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NICHOLS CONCERT HALL 2024-2025
The Music Institute of Chicago is grateful to all its funders and partners, whose generous support helps us to educate, entertain, and inspire through live music performed by both new emerging artists and the most established artists of our time.
The Music Institute of Chicago is grateful for the support of these annual institutional supporters: Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Edwardson Family Foundation, John and Pauline Fife, John R. Halligan Charitable Fund, Horejsi Charitable Foundation, ITW, The Julian Family Foundation, The Kiphart Family Foundation, William Harris Lee & Co., The Negaunee Foundation, Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Family Foundation, Northern Trust, Sargent Family Foundation, Shure, The Wallace Foundation, and the Farny R. Wurlitzer Fund from the DeKalb County Community Foundation.
The Music Institute also acknowledges the generous support of Cook County Arts; the Evanston Arts Council, a city agency supported by the City of Evanston; the Highland Park Community Foundation; the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
This program is partially funded by the Illinois Arts Council Agency.
Sponsorship opportunities range from concerts and performances, to the annual Gala, special capital projects, and community engagement initiatives. For more information contact: Jennifer Bienemann, Vice President and Chief Development Officer at jbienemann@musicinst.org.
WELCOME
Dear friends,
Welcome to the Music Institute of Chicago (MIC) and the 22nd annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Concert, this year co-sponsored by Evanston Interfaith Clergy and Leaders. It is a great pleasure to collaborate with this group, so full of knowledge, wisdom, and creativity. I am especially grateful for the leadership of Rev. Eileen Wiviott and Rev. Dr. Michael Nabors. I am also honored that the NAACP is a part of this program.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. remarked that, “people fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.” Nichols Concert Hall offers us a beautiful and welcoming space in which we can come together to learn, share, and celebrate with one another.
Every day, dedicated teachers and organizations do what I call “The Work” — the work of bringing people together and doing everything they can to ensure that music and music education are widely accessible to young musicians and composers, especially those whose voices are struggling to be heard. I am proud to have as colleagues, the leaders of Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative, Dance Center Evanston, Evanston Arts Center, Hearing in Color, Ravinia’s Reach Teach Play Program, who together with the Music Institute of Chicago are sharing the talent of their brilliant young artists.
Music and the arts are of vital importance in keeping us connected to one another as well as expanding our understanding of the world around us. Everyone is invited and welcome to be a part of the MIC Community, whose mission is to lead people toward a lifelong engagement with music. Think of Nichols Concert Hall and MIC as community resources, not just today, but always. I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you.
But for now, let us come together, reflect, and celebrate the achievements and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. Thank you for joining us!
President and CEO
Music Institute of Chicago
D r. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Community Celebration Concert
PROGRAM
WELCOME
Mark George, Music Institute of Chicago President and CEO
PURPOSE STATEMENT
INVOCATION
Rev. Eileen Wiviott, Unitarian Church of Evanston
“Lift Every Voice and Sing” Music by John Rosamond Johnson (1873-1954) Words by James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938)
Kiel C. William, tenor
Lift every voice and sing, ‘Til earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty; Let our rejoicing rise High as the list’ning skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on ‘til victory is won.
HEARING IN COLOR
Of Snow and Sun (World Premiere) Nyandeng Juag (b.2001)
Music Institute of Chicago Faculty and Friends
Sang Mee Lee, violin • Sarah Plum, violin
Claudia Lasareff-Mironoff, viola • Paula Kosower, cello
READINGS ON PEACE AND UNITY BY DR. KING
Rev. Michael Kirby, Northminster Presbyterian
Rabbi Rachel Weiss, Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation
Rev. Kat Banakis, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
DANCE CENTER EVANSTON
We Shall Be Known Choreography by Julie Cartier Music by MaMuse
Joey Castillo, Kaleigh Dent, Chaniece Holmes, Olivia Lemmenes, Anaya Shea, Hanley Simpson
READINGS BY REV. DR. KING
Rev. Erik Christensen, Trinity Lutheran Church
S.S. Shiva Singh Khalsa, Minister of Sikh Dharma International
Rev. Luke Harris-Ferree, Grace Lutheran Church
RAVINIA’S REACH TEACH PLAY
“The Ragtime Robin” George Hamilton Green (1893-1970)
Adrian Rodriguez, marimba
CHICAGO MUSICAL PATHWAYS INITIATIVE
Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K. 622 W. A. Mozart (1756-1791) I. Allegro
Sarah Morris, clarinet and Louise Chan, piano
FEATURED REMARKS
Rev. Dr. Michael Nabors, Second Baptist Church
MUSIC INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
CHICAGO MUSICAL PATHWAYS INITIATIVE
Rhapsody No. 1 for Solo Violin
David Roche, violin
Jessie Montgomery (b. 1981)
NAACP OFFICER INSTALLATION
BENEDICTION
Rev. Jason Coulter, First Congregational Church of Evanston, UCC
“Lift Every Voice and Sing” (reprise)
Please join us for a special art exhibition in the Nichols Concert Hall lobby pres ented by the Evanston Arts Center and curated by Fran Joy.
