Music Institute of Chicago

Mozart Piano Quintet and other works by Piazzolla, D'Rivera and Ewazen.

A highly innovative and original piano style and deep respect for the masters of jazz and classical music combine to make Marcus Roberts one of the most diverse and acclaimed artists in jazz.

Second Annual Brazilian Music Festival

Celebrating the music of Pixinguinha, Jobim, and Villa-Lobos. 

Special guest artist Dill Costa joins the exciting 10-member ensemble Orquestra de Samba to offer two electrifying sets - one classical and one popular. 

Other guests include Jim Setapen, Julia Miller, and Fiona Queen.

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear the 2010 Chicago Duo-Piano Festival Competition winners in concert. This free event will feature performances by the top prize-winners of two competition divisions, junior and young artist.

Winners of the 10th Murray Dranoff International Two Piano Competition and Grand Prize winners at the 15th Piano Competition “Rome 2004.”

One of the festival’s most popular events, our artist faculty performs a mixed program of piano duos by a variety of composers.

The Music Institute’s resident duo, Aebersold and Neiweem are the founders of the Chicago Duo Piano Festival.

Organist for Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, Dr. Ramirez presents music by Ives, Barber, Paine, Buck, and Parker.

Learn about the Chinese role in the building of the Transcontinental Railroad and how Eastern tradition influenced culture on the West Coast.

4pm » Interview/Discussion

Guest Speaker: David Haward Bain, award-winning author of "Empire Express" and "The Old Iron Road: An Epic of Rails, Roads, and the Urge to Go West"

5pm » Concert

19th century railroad songs from California

Chinese Opera (selections)

Jon Jang: Island Immigrant Suite No. 2

6:30pm » Film Screening*

"Transcontinental Railroad"

Part of the acclaimed American Experience series, this film documents a remarkable story of greed, innovation, and determination that reveals why the railroad was built and how it shaped the nation.

 

4pm » Interview/Discussion

Rick Kogan follows the trail of westward expansion with special guest speaker Michael P. Conzen, Professor of Geography at the University of Chicago and author of "The Making of the American Landscape" and "Mapping Manifest Destiny: Chicago and the American West." Discover the role maps played in imagining the West as a land of promise and how they drove a nation to expand across the continent to the Pacific Ocean.

5pm » Concert

Western Swing with special guest artists:
Howard Levy, harmonica
Don Stiernberg, mandolin
Andy Brown, guitar
Jim Cox, bass

Louis Moreau Gottschalk: "The Banjo"
Matthew Hagle, piano

Songs influenced by the West
Wendy Morgan, vocals
Dean Rolando, piano

Aaron Copland: "Appalachian Spring" for 13 instruments
James Setapen, conductor

6:30pm » Film Screening

"The West: Empire Upon the Trails"

Episode Two of director Stephen Ives' ambitious documentary chronicles the many migrations that forged America's manifest destiny in the expanding frontier.

 

Rick Kogan engages guest speaker John Low in a discussion about the cultural impact of this incredible journey. The event also features Native American Dance and Drumming, music by Glass and Farwell, and a special exhibit by Chicago Tribune photographer, Chris Walker.

4pm » Interview/Discussion

Guest Speaker: John Low
Visiting Assistant Professor of American Indian Studies,
University if Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

3-8pm » Special Exhibit

"On the Trail of Lewis and Clark"
Photographs by Chris Walker, Chicago Tribune

5pm » Concert

Native American Dance & Drumming
*Made possible by the American Indian Center of Chicago

Philip Glass: "Sacagawea" from Piano Concerto No. 2 "After Lewis and Clark" Meret Fon-Revutzy, Native American Flute
Fiona Queen, piano, James Setapen, conductor

Arthur Farwell: "Navajo War Dance No. 2 "
Kay Kim, piano

6:30pm » Special Film Screening*

"Summer Sun Winter Moon"

Shred the pages of textbook history! Follow composer Rob Kapilow and Blackfoot poet, Darrell Robes Kipp as they create a symphony exposing the reality of the American Indian perspective of Lewis and Clark's legendary "Corps of Discovery" mission.

Follow the film on Twitter and Facebook
*Made possible by Illume Productions

 

Dr. Derek Nickels, organist for the Church of the Holy Comforter in Kenilworth performs a program of English cathedral gems.

Hoskins, organist for St. Chrysostom’s Church, Chicago & Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, performs works by Saint-Saens, Wagner, and Mascagni.

Live from Nichols Concert Hall at the Music Institute of Chicago, WFMT’s Introductions program presents its first organ show featuring two talented young organists: Adam Gruber and MIC student, John Kearin.

This event is free and open to the public. No RSVP necessary. Please be seated by 10:45 am, latecomers will be seated during applause.

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The Chicago Duo Piano Festival welcomes an exciting young duo from the University of Chicago. Works by Mozart, Stravinsky, and William White.

Celebrate with a concert for EISMA (Evanston In School Music Association), featuring ragtime pianist, Reginald Robinson (2004 John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Fellowship ‘Genius Grant’ recipient) and the Music Institute of Chicago’s Ensemble-in-Residence, Orquestra de Samba. Evanston Escola de Samba (in collaboration with Youth Organizations Umbrella and Good News Partners of Chicago) will kick off the event with a workshop in Brazilian percussion and samba dance.