The 2023/24 Season of MusicNOW illuminates works by a dynamic collective of Black composers, the Blacknificent 7. Jasmine Barnes performs a work by Dave Ragland and Damien Geter joins Barnes for her world premiere. From Thompson’s In Response to the Madness, which explores the composer’s angst in response to the chaos found today around the world, to Ragland’s Eight Tones for Elijah — a loving tribute to young violinist Elijah McCain who was killed by the police on his walk home — the program surveys current social themes. Also featured are works by Chicago’s own Shawn Okpebholo and Damien Geter. Nimble and accomplished improvisers, CSO Mead Composer-in-Residence Jessie Montgomery and Carlos Simon perform of-the-moment interludes, woven between the other works on the program.
Musicians from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Jessie Montgomery, Jasmine Barnes
You can watch the livestream here: https://youtu.be/aLfHUYYzd1I If you watch the livestream, please support the artists by purchasing a livestream ticket. Since 1980, Friends of the Gamelan has been Chicago's premier ensemble that performs traditional Javanese gamelan music. Led by Artistic Director Alex Yoffe, the nonprofit provides quality instruction, performs world-class concerts, and presents engaging workshops with students, families, and gamelan appreciators of all ages and abilities throughout the Chicago area and beyond. In the late 1970s, a group began to meet regularly at the Field Museum to play on the same gamelan instruments from the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Eventually the instruments were archived and the ensemble acquired new instruments. Today's set of instruments was acquired by FROG in the 2000s. The ensemble has performed at various stages throughout Chicago, including Millennium Park's Pritzker Pavilion, the Field Museum, Navy Pier, and the Old Town School of Folk Music, to name a few. www.chicagogamelan.org
In August 1979, the ensemble was the opening band on the first night of the First Annual Chicago Jazz Festival. 44 years later, the CJO stands as not only the oldest professional big band in Chicago, but also the second oldest professional civic jazz orchestra in the United States (second only to the Columbus Jazz Orchestra). cjomusic.org
In August 1979, the ensemble was the opening band on the first night of the First Annual Chicago Jazz Festival. 44 years later, the CJO stands as not only the oldest professional big band in Chicago, but also the second oldest professional civic jazz orchestra in the United States (second only to the Columbus Jazz Orchestra). cjomusic.org
Featuring Devon Sandridge. Dedicated to the memory of Michael Young In August 1979, the ensemble was the opening band on the first night of the First Annual Chicago Jazz Festival. 44 years later, the CJO stands as not only the oldest professional big band in Chicago, but also the second oldest professional civic jazz orchestra in the United States (second only to the Columbus Jazz Orchestra). cjomusic.org
Jazz Septet feat. the music of Andy Baker & Steve Million.
Presented by Chicago Tap Theatre Tap dance lies at the intersection of dance and music; tap dancers are both dancers and musicians simultaneously. What you see is what you hear, what you hear is what you see. Instead of just dancing to music, tap requires that you also become the music – opening the door to deeper expression, connection, and exploration. Directed by Sterling Harris, Synesthete explores the inherently cross-sensory nature of tap dance. A synesthete is a person whose sensory perceptions are intertwined. What would usually stimulate one sense instead stimulates multiple. Imagine being able to see music, feel the sensation of a touch when you hear a specific note, or even taste words. Positioning tap dance as the inducer, or trigger experience, Synesthete will invite audiences into a world that is a blend of music, dance, motion, emotion, sensation, and perception. Chicago Tap Theatre's mission is to share the creativity, history, and joy of tap dance. If you would otherwise not be able to attend this show due to economic need, email jyonally@chicagotaptheatre.com to inquire about donated tickets. If you would like to donate to support this effort as well as CTT's mission, please do so here. VIP Tickets include early entrance 30 mins before showtime to view the dancers do a pre-show jam, one drink ticket, and front row seating. Premium Tickets include reserved seating in the first 3 rows. The Den Theatre is pleased to host Chicago Tap Theatre which is producing Synesthete, performing live shows June 8-11, 2023 at 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. Tickets are currently available at thedentheatre.com or by calling (773) 697-3830.
Witness the movement evolution as the inhabitants of our future learn how to…learn.
The ESO’s 77th anniversary season opens with two of the symphonic canon’s greatest works. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Symphony No. 41, the “Jupiter,” was his final symphony, and the pinnacle of his symphonic output. A synthesis between classical and baroque eras, it is considered one of the supreme achievements of the Viennese Classical Period. Johannes Brahms’s passionate Symphony No. 2 journeys from complete serenity and melancholy to culminate in triumphal joy. Program Musical Insights Free Pre-Concert Preview the Friday before this concert.