KIEL C. WILLIAMS
Chicago native, Kiel C. Williams is recognized for his rich tenor voice and extensive vocal range. He began singing at age 12 in the church and sang there as well as at family gatherings, in the school choir room, and informally anywhere else. After enlisting in the United States Army, he received recognition of his vocal talent and became a member of a show band called Ellusion while stationed in Germany.
In 1992, Williams’ singing experiences expanded after joining the Apostolic Church of God where he plays an integral part of the music ministry and serves as the Logistics Coordinator for the music department. He is also the Assistant Moderator of the Brotherhood Chorale and longtime member of the Sanctuary Choir and Sunday Morning Praise Team. He has been a featured soloist in major church concert services with Smokey Norful, Marvin Sapp, Larnelle Harris, Take 6, Gladys Knight, Fred Hammond, Tye Tribett, Dwayne Lee, and Elizabeth Norman-Sojourner.
In 2009, he performed the role of Porgy in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess at the Fleetwood Jordain Theatre. Other performances include a tribute to Sarah Vaughn at Chicago’s Jazz Showcase and with the South Shore Opera Company and renowned violinist, Rachel Barton-Pine.
In addition to singing, Williams is also a songwriter and has written several compositions for the Apostolic Church of God Sanctuary Choir including” Rise Again,” “He Holds the Wind” and “Darkest Night.”
HEARING IN COLOR
Hearing in Color is a Chicago-based organization dedicated to sharing music, stories, and composers that have been historically excluded from musical spaces, with its community. Their productions underscore the work of artists who are overlooked in mediums where White-centered experiences are the default. Hearing in Color believes in the power of music to build community, to bring comfort, to embolden, and to inspire in the face of subjugation and oppression and believes that gatekeeping has appropriated perspectives and stories of specific lived experiences. By sharing space with those most deeply affected, we are able to present stories grounded in truth.
Hearing in Color and La Caccina are proud to partner on the Hearing in Color Young Composer Residency, an immersive residency focused on engaging emerging composers of various backgrounds to write choral music for advanced treble voices. Composers will work closely throughout the season with the artists of La Caccina and Hearing in Color to compose an original piece of music. The residency will include extensive mentoring from both Hearing in Color and La Caccina artists, workshops of the piece with La Caccina, and both written and video interviews to help promote the composer and their work. For more information visit: hearingincolor.org
NYANDENG JUAG
Nyandeng Juag is a Chicago-based singer-composer. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Kenyon College in 2022. While at Kenyon, she studied voice with Rebecca Keck, conducting with Benjamin Locke, and composition with Ross Feller. In the summer of 2020, Nyandeng was the Administrative & Sound Design intern at New Perspectives Theatre Company (New York City), and premiered her piece “Vibrates with Memory” at the Virtual Women’s Work Short Play Festival.
She was named the 2023-24 Hearing in Color Young Composer-in-Residence.
Through this immersive residency, her first commission “Stranger” was premiered by La Caccina in November, 2023 in Chicago, and her second commission “The Black Finger” was premiered at the Music Institute of Chicago in 2024. Also in 2024, she was commissioned to set the poem “benediction” by Christina Ramirez for Fourth Coast Ensemble’s Shores of Song Festival in Chicago. She is currently working on an art song, commissioned by Grammy-nominated soprano Laura Strickling, for The 40@40 Project.
MUSIC INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
The Music Institute of Chicago (MIC) leads people toward a lifelong engagement with music through unparalleled teaching, exceptional performances, and valuable service initiatives that educate, inspire, and build strong, healthy communities. Since its founding in 1931, the Music Institute’s commitment to innovation, access, and excellence has served as an important community resource and helps to ensure music is available to everyone. Each year, MIC provides personalized music instruction to more than 1,500 students, regardless of age, level of
experience, or financial means, across eight Community Music School locations in Chicago, Downers Grove, Evanston, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Wheaton, and Winnetka, as well as online. In addition, MIC brings music education, arts curriculum integration, professional development, and music performance and engagement opportunities to thousands in the Chicago area; offers scholarship opportunities to students in its Community Music School and Academy, and welcomes more than 15,000 visitors annually for performances, and special events at Nichols Concert Hall. For more information visit: musicinst.org
SANG MEE LEE
Sang Mee Lee, is an alumna of the Music Institute of Chicago where she studied with Roland and Almita Vamos. She went on to earn her Bachelor and Master’s degrees in violin performance from the Julliard School and has been recognized for her solo performances in the United States, Europe, and the Far East. Her many awards include First Prize of the Tibor Varga International Violin Competition, Leopold Mozart International Violin Competition, Irving M. Klein International String Auditions, and the Stulberg International Strings Competition, among others. A faculty member at the Music Institute since 2000, she currently serves as the String Department Chair at MIC.
