of the great loves of her life: the oboe. Now, she will be preforming in a special concert at St. Francis Church in La Grange this Sunday.

After learning the basics, Arito joined the Catholic Youth Organization Band. CYO offered so many fantastic opportunities for young kids to play and travel with the band. As a junior high student, Arito traveled to Holland and spent a weekend with a Dutch family. She was 13 at the time, and the young man in the family was 16. After just those three days, they became pen pals for many years—and he even visted Chicago recently with his family and stayed at the Arito home.

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“The CYO was just a great part of my life. I loved it. It was a unique opportunity to meet other kids, have fun and travel and master an instrument. We forged friendships—and many marriages—from joining the CYO,” said Arito. Arito was one of those who met her husband through CYO.

CYO participated in competitions, played at many events and was known throughout the area as a close-knit group. Arito won first in state on freshman oboe while playing with the organization.

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Though her first career choice would have been to play cartoon music in Hollywood, she took the practical route and majored in business in college. Her ‘real’ job is vice president of Bloom and Fiorino architectural firm, but the oboe still remains a constant in her life.

Arito quiped, “Music is my mistress. It is there when I need her and I am always pumped when I get a new gig. I never consider it work.”

For the past 15 years, Margie has been principal oboe for the DuPage Symphony. She also plays with the musicians’ union and plays many different venues, including a monthly Taize service at Ascension Church in Oak Park, Illinois.

Arito has also performed at the Chicago Theatre, the City Lights orchestra and even taped a group session for a soundtrack for a move. It is through word of mouth that Margie hears of and has opportunities to perform.

is her home parish and she often performs at weddings, funerals, special services, masses, and seasonal services. Since many concert and recital offerings were in places other than La Grange, Arito thought it might be time to plan a concert closer to home.

After discussing the idea with her fellow musicians, they all got on the band wagon. They planned Baroque and Beyond—a one-hour concert to be performed this Sunday, Sept. 25 at 3 p.m. at St. Francis Xavier Church, located at Waiola and Ogden avenues in La Grange.

The concert will in be true baroque style with a slight variation and will include oboe; three types of trumpets; piccolo; English horn; flute soloist; strings and a keyboard. Featured music is by J.S. Bach and Aaron Copland’s ‘Quiet City.’ The cost is a free will offering.

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