Remembering Sandy Ellingsen — Jennifer Nelson
Northshore Concert Band’s April 2026 concert was dedicated to the life, memory, and legacy of Sandy Ellingsen, a 35-year member of the Band’s flute section. During the concert, flutist Jennifer Nelson was invited to share her memories of Sandy from their time together in the Northshore Concert Band.
Jennifer Nelson shares her memories of Sandy Ellingsen — April 12, 2026.
I'm Jennifer Nelson, and I have been a member of the flute section in the Northshore Band for 25 years. I'd like to share with you some memories of the Sandy I knew.
I first met Sandy when I joined the Palatine Concert Band in the fall of 1987, and then reconnected with her when I joined Northshore Band in late 2001. For many years, Sandy and I played flute duets for Hands of Hope, which is an organization that provides resources to disadvantaged women in Africa. The fundraiser we played for was a Garden Walk, where people could tour various gardens at people's homes in Barrington. Proceeds from the participants' entry fees went to this charity.
Our job was to provide music for the people touring the gardens, and we would play about 90 minutes of flute duets at this once-a-year event. It was always held in June, and the settings we played in were lovely. When we were done playing, we had fun going to tour the gardens and checking out the antique sale they also had there.
This was not without its challenges; however, the biggest one being the weather. We had to contend with very hot weather, very chilly weather, wind blowing our music around, and rain. I remember one time we got caught in a big storm, and the people in the nearby house where the garden was were kind enough to let us shelter inside until the storm passed. (Usually at these events, the homeowners leave for the day while all this is going on, but thankfully, these people were at home.)
In spite of these challenges, every summer we looked forward to the chance to play these duets together, combining our love of playing flute with the chance to help a great cause.
Northshore Concert Band flutes Jennifer Nelson, Kristen Hanna, and Sandy Ellingsen backstage at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall — June 14, 2015.
That's the kind of person Sandy was, always looking for opportunities to use her talents to help others. For many years, she worked tirelessly for the Northshore Band's Manna fundraising program, and each month we would get an email from her taking our orders to buy the gift cards, and 10% of the purchase went to the band. Then she would get all the cards, sort them out, and give our orders to us at the next rehearsal. It was a big, time-consuming job, but she did it for her love of the Northshore Band.
Sandy and I would trade stories at rehearsals about what was going on in our lives, and I would hear what her children, and later grandchildren, were up to. One of our last conversations was at the April concert a year ago, when I was telling her about how our kitchen remodeling was going. At that point of the remodel, our house was in chaos, and she patiently listened to my venting some frustrations with the stresses that come with home remodeling.
At every concert, Sandy would always wear a pearl necklace similar to what I am wearing today. As we honor her memory at this concert, members of the band are all wearing pearl pins in remembrance of the pearls she wore to our concerts. Musician, friend, and great listener are all attributes that describe the person Sandy was, and she is deeply missed by all of us in the Northshore Band family. As we play our next piece, Children's March by Percy Grainger, we will all be remembering Sandy's involvement with children: her children and grandchildren, her music students, and the many children she taught in Sunday School at her church.
The Giving Fund in Memory of Sandy Ellingsen
Please consider honoring Sandy Ellingsen’s legacy by supporting the Giving Fund established in her memory through the Orchard Evangelical Free Church’s Music Ministry. Gifts to the fund will benefit the Buffalo Grove High School Band Boosters, where they will be used at the program’s discretion to expand access to meaningful musical experiences for students. Contributions may support the purchase or repair of instruments, the commissioning of new arrangements for marching or concert band, or provide financial assistance for private lessons and summer music camps. In this way, Sandy’s lifelong commitment to music, education, and community will continue to resonate in the lives of young musicians for years to come.
To donate online, click here. Donations by check should be made payable to National Christian Foundation Fund #6352907 with “In Memory of Sandy Ellingsen” on the memo line and mailed to:
National Christian Foundation Greater Chicago
415 W. Golf Road, Suite 19
Arlington Heights, IL 60005