Celebrating one of the 20th century’s most influential artists, the Gerald Arpino Foundation presents the Arpino Chicago Centennial Celebration of legendary choreographer Gerald Arpino. These stunning dance performances feature ballet companies from across the country, including The Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, Ballet West, Oklahoma City Ballet, Eugene Ballet, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Gerald Arpino (1923–2008) was a visionary choreographer who, along with Robert Joffrey, created a ballet company and a body of work that has made a singular and enduring impact on American ballet. Throughout his 50-year career, Arpino created nearly 50 ballets for the Joffrey. From landmark works like Trinity and Round of Angels to Suite Saint-Saëns and Light Rain, Arpino was a masterful artist and entertainer whose work brought audiences to their feet time and again.
Witness the combustible fusion of jazz music and dance for one night only with Chicago’s rising star choreographer, Kia S. Smith, and saxophonist Isaiah Collier and the Chosen Few. Making an Auditorium Theatre debut, South Chicago Dance Theatre presents the World Premiere of Memoirs of Jazz In The Alley, in which Smith celebrates the legacy of her father, the renowned saxophonist Jimmy Ellis.
Join us for an evening of festive cheer and holiday spirit at the Chicago Sinfonietta's "Holidays of Light" concert, featuring guest conductor Chelsea Tipton. The concert will take place at the beautiful and historic Auditorium Theatre in downtown Chicago. The program will feature an exciting array of holiday music, ranging from classic Christmas favorites to traditional Jewish and Latin American tunes. The concert will begin with Robert Wendel's lively and enchanting "Christmas Ala Valse," followed by Irving Berlin's timeless "White Christmas." Next up is Alexander Glazunov's "Chopinanania Suite Op. 46," a delightful medley of Chopin's music that is sure to captivate audiences. Lukas Richman's "Hanukkah Festival Overture" will then take us on a joyful and celebratory journey through Jewish culture and tradition. The program also includes Duke Ellington's jazzy and playful "Nutcracker Suite," featuring three memorable movements from Tchaikovsky's beloved ballet. James Pierpont's classic "Jingle Bells Forever" will bring a smile to everyone's faces and keep toes tapping. After intermission, the Sinfonietta will perform a mix of traditional and contemporary holiday tunes, including Felix Bernard's "Winter Wonderland," Percy Grainger's "Irish Tune From County Derry," and Jerry Lovrien's "Minor Alterations." Victor A. Vanacore's arrangement of "Feliz Navidad" is sure to have the audience singing along. The concert will conclude with a series of lively and upbeat pieces, including Johann Strauss's "Champagne Polka," Eric Holcombe's "Fantasy on Auld Lang Syne," and Leroy Anderson's perennial favorite "Sleigh Ride." The audience will then join in for a heartwarming rendition of "Silent Night," sung unaccompanied and featuring one verse in Spanish, while luminarias light up the hall. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to celebrate the holiday season with the Chicago Sinfonietta and guest conductor Chelsea Tipton. Tickets are available now, so book your seats today and get ready for a magical evening of music and merriment! About Chelsea Tipton American conductor Chelsea Tipton II has won over audiences and critics with his vibrant musicality, versatility, accessibility, and commitment to art education. He served as Resident Conductor of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra for seven exceptionally successful seasons and was Associate Conductor of the Savannah Symphony Orchestra for four seasons. He is currently in his fourteenth season as Music Director of the Symphony of Southeast Texas and eighth season as Principal Pops Conductor with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra.
Join the Chicago Sinfonietta for an evening of musical exploration with DEPTH, featuring renowned guest conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto and a lineup of works that delve into the complexities of the human experience. Witness the artistry of Prieto in the vibrant and colorful Sinfonia India by Carlos Chavez, where indigenous Mexican folk melodies blend seamlessly with the Western classical tradition. Then, immerse yourself in the vibrant rhythms of Juan Pablo Contreras' Mariachitlán, which blends traditional Mexican music with modern orchestral sounds for a truly unique experience. Finally, the concert concludes with Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5, a powerful and deeply moving work that reflects the composer's struggle to create art under the oppressive Soviet regime. Throughout the concert, the Chicago Sinfonietta will explore the depths of the human experience through music, showcasing the power and beauty of artistic expression. This promises to be an evening of music that will touch your heart and leave you inspired. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the Chicago Sinfonietta and the guest conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto in this unforgettable performance.