SARAH PLUM
Praised as “both an intrepid new music champion and a violin virtuoso” (textura), Sarah Plum has had a prolific career advocating for new music, commissioning composers, and bringing contemporary music to a wider audience.
Plum earned a DMA at SUNY Stony Brook, after graduate and undergraduate studies at Juilliard. Her gold medal at the International Stulberg Competition in 1983 launched her performance career. As a soloist, Plum’s “consistently stunning” playing (Third Coast Digest) has been featured at festivals and venues worldwide, including the Ankunft:Neue Musik Festival at the Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Quiet Cue Intermedia in Berlin, Center for New Music San Francisco, Spectrum NYC, Unruly Music at the Marcus Center (Milwaukee), Stanford University’s Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics, as well as at residencies across the United States and as featured guest soloist at conferences including Third Practice, SEAMUS, ICMC and more.
Recent concerts include a concerto premiere with the Chicago Composers Orchestra of a piece written for her by Japanese composer Mari Takano, a duo program at the Thirsty Ears Festival Chicago, solo performances at the University of Iowa, Oakland University, and on Constellation’s “Frequency Series” in Chicago as wee as chamber music performances with the Fulcrum Point Ensemble, Zodiac Festival Ensemble in France, and University of Oklahoma String Academy.
Personal Noise, Plum’s recent release of new music for violin and electronics, has been lauded as “beguilingly imaginative with an engagingly adventurous sensibility” (Gramophone).
Plum has served on the Music Institute of Chicago and MIC Academy faculty since 2018. In addition, she teaches at Michigan State University’s College of Music Chamber Music Program.
CLAUDIA LASAREFF-MIRONOFF
Violist Claudia Lasareff-Mironoff graduated from the University of Denver with a Bachelor of Music degree and earned a Master of Music and a Certificate in Performance from Northwestern University. She has performed chamber music with members of the Chicago Symphony and the Lyric Opera, as well as Roger Chase, Mathias Tacke, Ilya Kaler, and many others. She has performed served as the principal violist of the Cape Town Symphony in South Africa, the Colorado Music Festival, Chicago Opera Theater, Fulcrum Point New Music Project, the English National Ballet in Chicago, the American Ballet Theater in Chicago, the Chicago Philharmonic and the Joffrey Ballet. She is a member of the Peninsula Music Festival in Door County, WI.
As a champion of new music, she has premiered and performed works by many composers. Her discography includes chamber works recorded for Albany Records, Innova Recordings, Parma and the KAIROS Label. She has performed on the Dame Myra Hess Series, with the Chicago Symphony’s Music Now, Milwaukee’s Present Music and Chamber Music Milwaukee.
Lasareff-Mironoff has given guest artist recitals and master classes at Universities across the United States and served as a judge for the 2018 and 2022 Samuel Thaviu String Scholarship Competitions at Northwestern University. Her is currently an adjunct professor of viola at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Music Institute of Chicago viola faculty and artist chamber music faculty at the MIC’s Academy.
PAULA KOSOWER
Paula Kosower is an active performer and teacher who frequently appears with numerous ensembles. In recent seasons she performed concerts online and in person with Fulcrum Point New Music Project, for the MusicNOW series at Chicago Symphony Center, the Chicago Philharmonic Chamber Music Series, the Dame Myra Hess concert series, International Chamber Artists concerts, programs on WFMT 98.7, performances with the Apollo Chorus, and chamber music concerts at the Driehaus Museum. She frequently serves as a substitute player in the cello sections of the Chicago Symphony and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. She is also a member of the contemporary ensemble Picosa, who presents a full season of concerts throughout the Chicago area. Some of the venues Picosa frequents include the Holtschneider Performing Art Center at DePaul University, Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College, Elmhurst College, as well as the Epiphany Center for the Arts in Chicago.
Ms. Kosower teaches applied lessons, cello pedagogy and orchestra repertoire classes and is an adjunct faculty member at several universities in the Chicago area including Northwestern, DePaul, and North Park universities. She teaches private cello lessons for pre-college students at the Northwestern University Music Academy. During the summer season she performs for music festivals such as the Ravinia Festival, the Zenith Festival in Des Moines, Iowa, and the Midsummer’s Music Festival in Wisconsin. She also has taught at area chamber music camps organized by Midwest Young Artists, the Chicago Chamber Music Festival, and DePaul University. She received her B.M. and M.M. degree at Indiana University where she was a scholarship student and a graduate teaching assistant of Janos Starker. She received her D.M. degree at Northwestern University where she studied with Hans Jorgen-Jensen.
