Nichols Concert Hall Ticketing Policy and Reservations
The Music Institute of Chicago is pleased to host five resident ensembles (Apollo's Fire, Chicago a capella, Civitas Ensemble, Rembrandt Chamber Musicians and worldclassmusic.live) to Nichols Concert Hall for the 2026-2027 season.
These partnerships includes a range of public performances showcasing the breadth and depth of great music-making in Chicago and beyond and compliments the Music Institute's "Nichols Concert Hall Presents" series as well a robust calendar of Music Institute of Chicago faculty and student performances and other special events. In addition, resident ensembles will expand enrichment opportunities available to Music Institute of Chicago students through master classes and other educational offerings.
How to request free tickets for Nichols Concert Hall Resident Ensemble performances
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Registered Music Institute of Chicago students may request
a complimentary ticket for themselves plus two guest.- If you have more than 1 student enrolled at MIC, you will need to make separate orders for each registered student.
- If you have more than 1 student enrolled at MIC, you will need to make separate orders for each registered student.
- If additional tickets are needed, they can be purchased separately.
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All seating is General Admission. Official tickets will be issued by the participating organization via EMAIL or held at the BOX OFFICE before the performance.
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Ticket registration opens three weeks prior to the scheduled event and closes 48 hours before the event.
Please Note:
Only register for an event if you are able to attend. Attendance will be checked after the event. Those with more than 2 missed performance reservations will be be unable to request free tickets to future events.
Schedule of ticketed Events
OCTOBER 2026
MIC Resident Ensemble: World Class Music Live presents:
Maryna Krut (bandura, Ukraine)
Saturday, October 31 at 7:30 PM
Maryna plays the bandura, a unique Ukrainian national plucked-string folk instrument that combines the acoustic principles of both the lute and the harp. Steeped in her country’s traditional music, Maryna now incorporates some non-traditional elements into her playing, using it both as a solo instrument and to accompany her powerful singing. The Russian invasion of Ukraine transformed Maryna from working as a performer, modernizing a beautiful tradition of music, to testifying to the world about the devastating war in her homeland.
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NOVEMBER 2026
MIC Resident Ensemble: Apollo's Fire presents:
ECHOES Across the Atlantic with Jeanine De Bique, soprano
Saturday, November 7 at 7:30 PM
Legendary Trinidadian soprano Jeanine De Bique has taken Europe by storm in recent years. In this stunning new program designed by Jeannette Sorrell, De Bique joins the Apollo's Fire orchestra to explore the historical connections between Europe and the Caribbean colonies in the 18th century. A suite from Handel’s masterful Agrippina (1709) leads to a dramatic recitation from a Caribbean funeral oration of the same year, lamenting the murder of an enslaved man by the plantation owner. Vivaldi’s thrilling orchestral depiction of madness, La Folia, leads to Rameau’s flirtatious aria, the “Air de la Folie” from Platée, in which madness is personified. This virtuoso music of Handel, Rameau and Vivaldi meets the soulful voices of Caribbean poets in this celebration of our shared humanity.
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MIC Resident Ensemble: Rembrandt Chamber Musicians presents:
Pallavi Mahidhara Plays Dohnányi
Sunday, November 8 at 3 PM
Join acclaimed pianist Pallavi Mahidhara for an evening of chamber music masterpieces spanning the Classical, Romantic, and early twentieth-century eras. Joining Mahidhara are violinists Michael Gurevich and John Macfarlane, violist Carol Cook, and cellist Calum Cook in a program that showcases the remarkable versatility and expressive power of the piano in collaboration with strings. The concert features Beethoven’s beloved “Gassenhauer” Trio, Frank Bridge’s richly expressive Phantasy for Piano Quartet, and Dohnányi’s Piano Quintet No. 1 in C minor. Together, these three works trace a compelling path through more than a century of chamber music, highlighting both intimate musical conversation and powerful ensemble brilliance.
