At the Music Institute of Chicago (MIC) we believe that music is not only an essential part of a quality education, but also a powerful contributor to quality of life. This philosophy, first articulated in 1931 with the founding of the organization, is continually demonstrated by the quality of our students as performers, listeners and lifelong learners.
While some Music Institute of Chicago students continue at top conservatories and schools of music, others go on to careers in other disciplines with music still playing a role in their lives. “The Music Institute exists to lead everyone in our community toward a lifelong engagement with music,” says President and CEO Mark George. “Whether students become enthusiastic amateurs, or accomplished professionals, the skills they acquire foster confidence, concentration and creativity that last a lifetime.”
This spring, the Music Institute of Chicago offers a community service project of unprecedented scope: 100 Concerts in 16 Days! This project takes place across the Chicago metro area at libraries, senior centers, community centers, and countless other gathering places and performance venues beginning April 17 and running through May 3, 2015.
The Festival will showcase some of the more than 1,600 MIC students who come from 86 communities in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs to study. All MIC festival participants will be volunteering their time. Rani Mehta, an MIC oboe student participating in the festival, says, “Music has empowered me with confidence to express myself. The patience, perseverance, concentration, and creativity that music continues to teach me are invaluable skills that you can’t develop anywhere else.”
Mark George continues, “To truly fulfill our vision, we must share what we do with our neighbors, especially those who normally do not have access to live music. We consider this Festival a true community service, a way of giving back to our communities by sharing our students’ talents and spreading the joy music so often brings. We also want to remind people that the Music Institute is an important resource for Chicagoland families, engaging thousands of students of all ages and levels of experience in music-making, as well as presenting music concerts and cultural events to nearly 15,000 audience members each year.”
Here are a few festival highlights. For a complete list of concerts, click here.
Academy Chamber Music at Ravinia
Saturday, April 18 at 7 p.m.
Featuring award-winning Academy trios and quartets
Bennett Gordon Hall at Ravinia Festival
201 St. John St., Highland Park
Free and open to the public
Cavani Quartet
Sunday, April 19 at 3 p.m.
“Warmly lyrical…a monolithic performance.” —New York Times
Nichols Concert Hall
1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston
Tickets: $30 adults | $20 Seniors | $10 Students
The Chicago Temple
Sunday, April 19 at 5 p.m.
Piano students of Louise Chan and Christina Tio
77 W. Washington St., Chicago
Free and open to the public
North Shore Hospital Skokie Lobby
Monday, April 20 at noon
Recorder selections
9600 Gross Point Road, Skokie
Horowitz Piano Tour
Wednesday, April 22 at 7 p.m.
Featuring MIC piano faculty recreating Horowitz’s legendary 1986 Moscow concert
Nichols Concert Hall
1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston
Free and open to the public
Rotary Club of Evanston
Thursday, April 23 at 12:30 p.m.
Julian Rhee, violin
1560 Sherman Ave., Evanston
Free and open to the public
RSVP to: larsonpw@gmail.com or 847-475-1283
Piano Forte
Thursday, April 23 at 7 p.m.
Featuring solo and duo piano and piano trio music
1335 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago
Free and open to the public
Presbyterian Homes Caldwell Assembly Hall
Thursday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Ravinia
April 25 at 11:30 a.m.
200 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park
McGaw YMCA–Healthy Kids Day 2015
Saturday, April 25 at noon
Sarah Montzka viola ensemble
1000 Grove St., Evanston
Free and open to the public
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
April 25
345 E. Superior St., Chicago
North Shore Senior Lifestyle Community
April 26
1000 Sunset Ridge Road, Northbrook
Vi at the Glen Retirement Community
April 26
2500 Indigo Lane, Glenview
North Shore Hospital Evanston Lobby
April 27 at 5 p.m.
2650 Ridge Ave., Evanston
Kohl Children’s Museum
Tuesday, April 28 at 4 p.m.
Youth music performances and instrument petting zoo
2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview
Free with museum admission: $11 Adults/Kids | $10 Seniors
Sedgebrook Retirement Community
April 28
800 Audubon Way, Lincolnshire
Covenant Home
April 29
2720 W. Foster Ave., Chicago
Writers Theater in Glencoe (Ticketed Event)
April 29 at 7:30 p.m.
664 Vernon Ave., Glencoe
Family Life Center at Lurie Children’s Hospital
April 30
225 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago
Sky Garden at Lurie Children’s Hospital
April 30
225 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago
Presbyterian Homes Caldwell Assembly Hall
April 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Crystal Ballroom and Lounge
Friday, May 1 at 10:30 a.m.
New Horizons Band and Community Symphony
529 Davis St., Evanston
Free and open to the public
Bethany Retirement Home
May 1
4950 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago
Presbyterian Homes Elliott Chapel
May 2 at 3 p.m.
Lake Forest Place Retirement Community
May 3
1100 Pembridge Drive, Lake Forest
Take a photo at any concert, upload it to Facebook and tag Make It Better so we can share it in our MIC Community Music Festival photo album!