DANCE CENTER EVANSTON
Director Béa Rashid founded Dance Center Evanston (DCE) in 1994. Since then, Dance Center Evanston has grown into a six-studio facility complete with a professional, state-of-the art theater and a 20+ person teaching and administrative staff. The DCE mission is to bring quality dance training to each student enrolled, fostering their physical health, developing their cognitive skills, and inspiring creativity and artistry. We support Evanston Dance Ensemble, the not-for-profit youth dance company in residence, and provide opportunities to our students for both training and performance. Our goal is to continue to offer the highest quality dance education and serve Evanston and its surrounding communities by providing arts programming to residents. For more information visit: dancecenterevanston.com
JOSEPHINE CASTILLO
Josephine (Joey) Castillo is originally from Dallas, Texas and started her dance education under the direction of Kirt and Linda Hathaway at Hathaway’s Academy of Ballet. Joey went on to study at George Mason University where she received her Bachelor Of Fine Arts in 2019. At GMU she had the opportunity to perform works by Donald Byrd, Doug Verone, Yin Yue and many other inspiring artists. After moving to Chicago Joey joined Alluvion Dance Chicago, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theater, and is currently performing with Identity Performing Arts. As well as performing, Joey teaches dance at several studios in the surrounding Chicago area.
KALEIGH DENT
Kaleigh Dent is a first-year Master of Fine Arts candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She graduated from the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign in 2020 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. She has danced for companies including Joel Hall Dancers, Still Inspired, and LOUD BODIES, and was a company member and rehearsal director for Identity Performing Arts. Kaleigh has choreographed a number of Chicago-based dance shows through her company Rivet Dance Company (2020). She is currently an administrator at Dance Center Evanston, and an enrollment administrator at the Music Institute of Chicago.
CHANIECE HOLMES
Chaniece Holmes’ journey with dance began at the age of two, twirling to the music on Jeopardy. Today, she is the rehearsal director for Red Clay Dance’s touring company. Hailing from Maryland, Chaniece began her training with Spirit Wings, a professional liturgical dance company. She continued her training with the Ballet Theatre of Maryland before attending Goucher College in Baltimore, MD. Chaniece holds a B.A. in Dance with a distinction in Arts Administration from Goucher College and is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique and Cicchetti Grade 1 certified.
Chaniece has a deep passion for the arts, and it is her primary aspiration to remain engaged in the arts community. As a director, performer and artivist, she is always amazed by how people and communities are transformed through the power of the arts, and she could not imagine her life without it!
OLIVIA LEMMENES
Olivia Lemmenes is Chicago-based professional choreographer, dancer, and educator. She trained at Dance Center Evanston for 15 years, then continued her training at Western Michigan University – where she graduated with a BFA in Dance.
Olivia is currently teaching at Dance Center Evanston and the Grainger Academy of the Joffrey Ballet, and is the Assistant Director for the youth dance company, Evanston Dance Ensemble 2 (ede2). She has received numerous commissions to choreograph for youth, pre-professional, and professional dance companies in Illinois and Michigan. Olivia is also a freelance dance artist, and performs with the AAPI performance collaborative, IS/LAND. With IS/LAND, she has performed works in Ann Arbor, MI, Chicago, IL, and San Francisco, CA.
ANAYA SHEA
Anaya Shea is a 20-year-old Chicago-based dancer. Anaya started dancing at 13, training at Gus Giordano Dance School where she was a part of the Gus Giordano Crystal Company. She completed her preprofessional training at Dance Center Evanston where she was a part of the Evanston Dance Ensemble in
her senior year of high school. She is now a teacher at Dance Center Evanston and is working toward a bachelor’s degree in Dance.
HANLEY SIMPSON
Originally from New Orleans, Hanley began her dance training under the direction of Joseph and Maria Giacobbe at Giacobbe Academy of Dance. She also trained with Kenneth and Kimberley Beck at Myra Meir School of Ballet and in the summers trained with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Staibdance, New Orleans Ballet Theatre, American Ballet Theatre, and New Orleans Ballet Association where she honed both her contemporary and classical technique and artistry.
