Make your year-end gift today!

As 2020 draws to a close, we prepare to celebrate and honor 90 years of innovation, access, and excellence in music.

Thank you for being part of our incredible community. Despite the difficulties of this unprecedented year, we have stayed connected through music and achieved so much together!

It's not too late to make a year-end gift.  Please support MIC today >>

COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL
In March, MIC quickly pivoted to offer online instruction to its 1,650 member student body.

Faculty and campus directors moved the regular schedule of live spring and summer recitals to Zoom. Musicians of all ages and from every MIC campus participated in more than 40 performances during this time, reaching family and friends around the country and the world—from Mexico to India, Somalia to Japan.

Demonstrating our students’ commitment to advancing their musical studies and the broader access online lessons provide, summer session and workshop enrollments went up by 30% and drew students from 13 states, Canada, and Colombia.

MUSIC AS SERVICE AND ARTSLINK
As the COVID-19 crisis unfolded, we expanded Music as Service to share music with members of the community who might not otherwise have access. Our new Musical Pen Pals program matched  Community Music School and Academy students with older adults experiencing isolation for virtual visits and performances designed to bring comfort and connection through music and conversation.

ArtsLink continued to provide arts integration residencies virtually to Peirce Elementary in Edgewater and LEARN Excel, a charter school in East Garfield Park. In addition, Third Coast Suzuki Strings offered intensive violin and viola education to students from Chicago communities who often encounter barriers to arts participation.

ACADEMY
The 2020 Academy class included 25 fellows and seven seniors, all of whom are continuing their music studies at some of the best universities and conservatories across the nation.

Undaunted by the pandemic, our Academy musicians continued to compete virtually and took home top prizes at major competitions, including the silver medal at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and first prize at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition.


NICHOLS CONCERT HALL
Before our season was unexpectedly cut short, a number of great performances took place at Nichols Concert Hall, including CSO concertmaster Robert Chen with MIC faculty Matthew Hagle, the annual “Duke It Out” Nutcracker, a special George Crumb Festival, and a Valentine’s Day concert featuring MIC faculty.

This summer brought the launch of Indoor Voices, a new free series of virtual house calls featuring musicians and special guests who have previously performed at Nichols Concert Hall or helped to shape its legacy in some way.


THERE IS STILL TIME TO MAKE AN IMPACT AT MIC!
Your gift of any size makes a difference and ensures that the Music Institute can continue to provide unparalleled teaching, exceptional performances, and important service initiatives that educate, inspire, and help build strong, healthy communities.


Charitable Giving and the CARES Act
Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, enacted by Congress on March 27, 2020, individuals making charitable gifts may receive increased tax incentives this year, including a deduction on cash contributions to qualified nonprofits of up to $300. Learn more HERE.