Music Institute announces 2024-25 Nichols Concert Hall shows

The Music Institute of Chicago announced concerts taking place during the 2024–25 season at its historic Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue in downtown Evanston, including classical music programs and family-friendly events. New this season, the Music Institute also welcomes five Resident Ensembles at Nichols Concert Hall.
 
“Nichols Concert Hall is a great resource to Evanston and the greater Chicago area,” said Nichols Concert Hall Director of Operations Kevin Harrison. “This season, we are excited to celebrate a vibrant musical community that includes our award-winning faculty, the next generation of great classical talent in our students, the Music Institute Chorale, family programming and five Resident Ensembles that showcase the breadth and depth of great music-making in Chicago.”
 
The Resident Ensembles this season are Apollo’s Fire, Chicago a cappella, Civitas Ensemble, The Orion Ensemble and Rembrandt Chamber Musicians. These groups have performances at Nichols Concert Hall throughout the 2024–25 season.

Fall Fundraiser: supporting scholarships and financial aid
Sunday, November 3, at 3 p.m.
The Music Institute of Chicago presents a joyful afternoon of performances by faculty and students, culminating in a community sing. The program features performances by members of the Music Institute’s world-class faculty, as well as selected students and ensembles from its Community Music School and Academy for gifted pre-college musicians. A photo booth, meet and greet and sweet treats for every guest follow the performance in the lobby. This event is free, though donations are encouraged.

Matthew Hagle: Phantoms of Countless Lost 
Saturday, November 9, at 7:30 p.m.
Pianist Matthew Hagle explores how great composers have used the piano to explore human responses to the experience of war through a wide range of styles and responses, including Beethoven, Liszt, Ravel and Prokofiev, and a variety of genres, ranging from the expressive and personal to the monumental and heroic. The event is $30 for general admission.

Duke It Out! Nutcracker
Saturday, December 14, at 11 a.m.
The Music Institute’s Ensemble in Residence Quintet Attacca and members of Braeburn Brass team up with Dance Chicago in a family-friendly, one-hour version of The Nutcracker that alternates between Tchaikovsky’s original score and the jazz version by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. The event is $20 for general admission.

Music Institute alumni Hannah White and Joshua White performing at the Music Institute’s 2024 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Concert. Credit: Mike Grittani

22nd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration Concert
Sunday, January 19, at 3 p.m. 
This annual tribute to a great American leader features performances by Music Institute students and community partners. This event is free.

Music Institute of Chicago Academy
Founded in 2006, the Music Institute of Chicago Academy is a nationally recognized training center for advanced, pre-college pianists and string players. The Academy provides a comprehensive musical education for students who aspire to be professional musicians. With the ultimate goal of creating musicians for the 21st century, the Academy provides gifted young musicians with the tools, knowledge and inspiration to be leaders in classical music performance and education. The Academy performs five free concerts at Nichols Concert Hall this season.

Music Institute of Chicago Academy with Director James Setapen (C). Credit: Mike Grittani

Academy Orchestra Concerts will take place at 7:30 p.m. on November 16, March 15 and May 17. Academy Chamber Music Concerts will occur at 7:30 p.m. on December 7 and May 3. These events are free.

Music Institute of Chicago Chorale
Under the leadership of Conductor Daniel Wallenberg, the Music Institute of Chicago Chorale is a community chorus that provides an opportunity for adult singers with prior experience to study and perform the best in sacred and secular choral music. Since it began in 1987, the Chorale has one continuing goal: to perform the finest choral music with the highest of standards in a community setting. The Chorale performs its four-concert season of free concerts at Nichols Concert Hall.

Music Institute of Chicago Chorale. Credit: Mike Grittani

Clap Your Hands
Sunday, November 24, at 3 p.m.
This concert for choir and brass includes Daniel Pinkham’s Christmas Cantata. This event is free.

Gather Ye Round
Sunday, February 9, at 3 p.m.
The Chorale joins forces with multiple choirs and instrumental ensembles for an all-Music Institute celebration. This event is free.

I Will Give My Love an Apple
Sunday, March 16, at 7:30 p.m.
The Chorale celebrates folk songs from around the world. This event is free.

Fauré’s Requiem and More
Sunday, June 1, at 3 p.m.
The Chorale performs Fauré’s Requiem and Rheinberger’s Mass in F minor featuring Brian Schoettler, organist of the First United Methodist Church in Evanston and Music Institute faculty. This event is free.

All programming is subject to change. For more information, visit the Nichols Concert Hall website.

Related Stories

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}