Juneteenth Events and Performances 2025

Juneteenth celebrations in Chicago this year include parades, historic walks, music concerts and more!

Giancarlo Guerrero’s Grant Park: A New Maestro Takes the Baton

“Now that I am artistic director, I get to find excuses to make music with these amazing colleagues. They inspire not only our orchestra, but our audiences.”

Chicago Summer Music Guide

Summertime is upon us! Make the most of Chicago’s most exciting season with this eclectic sampling of concerts, exhibitions, and events!

Four Generations Reflect History of Chickasaw, Choctaw People

“This whole piece is like a representation of the assimilation happening in the 19th century; there were lots of changes to music and traditions with removal, even within different tribes. Not everybody had the same experiences, nor were they able to retain the same traditions.”

Sounds Like Chicago

Sounds Classical’s Season 3 premiere features a playlist honoring our homebase: Chicago. Tune in for music inspired by the Windy City, including works by Shawn E. Okpebholo, Sofiane Pamart, Tomeka Reid, and more.

Playlist: Architecture & Music

Frank Lloyd Wright recognized the connection between music and architecture, going so far as to claim, “They are practically one.”

Ravinia ’25: Kanneh-Mason, Lang Lang, Erivo Feature

Guest artists making their festival debuts with the CSO will include pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii, musical theater royalty Sutton Foster, violinist Himari, and cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason.

Lyric 25-26: Medea, Salome, Frida, Smashing Pumpkins, and More

The company’s slate of presentations includes two world premieres, two Lyric premieres, and several new productions.

Semifinalists Named for Cedille’s Chicago-Focused Emerging Artist Competition

Open to early-career Chicago-based and Chicago-born classical musicians, the grand prize is a contract for a debut solo album worth almost $75k.

Chopin in the City Fest Celebrates Ninth Year

Classical and jazz interpretations, artmaking listening parties, and other innovative programming awaits.

How Chicago Became a Cultural Beacon of the Great Migration

“You could just take that first generation of migrants. You think about what came out of it musically. There is no genre that is untouched.”

Sounds like the Harlem Renaissance

Join the hosts of Sounds Classical as they take a dive into the breadth of art-making during the Harlem Renaissance and its impact on the classical world. Discover how Margaret Bonds brought her connections to Langston Hughes with her to Chicago and much more!

Black History Month 2025: Music and Performing Arts Events in the Chicago Area

Chicago hosts a vibrant and eclectic mix of concerts and performances to honor Black artistry. Check out these events to take part in the celebrations!

Celebrate the Year of the Snake with Chicago Lunar New Year Events

Celebrations abound in and around Chicago, with performances and festivities from Chinese, Mongolian, Indonesian, Thai, Korean, and Filipino traditions, to name a few.

Bach in the City: New Chicago Festival Debuts in March

The festival’s premiere concert will be held at Lincoln Park’s historic St. Vincent de Paul Church.

Grant Park Music Festival 2025 Season: Guerrero Era Begins

Marking the free classical music festival’s first season led by Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Giancarlo Guerrero.

Haymarket Opera Company Announces 2025 season

The 2025 season will run from March to October and feature an oratorio and three operas.

Sounds like the Harlem Renaissance

Join the hosts of Sounds Classical as they take a dive into the breadth of art-making during the Harlem Renaissance and its impact on the classical world. Discover how Margaret Bonds brought her connections to Langston Hughes with her to Chicago and much more!

Chicago Sinfonietta Names Viral Historian Shermann “Dilla” Thomas Artist-in-Residence

“Dilla” has made a name for himself with his engaging content about his hometown — exemplified by his unofficial motto: “everything dope about America comes from Chicago.”

President Biden Awards Chicago Arts, Journalism Champion Bruce Sagan the National Medal of the Arts

In his acceptance statement, Sagan reflected on the critical role of the arts “to the quality of life in our complex changing world,” as they serve to “both entertain us and educate us.”

Al Capone: Mob Boss and… Music Lover?

During his reign in Chicago, Al Capone, who you may not know loved opera, was one of the city’s biggest jazz impresarios.

Día de los Muertos Events 2024

2024 concerts, festivals, celebrations, workshops, and more to celebrate Día de los Muertos in Chicago.

Klaus Mäkelä: Wunderkind Conductor Career Timeline (so far)

Klaus Mäkelä, CSO music director designate, is just 28 and is one of the world’s most respected conductors. Here’s his career in a timeline.

Chicago International Film Fest: Music and Arts Screenings for 2024

Delve into the rich legacy of one of Chicago’s most important activist/journalists (through the work of one of its premier sculptors), witness the life of one of opera’s most beloved divas, and take part in a celebration of Black film composers!

Revolutions: The Rise and Fall (and Rise) of Classical Music LPs

“One of the things about classical music is that when you buy a used record — it’s often in really good shape,” says Rick Wojcik.

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