In 2019, Hanley graduated from Florida Southern College with a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography, and a minor in Business Administration. After graduating from Florida Southern College, she moved to Chicago to pursue a professional dance career. Later in 2019, she returned to Florida Southern College Dance Program and traveled to Becket, MA to perform Awaken at Jacob’s Pillow Inside Out. In December of 2019, she joined Alluvion Dance Chicago and danced with the company for two seasons. Hanley is currently a company artist with Identity Performing Arts. Inn addition to dancing professionally, Hanley is a dance educator and fitness instructor in the Chicagoland area.
REACH TEACH PLAY®
Thousands of community members are served through Ravinia’s Reach Teach Play® program each year, ensuring that music education remains accessible to all. These programs are designed to extend Ravinia’s REACH and bring the joy of music to thousands throughout the Chicago Area, to TEACH the foundations of music and allow children to express themselves creatively, and to PLAY and experience music throughout their lives. These programs also educate, foster diverse audience involvement, and provide the population with equitable access to live music experiences in their communities and at Ravinia.
For more information about the program visit: ravinia.org/ReachTeachPlay.
ADRIAN RODRIGUEZ
Adrian is a percussionist at Waukegan High School and Midwest Young Artists and serves as an instructional assistant for Sistema Ravinia’s Lake County nucleo. Adrian has also worked with the Ravinia Reach Teach Play team as a support staff member for the 2024 National Seminario Ravinia. Adrian wants to make the same impact that many of the different staff did when he was a student. He is also glad for the opportunity to help the underrepresented and minority gain confidence and a voice, which he now has, because of Ravinia.
CHICAGO MUSICAL PATHWAYS INITIATIVE
The mission of the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative is to identify and develop gifted and motivated orchestral students from underrepresented backgrounds for acceptance into top-tier conservatory, college or university classical music programs in preparation for careers as professional musicians.
The initiative involves close collaboration and resource sharing among a diverse network of well-established non-profit Chicago youth and musiceducation focused organizations. Together, participating organizations work to identify talented, motivated students early in their training. Musicians selected for CMPI are carefully assessed and provided with comprehensive supports – musical and extra-musical (e.g., financial, instructional, academic, etc.) to remove many of the barriers to access that can discourage or derail the training of talented young musicians from underrepresented backgrounds before they are able to realize their full musical potential. For more information about the program visit: chicagopathways.org.
SARAH MORRIS
Clarientist Sarah Morris is a member of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and has performed at venues including Chicago’s Symphony Center, Northwestern University’s Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, and the Harris Theater. In addition to playing with the Symphony Orchestra, she is principal clarinet of CYSO’s CORE chamber orchestra.
She is also a Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative fellow where she has participated in masterclasses with world-renowned clarinetists Anthony McGill, Stephen Williamson, Andrew Sandwick, and Pascual Martinez-Forteza. Sarah is also a member of the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Youth Ensemble, where she has had the opportunity to perform alongside acclaimed jazz musicians at venues such as the Pritzker Pavillion and the Auditorium Theater, honing her skills in the art of improvisation.
Sarah has played clarinet for nine years, studying under Leslie Grimm, for the past five. She has spent her summers Interlochen Arts Camp and Boston University Tanglewood Institute, continuing her clarinet studies under the best teachers in the country, and plans to spend this upcoming summer touring Spain with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. Sarah is currently a high school senior and plans to double major in Clarinet Performance and Anthropology as an undergraduate in the fall of 2025.
LOUISE CHAN
Pianist Louise Chan, a native of Ottawa, Canada, is a classical pianist, chamber musician, orchestral keyboardist, and music educator. She is a founding member of the Blue Violet Duo with violinist Kate Carter. The duo released their second album Strike, Strum and Stride with Centaur Records in January 2023.
Dr. Chan is dedicated to performing new music; recent performances in her home base of Chicago have included appearances at the Ear Taxi Festival and the George Crumb Festival, and with Fulcrum Point New Music Project and The Zafa Collective. She was the former principal pianist for the Madison Symphony Orchestra, and is a keyboard substitute for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. She has appeared as a soloist with the Music Institute of Chicago Community Orchestra, the Evanston Summer Orchestra, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra and has served as a keyboardist with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and the New World Symphony.
She is currently on faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago and is a member of the Royal Conservatory of Music’s College of Examiners. She has served on the faculties of the Chicago Chamber Music Festival, the Chicago Duo Piano Festival, and Northeastern Illinois University. She holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Northwestern University.
DAVID ROCHE
David Roche is a 17 year-old violist from Chicago currently in his senior year at Walter Payton College Preparatory High School. He began his musical violin studies at age four with Aimee Biasiello at the Music Institute of Chicago. He switched to viola at age nine and subsequently studied with Bridget Andes. David currently studies with Sang Mee Lee at the Music Institute of Chicago where he is a Frank Little Merit Scholar. He is also a Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative fellow and a dedicated and active participant in the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra program. Over the past seven years, he has performed with the orchestra in venues including Northwestern University’s Pick-Staiger Concert Hall and Chicago’s Symphony Center. David has also played at the United Center and Chicago State University with the Chicago Urban Chamber Ensemble, a classical chamber music ensemble dedicated to playing music primarily by black composers through the Musical Arts Institute.
