Schedule of ticketed Events

October 2025

Apollo's Fire presents: Purcell's Dido & Aeneas
Saturday, October 4 at 7:30 PM
Dido and Aeneas, the ancient Roman myth of love and betrayal, was recounted 2000 years ago in Virgil’s Aeneid – and still resonates today. The Trojan hero Aeneas lands on the shores of Carthage, where the beautiful and proud Queen Dido reigns. Just after winning her love, Aeneas suddenly departs – summoned by the gods. Was it destiny or betrayal? No composer has evoked this question with more poignancy than Henry Purcell, whose renowned 17th-century opera Dido & Aeneas is a gem of the baroque repertoire. The program includes sparkling instrumental dances from Purcell’s King Arthur and The Fairy-Queen.

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Rembrandt Chamber Musicians present: Beethoven Septet
Sunday, October 5 at 7:00 PM
Rembrandt Chamber Musicians present an evening of vivid storytelling and classical charm. The program features Beethoven’s Septet in E-flat major, Op. 20, Strauss’s playful Till Eulenspiegel Einmal Anders!, and Mozart’s Clarinet Quartet in B-flat Major. From elegance to mischief to romantic drama, this concert promises a rich and engaging musical journey.

Featuring: John Macfarlane, violin; Carol Cook, viola; Austin Fisher, cello; Alex Horton, double bass; Heesoo Kim, clarinet; William Buchman, bassoon; Fritz Foss, horn
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worldclassmusic.live presents: Damir Imamovic Trio (Bosnia)
Saturday, October 11 at 8:00 PM
Sunday, October 12 at 6:00 PM
Born to a family of bards in Sarajevo, Damir's immersion in the world of Balkan music was, perhaps, inevitable given that his grandfather Zaim was one of the most renowned folk and sevdalinka musicians of mid-20th century Yugoslavia. Sevdah is a richly evocative Bosnian word, meaning pining or a longing (for a loved one, a place, a time) that is both joyous and painful, being the main theme of sevdalinka lyrics - comparable to Portuguese fado, Greek rembetika or French chanson in its dramatic narratives. Damir has dedicated his career to performing the music of his homeland and sharing its rich, enchanting melodies and stories with audiences worldwide and educating listeners on its vibrant history.

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NOVEMBER 2025

Fall Fundraiser Concert
Sunday, November 2 at 3:00 PM
Don't miss a special afternoon including performances by MIC faculty, current students, and alumni, culminating with a community sing. Plus, enjoy conversation, sweet treats, family-friendly festivities and more - all in support of scholarship and financial aid at the Music Institute of Chicago.

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Orion Ensemble with special guests: Stephen Boe, viola and Mathias Tacke, violin
Sunday, November 2 at 7:30 PM
The Orion Ensemble continues its chamber music series with a program featuring works by Joseph Haydn, Phillip Glass, and Arthur Bliss.

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worldclassmusic.live presents: Lily Henley
Thursday, November 6 at 8:00 PM
When singer, fiddler, and songwriter Lily Henley set out to make an album of Sephardic Jewish ballads set to new melodies, she was looking for her own way to interpret a critically endangered tradition. On Oras Dezaoradas, Henley highlights the Ladino language, a threatened tongue that fuses old Spanish with Hebrew, Arabic, and Turkish elements that is spoken by less than 100,000 people in the world today. Known for her expressive songwriting, gifted fiddling, and bell-like vocals, Henley brings new life to these songs and the independent female characters in them—drawing from a well so deep that disparate listeners all feel a connection to their own heritage.

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Nichols Concert Hall presents:  Matthew Hagle, piano
Saturday, November 8 at 7:30 PM
Jesters and Gargoyles: Humor, Imagination, and Virtuosity in the Piano Repertoire
What happens when a great composer’s imagination takes a strange turn? Each of the works on this program has a streak of humor, oddity, or capriciousness in its makeup, turning the structure and discipline of traditional classical forms and styles on its head. The wily and surprising humor of Beethoven’s Sonata No. 16 in G Major leads to a more chaotic picture in Bartok’s Suite Op. 14 and Alkan’s Le Festin d’Esope, finishing with Chopin’s intense and exciting Scherzi. 

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DECEMBER 2005

worldclassmusic.live and The Freight present: The Arab Blues
Wednesday, December 3 at 8:00 PM
The Arab Blues traces an innovative and ecstatic trajectory between the call of tradition and the response of the diaspora. The basis of their art is the Turath, the canon of classical Middle Eastern compositions and improvisational techniques! Rami Gabriel plays guitar, oud and buzuq, while Karim Nagi plays riqq and tublah, at least. The Arab Blues is an original expression of immigrant artistry with passionate musicality and a revolutionary attitude.

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Civitas Ensemble presents: Woodwinds in Winter
Friday, December 5, 2025 at 7:30 PM

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Nichols Concert Hall presents: Duke It Out! Nutcracker
Saturday, December 6 at 10:00 AM & 1:00 PM
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.
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Chicago a capella presents: Holidays a capella
Saturday, December 13 at 7:30 PM
Warm up your holidays with songs that glow with the comfort of hearth and home. Enjoy a signature mix of cherished classics and rare discoveries—from frosty favorites to festive music from sunnier corners of the world.
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PAST PERFORMANCES...

September 2025

worldclassmusic.live presents: Goran Ivanovic, guitar (Croatia)
Wednesday, September 24 at 8:00 PM
Goran Ivanovic, Croatia's guitar master makes his first solo Chicagoland shows in 5 years! Goran Ivanovic is a genre-defying artist whose original compositions draw from a rich tapestry of influences — classical, Balkan, cinematic soundtracks and contemporary harmonic language. His music is rooted in the acoustic tradition, yet constantly evolving, blending intricate fingerstyle technique with deeply emotional storytelling.

Chicago a capella presents: ¡Cantaré!
Sunday, September 28 at 3:00 PM
Hear dynamic new works by Mexican composers—commissioned through Chicago a capella's ¡Cantaré! program and brought to life by their ensemble of ten singers. Pack your (musical) bags and head to Mexico to enjoy songs showcasing the vibrant voices of this beautiful country. 

Orion Ensemble with special guest: Stephen Boe, viola
Sunday, September 28 at 7:30 PM
The Orion Ensemble opens its 33rd season with a concert of fantastic chamber music joined by guest violist Stephen Boe. Featuring works by: Mozart, Huydts, and Brahms.