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MIC Fall Festival
Sunday, November 15 at 1 PM
Join the Music Institute of Chicago for its annual all-school event showcasing students, faculty, and alumni. Performances highlight the breadth of our student body with music from our world-class faculty, youth and adult students, Suzuki groups, and MIC Academy orchestra. The concert concludes with a joyful community sing for all. In addition, MIC families and guests can enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities including photo both fun, sweet treats, and more!
The Maestro and the Monster:
Celebrating Akira Ifukube and his Godzilla Film Music
Saturday, November 21 at 3 PM
A concert celebrating Akira Ifukube and his Godzilla film music. Featuring world-renowned pianist Reiko Yamada; Patrick Godon, a frequent principal pianist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; and vocalist Meghan Guse.
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DECEMBER 2026
MIC Resident Ensemble: Civitas Ensemble presents: Winter Concert
Sunday, December 6 at 3:00 PM
Celebrate the wintry season with Civitas Ensemble (Yuan-Qing Yu - violin | Ken Olsen - cello | Winston Choi - piano), are joined by CSO Principal Trombone and composer Timothy Higgins. Music by Dario Castello, Diego Ortiz, and Timothy Higgins.
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Nichols Concert Hall presents: Tammy McCann: A Jazz Christmas
Saturday, December 12 at 7:30 PM
The Music Institute of Chicago welcomes back Artist in Residence and acclaimed jazz vocalist Tammy McCann for “Tammy McCann Jazz Christmas.” This spirited performance welcomes the holiday season, as McCann assembles an all-star ensemble to combine jazz and rhythm and blues for holiday favorites plus a few surprises. Among musicians joining McCann is jazz trumpeter Derrick Gardner, director of Jazz Studies at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music and son of famed jazz musician Burgess Gardner.
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MIC Resident Ensemble: Chicago a capella presents: Holidays a capella
Sunday, December 13 at 3:00 PM
Holiday traditions from around the world, sung here at home. We explore how centuries of music have expressed the wonder of the season, from ancient chants and Renaissance carols to contemporary works and cherished holiday classics. Rich with beauty, warmth, and timeless tradition, this treasured annual concert invites audiences to experience the holidays through music old and new.
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PAST EVENTS
OCTOBER 2026
Nichols Concert Hall presents: Matthew Hagle, From Page to Piano
Friday, October 9 at 7:30 PM
The interplay between music and literature has fascinated artists and audiences for centuries. In this program, pianist Dr. Matthew Hagle explores three masterpieces inspired by the written word: Brahms’ somber and introspective Four Ballades, Ravel’s evocative and virtuosic Gaspard de la nuit, and Schumann’s quintessentially Romantic Kreisleriana. Come and hear how these great composers transformed literary characters, images, and ideas into music of uncanny depth, drama, and beauty.
MIC Resident Ensemble: Civitas Ensemble
Sunday, October 18 at 3:00 PM
Civitas Ensemble celebrates a new season with lively piano trios. Violinist Yuan-Qing Yu, cellist Kenneth Olsen, and pianist Winston Choi present music by Leonard Bernstein, Paul Schoenfield, and Franz Schubert.
Special Event: Lyric Opera of Chicago: "Earth to Kenzie"
Saturday, October 24 at 3:00 PM
This fall, Lyric Opera of Chicago's 2026, Opera in the Neighborhoods education program presents: "Earth to Kenzie," an opera created especial for kids (ideal for grades 3-6). You’ll meet Kenzie, a fifth grader with homework, asthma, and a big imagination. When she and her mother have to move into a family shelter, Kenzie finds refuge in the world of video games alongside her avatar, Edwin, in her quest for confidence — and a way home.
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MIC Resident Ensemble: Chicago a capella presents: Northern Lights
Sunday, October 25 at 3:00 PM
Program and Music Direction by John William Trotter
Through music from Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark, we bring the beauty, mystery, and wonder of the far north to life. Filled with luminous harmonies, breathtaking landscapes, and timeless stories, Northern Lights invites you to experience a world shaped by nature, folklore, and light.