David has attended several summer music intensives such as Luzerne Music Center the Sphinx Performance Academy, and Center Stage Strings where he played in chamber and orchestral music groups in addition to studying music theory.
REVEREND DR. MICHAEL C. R. NABORS
Reverend Dr. Michael C. R. Nabors is senior pastor of the historic Second Baptist Church in Evanston, Illinois. The 139 year-old Church is one of the oldest African American congregations on the North Shore. Since arriving at Second Baptist, Dr. Nabors has sought to continue leading the church in its historical role as a trumpeter for Christ and as a social justice advocate in Evanston and Metro Chicago. Recently, Second Baptist Church has become a leading faith center in America in facilitating Race Talk Solidarity Circles in local communities.
Dr. Nabors teaches Homiletics and Qualitative Research and Theological Writing at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL. He served as Director of the Master of Divinity and Student Life Programs at Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit where he was professor of Homiletics and African American Religious History. He has taught at Ashland Theological Seminary, Calvin Theological Seminary, and Marygrove College.
Dr. Nabors earned an undergraduate degree in English and Creative Writing at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the Master of Divinity with an emphasis in Systematic Theology and the Master of Theology with an emphasis in Ethics at Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey and the Doctor of Ministry focusing on African American Preaching at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He has been both a Samuel DeWitt Proctor and Benjamin E. Mays Fellow. He was also a Fellow in the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence- Lilly Endowment Program as well as a Fellow in the PastorTheologian Lilly Endowment Program.
Since 2019, Dr. Nabors has been part of the Steering Committee for Evanston Reparations, the first municipal reparations program in the United States, allocating 10 million dollars to Black Evanstonians to repair historical damages due to racism. He has received over 100 community, church and ministry awards for leadership and service in New Jersey, Michigan and Illinois. Before leaving Princeton, New Jersey, the Mayor and City Council commemorated his leadership by naming October 12th, “Dr. Michael Nabors Day.” He also served as president of the Princeton and Trenton, New Jersey branches of the NAACP and is currently in his third term as president of the Evanston-North Shore Branch of the NAACP. A regarded speaker, preacher and lecturer, he has been invited to address universities, seminaries, high schools, community organizations, churches, religious conventions and symposiums throughout the United States.
EVANSTON ART CENTER
Founded in 1929, the Evanston Art Center is dedicated to fostering the appreciation and expression of the arts among diverse audiences by offering extensive and innovative instruction in broad areas of artistic endeavor through classes, exhibitions, interactive arts activities, and community outreach. In 2015 the Evanston Art Center moves into a new facility at 1717 Central Street in Evanston and quickly began expanding programming to meet the growing demands of a larger space. More than 30,000 people from all walks of life, representing over 100 Illinois zip codes use the Art Center, viewing exhibitions in their four galleries or participate in classes.
FRAN JOY, CURATOR
For more information visit: evanstonartcenter.org
Fran Joy is an artist, designer, curator, and life coach currently living in Evanston. Born and raised in southern Illinois, she moved to New Orleans, and then returned to the greater Chicago/Evanston area. This life experience plus ten years of residence in Los Angeles and frequent visits to New York City have flavored and colored her passion as an artist.
Joy studied art at Kaskaskia College and later at Columbia College in Chicago with a focus on oil painting and drawing. Joy also combined her own experimentation with impromptu training from independent artists whose work she admired. Joy is known for her images on social justice, women, iconic portraits, spirit images, stylized landscapes, and large custom designed wood panels. Joy uses lots of rich and metallic acrylics on canvas and wood enhanced with oil pastels for texture and blending.
Joy has been featured as the cover story in the original Evanston Magazine, and has appeared in the Evanston Review, Roundtable and the Chicago Tribune. She received the Evanston Mayor’s Artist of the Year Award in 201 9. Joy formerly served two terms on the Evanston Art Council and five years on the board of YEA, Young Evanston Artists. Joy completed an informal artist in residency at Garrett Theological Seminary on NU’s campus exploring themes of social justice and non-violence for four years. Two large pieces remain as part of Garrett’s permanent collection: “Violence Interrupted, the Resurrection” and “Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad”.
