Program areas at Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Concerts - During the 2021/22 Season, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra presented 38 weeks of concerts. Zell Music Director Riccardo Muti reunited with the Orchestra in September 2021 and conducted 13 programs at Symphony Center throughout the season, as well as free community concerts at Apostolic Church of God, Morton East High School and Millennium Park. The CSO gave the world premieres of works by Missy Mazzoli, Jessie Montgomery, Magnus Lindberg and Gabriela Lena Frank. Other highlights included the CSO's first performances of Symphony No. 3 by 20th-century African American composer Florence Price and Symphony No. 11 by contemporary American composer Philip Glass. The Chicago Symphony Chorus joined the Orchestra for performances of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera and more.
Civic Orchestra of Chicago - The Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the CSO's prestigious training program for young professional musicians, presented seven full-orchestra concerts, including two at community venues. Led by Principal Conductor Ken-David Masur and guest conductors, Civic programs featured established masterpieces alongside works from historically marginalized voices. During the annual Bach Marathon, ensembles of Civic musicians performed Bach's Brandenburg Concertos at elementary schools and retirement communities throughout Chicago, with a finale concert at Fourth Presbyterian Church. In addition to their regular activities with the Civic Orchestra, 13 Civic Fellows participated in educational workshops, partnerships with Chicago Public Schools, songwriting sessions and independent projects.
Symphony Center Presents - The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association offers concerts by acclaimed guest artists in the fields of jazz, classical, world and folk music as part of the Symphony Center Presents series. Twenty-eight concerts were presented during the 2021/22 Season and featured established artistic leaders and rising stars. Highlights included pianists Daniil Trifonov, Yuja Wang and Evgeny Kissin; a chamber music trio featuring pianist Emanuel Ax, violinist Leonidas Kavakos and cellist Yo-Yo Ma; the Latin Grammy-winning Quinteto Astor Piazzolla; the celebrated men's chorus Chanticleer; and jazz artists including Herbie Hancock, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater with pianist Bill Charlap, and Cecile McLorin Salvant.
Retail Sales - Music-related merchandise is available for purchase at The Symphony Store and online.
Media and Royalty - Radio Broadcast series, in-house recording label, audio recordings in compact disc and digital download formats.
Rentals and Commissions - Hall Rentals - Performance space provided to Chicagoland arts organizations.
Rentals and Commissions - Parking Lot provided for audiences' convenience to attend concerts.
Rentals and Commissions - A dining club and concessions are provided for audiences attending concerts and catering is provided for certain internal events.
Education Concerts and Activities - Across Chicago and around the world, the Negaunee Music Institute connects people to the extraordinary resources of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In the 2021/22 Season, the NMI welcomed families and school groups back to live concerts as part of the CSO for Kids series. Training programs and performance opportunities for young musicians included the Crain-Maling Foundation CSO Young Artists Competition, Chicago Youth in Music Festival, Percussion Scholarship Program and partnerships with local schools and the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative. The NMI continued to co-present Notes for Peace, a songwriting project that empowers parents who have lost children to gun violence to create original songs of tribute.
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