SR0826 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0826 LRB104 22196 LAW 38482 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Samuel Magad, the former concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), who passed away on May 25, 2026; and

WHEREAS, Samuel Magad was born in Chicago on May 14, 1932; he won the CSO Youth Auditions, and he subsequently made his solo debut with the CSO at the age of 11; he received a bachelor's degree from DePaul University as a student of Paul Stassevitch, and he later served in the United States Army Orchestra in Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, Samuel Magad joined the CSO first violin section at the invitation of Fritz Reiner in 1958, and he was promoted to assistant concertmaster by Jean Martinon in 1966; he was then appointed to concertmaster by Georg Solti in 1972, a position he held for 35 years until his retirement in 2007; during his tenure as concertmaster, he appeared as a soloist with the CSO, first performing Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5 in 1972, and his ensuing solos were captured on several CSO recordings, including Strauss's Ein Heldenleben and Also sprach Zarathustra, Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, and Beethoven's Missa solemnis; he also performed in numerous chamber music concerts; and

WHEREAS, Samuel Magad founded the Northbrook Symphony as a community orchestra in 1980, serving as the orchestra's artistic director and conductor for 20 years until 2001; during his tenure, the Northbrook Symphony was named the 1997 Orchestra of the Year while he himself was named the 1998 Conductor of the Year by the Illinois Council of Orchestras; he also served as concertmaster of the Grant Park Orchestra and Aspen Festival Orchestra, where he performed as a soloist, a chamber musician, and a conductor for more than a dozen seasons; and

WHEREAS, Samuel Magad was the recipient of a number of accolades, including receiving the Governor's Award from the Recording Academy for a lifetime of outstanding service to the art of music and being inducted into the North Shore Walk of Fame in Skokie for his accomplishments as a violinist and a conductor in 2000; from his alma mater, DePaul University, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award, a Doctor of Humane Letters in 2010, and the Pro Musica Award for his extraordinary contributions to music and the arts in 2017; and

WHEREAS, Samuel Magad was a remarkable musician, visionary, and cultural leader, and through his artistry and dedication, he created not only an orchestra in Northbrook but a lasting cultural institution that has enriched generations of audiences and musicians in the North Shore community; and

WHEREAS, Samuel Magad was preceded in death by his wife, Miriam; and

WHEREAS, Samuel Magad is survived by two children, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Samuel Magad, the former concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Samuel Magad as an expression of our deepest sympathy.