EXHIBIT
“CELEBRATING BLACK ART ON MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY”
“Dr. Martin Luther King lived and died fighting for non-violence, peace, and civil rights. He challenged us to believe there is always hope and things we can do. Dr. King manifested that hope. These are difficult times and there are those who wish to erase and recreate the people and history of this country. Artists have the freedom, opportunity, and or responsibility to express and record history, hoping it does not repeat the wrongs. I thank the artists, the Evanston Art Center, and the Music Institute of Chicago for this collaboration and opportunity.” ~ Fran Joy
PARTICIPATING ARTISTS
Raissa Bailey
Sholo Beverly
Matthew Dicks
J Allen Hyde
Fran Joy
David Niari
Joanna Pinksky
Debra Flint Salter
Tasha Shepard Nemo
Jevoid Simmons
Andrew Walker
Angela Williams
FRIENDS OF THE MUSIC INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
The Music Institute is grateful for every gift. The following friends made contributions of $5,000 or more between September 1, 2023 and January 14, 2025.
$100,000 +
Edwardson Family Foundation
Robert Hohf
Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity
The Julian Family Foundation
The Negaunee Foundation
Alexandra C.* and John† D. Nichols
$50,000 to $99,999
John and Pauline Fife
Illinois Arts Council Agency ITW
$25,000 to $49,999
Paul M. Angell Family Foundation
CDW LLC
Courtney Holohan* and Wesley Mueller
KPMG and Scott* and Areta Verschoor
Mr. John H. Krehbiel Jr. and
Mrs. Karen Z. Gray-Krehbiel
Northern Trust Corporation
Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan
Mrs. Barbara Ann Speer
Jim Stone*
David and Eileen Zampa
$10,000 to $24,999
Anonymous gifts
Rita and John Canning, The Canning Foundation
Dr. Tanya L. Carey
Cook County Arts
The Crown Family
Mary and Paul Finnegan
Linda and Bill Gantz
GCM Grosvenor
Hans* and Denitta Germann
Mrs. Mona Golub
Mr. and Mrs. Dietrich M. Gross
Guidehouse
Dan* and Yoo Mi Hahn
Caryn and King Harris
Harris Family Foundation
Horejsi Charitable Foundation
Irving Harris Foundation
J. Thomas Hurvis and Ann Andersen
Jackson National Life Insurance
Nancy D. Judge
Ethelle Katz
Mindy and Walter Kelly
Susan Kiphart
Molex Incorporated
Jim and Kay* Mabie Family
Yana Nedvetsky* and Axel Vargas
Cathy and Bill Osborn
Renée Parquette*
Timothy Patenode* and Judy Royal
John and Kathy Piepgras
Vikram K. Raghavan* & Shruthi Atmaram
Ravinia Festival Association
Scott and Nancy Santi
Barbara* and Peter Sereda
Sidley Austin LLP
Jane Arries Solomon
Liz Stiffel
Lee Anne* and Rich Stoddart
The John Taylor Family
Charles A. Tribbett III & Lisa Tribbett and Russell Reynolds Associates
Zalman* and Karen Usiskin
The Wallace Foundation
Mr. Miles D. White
William Harris Lee & Co.
Wintrust Commercial Banking & Carlos R. Cardenas*
$5,000 to $9,999
Anonymous gifts
Paul* and Katie Brourman
Lawrence Corry
Flying Food Group, Inc.
Thomas L. and Patricia S. Gahlon
Paul Galvin Memorial Foundation
Norman and Cynthia Goldring
John R. Halligan Charitable Fund
Highland Park Community Foundation
Erin and Wellington Hsu
Mrs. Paul Klimstra
Karen and Mark Koulogeorge
Ernest Mahaffey
Molex Incorporated
Bob Moriarty
Ms. Elizabeth O’Connor and Mr. Christopher Thomas
Thomas R. Penrose and Michael E. Whitmore
Sargent Family Foundation
Dr. Scholl Foundation
Jennifer Steans and Jim Kastenholz
Pam and Russ Strobel
Melanie and Christopher Thomas
Ross* and Emily Parker Updegraff
Catherine M. and Frederick H. Waddell
Audrey Weaver
Audra Wilson*
The Farney R. Wurlitzer Foundation
Florian Zettelmeyer* and Meghan Busse
* MIC Trustee † Deceased
The Music Institute of Chicago provides high-quality teaching, performing, and service activities for thousands of Chicagoland residents each year.
Contributions of all sizes support our shared commitment to educate and inspire musicians and music lovers of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds, regardless of experience or financial means.
