Music

Laurie-Anderson
Music

CYSO’s “Women in Music” Gala to Honor Laurie Anderson

Fred Cummings , 

Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras (CYSO) hosts its 2023 gala “Women in Music” at The Geraghty, 2520 S. Hoyne Avenue, on Saturday, Feb. 25 beginning at 6 p.m. This is CYSO’s largest fundraising event of the year. Attendees will enjoy cocktails, gourmet dinner provided by Boka Catering, live auction, and performances from more than 100 of CYSO’s talented young musicians, including orchestra, steelpan, and jazz ensembles. Proceeds from the evening directly support CYSO’s award-winning music education programs for dedicated young musicians from across the Chicago region.

Read More
Singer-Dan-Navarro
MusicSummer 2022

LUMINARY: Q&A with Singer/Songwriter Dan Navarro

Fred Cummings , 

Saying singer/songwriter Dan Navarro is a versatile artist is like saying the past two years were kind of challenging for live music. It’s an understatement of epic proportions. Navarro is as prolific a master of all trades as they come. In addition to singer and songwriter, he routinely excels as producer, voice-over actor and all-around “road warrior,” all mounting a convincing argument for Navarro as the Hercules of the performing arts.
For years, he worked prolifically as part of the acoustic duo, Lowen & Navarro, releasing 14 albums and performing 1,500 gigs before Eric Lowen’s retirement in 2008 and subsequent passing from ALS in 2012.

Read More
Chicago-Riverwalk
Chicago Arts and CultureMusic

Chicago Riverwalk 2022 Sumer Season Announced

Fred Cummings , 

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) spotlight a slate of engaging summer arts and recreational programming taking place on the Chicago Riverwalk, a magnificenturban space located on the south bank of the Chicago River. The award-winning, pedestrian-friendly Chicago Riverwalk stretches 1.25 miles from Lake Michigan to Lake Street offering restaurants, wineries and bars, live music and performances, public art, urban recreation and more.

Read More
Music

Harris Theater Presents The World Premiere of “Emancipation” by Adrian Dunn

Patrick Curran

The Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance will present Emancipation by Adrian Dunn with the The Adrian Dunn Singers and Rize Orchestra on the Harris Theater Mainstage on Friday, April 29, 2022 at 7:30 p.m..

Emancipation is the second installment in the trilogy cycle composed by Adrian Dunn exploring Black life in America, through genres created by Black Americans. The program will be performed by The Adrian Dunn Singers and Rize Orchestra, all-Black professional ensembles founded by Dunn and dedicated to transforming classical music and the music industry at large. This performance of Emancipation marks the first time that an all-Black professional orchestra has played at the Harris Theater. This historic moment will be filmed and recorded for a live album.

Read More
Music

NEIU & Ensemble Español Host The Cardinal Bartolucci Foundation Choir from Rome April 22

Patrick Curran

Northeastern Illinois University and Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater will host the Cardinal Bartolucci Foundation Choir from Rome at Northeastern Illinois University’s Auditorium, 3701 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., at 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 22.

For almost 50 years, Cardinal Domenico Bartolucci, choirmaster of the Sistine Chapel Choir, oversaw the music of the sacred liturgies of the successors of St. Peter. The choir established in his name now disseminates and promotes knowledge of the most celebrated composers of religious music from the Renaissance to present day.

Read More
New-Philharmonic-Conductor-Kirk-Muscrat-and-Violinist-David-Taylor
Classical MusicMusic

CSO Violinist David Taylor to Join New Philharmonic in Concert Featuring Sarasate’s “Fantasy on Bizet’s ‘Carmen'”

Fred Cummings , 

New Philharmonic, the professional orchestra in residence at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC), continues its 2021-2022 45th Anniversary Season with Dvořák’s New World, featuring his Symphony No. 9 in E-minor on Saturday and Sunday, November 13 & 14, 2021.  The program includes Pablo de Sarasate’s (1844-1908) Fantasy on Bizet’s Carmen featuring guest violinist David Taylor, Chicago Symphony Orchestra Assistant Concertmaster. The piece is commonly regarded as one of the most challenging pieces for violin.

Read More
Bill-Barclay
Classical MusicMusic

Music of the Baroque to Present “The Chevalier”

Fred Cummings , 

Music of the Baroque will present the Midwest premiere of The Chevalier, a new concert theater work written and directed by Bill Barclay. The Chevalier is about the life and music of 18th-century Black composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a master composer, virtuoso violinist, a friend of Mozart’s, music teacher to Marie Antoinette, the finest fencer in Europe, general of Europe’s first Black regiment and a crusader for the abolishment of slavery.  Taking a “concert theater” approach, featuring the interplay of four actors with orchestral and chamber music excerpts, Barclay blends Bologne’s remarkable history with his own compositions, ultimately conflating the French Revolution with the social and political unrest in society today.

Read More