MAKE YOUR GIFT TODAY! musicinst .org/giving
us for the
Meditations
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26 @ 7:30 PM SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27 @ 3:00 PM
Experience beauty and peace in a program of contemplative works
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7 @ 7:30 PM SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 @ 3:00 PM
Jake
Runestad
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21 @ 7:30 PM
Meet composer Jake Runestad as CMS collaborates with young singers
Share the joy of the season with beloved carols & new discoveries
SATURDAY, MAY 17 @ 7:30 PM SUNDAY, MAY 18 @ 3:00 PM
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
TRUSTEES
Scott Verschoor, Chair
Alexandra C. Nichols, Chair Emerita
Timothy J. Patenode, Treasurer
Barbara Sereda, Secretary
Carlos R. Cárdenas, Vice Chair
Lee Anne Stoddart, Vice Chair
Paul Brourman
Hans Germann
Daniel Hahn
Courtney Holohan
Shiraz Kotte
Kay Mabie
Yana Nedvetsky
Renée Parquette
Vikram Raghavan
Jim Stone
Ross Updegraff
Zalman Usiskin
Audra Wilson
Florian Zettelmeyer
Tao Zhu
LIFE TRUSTEES
John J. Berwanger
Mitzi Freidheim
Brooks Morgan
Rachel Barton Pine
Priscilla F. Richman
William N. Topaz
HONORARY
BOARD
Robert Chen
Peter Dushkin
John and Fran Edwardson
James Ginsberg
Jennifer Koh
Nina Kraus
Deborah F. Rutter
Scott and Nancy Santi
Rick Waddell
EX-OFFICIO TRUSTEES
Mark George
Christopher Rintz
THE MUSIC INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
leads people toward a lifelong engagement with music through unparalleled teaching, exceptional performances, and valuable service initiatives that educate, inspire, and build strong, healthy communities.
Since its founding in 1931, the Music Institute’s commitment to innovation, access, and excellence has served as an important community resource and helps to ensure music is available to everyone. Each year, the Music Institute provides personalized music instruction to more than 1800 students, regardless of age, level of experience, or financial means, across eight Community Music School locations in Chicago, Downers Grove, Evanston, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, and Wheaton, Winnetka, as well as online.
In addition, the Music Institute brings music education, arts curriculum integration, professional development, and music performance and engagement opportunities to thousands in the Chicago area; offers scholarship opportunities to students in its Community School and its Academy, a nationally recognized training center for highly gifted precollege pianists and string players; and welcomes thousands of visitors annually for performances, master classes, and special events at Nichols Concert Hall.
For more information: musicinst.org • 847.905.1500
Sunday, January 26 at 6:30 PM
Woodwinds, Brass & Percussion Recital
Sunday, February 2 at 3 PM
Rembrandt Chamber Musicians: Flute for Fun
Sunday, February 8 at 2:30 PM
Piano Departmental Recital
Sunday, February 9 at 3 PM
Music Institute Chorale Concert: “Gather Ye Round”
Thursday, February 13 at 7:30 PM
Apollo’s Fire: Vivalid in Love: Double Concertos of Fire & Romance
Friday, February 28 at 7 PM
MIC Faculty Piano Duos in Concert
Sunday, March 9 at 7:30 PM
Orion Ensemble presents: To Life!
Sunday, March 16 at 7:30 PM
Music Institute Chorale Concert:
“I Will Give My Love an Apple”
Friday, March 28 at 7:30 PM
Finch Theatrics presents:
“My Fair Lady”
Saturday, March 29 at 7:30 PM
Finch Theatrics presents:
“My Fair Lady”
PUBLIC EVENTS CALENDAR UP NEXT AT NICHOLS CONCERT HALL
Sunday, March 30 at 2:30 PM
Finch Theatrics presents: “My Fair Lady”
Friday, April 4 at 7:30 PM
Ablaye Cissoko & Cyrille Brotto
Saturday, April 5 at 7:30 PM
Chicago a cappella presents: Jazz a cappella
Saturday, April 12 at 2:30 PM
Voice Departmental Recital 1
Saturday, April 12 at 5:30 PM
Voice Departmental Recital 2
Friday, April 25 at 6:30 PM
Chamber Music Spring Recital 1
Saturday, April 26 at 2:00 PM
Guitar/Harp Departmental Recital
Saturday, April 26 at 6:30 PM
Chamber Music Spring Recital 2
Sunday, April 27 at 2:30 PM
Suzuki Level Graduation Recital
Sunday, April 27 at 5:30 PM
Graduating Seniors Recital and Recognition Ceremony
ONE
COMPOSER,
ONE COMMUNITY FLORENCE PRICE
Friday, May 2 at 7:30 pm Nichols Concert Hall
Join the Music Institute of Chicago to celebrate and explore the music of Florence Price, a composer with over 300 works and roots as an artist and teacher in Chicago.
Price was the first Black female composer to have a symphony performed by a major American orchestra (the CSO in 1933), yet she struggled for recognition within her lifetime.
During the 2024-2025 school year, students and teachers from across the Music Institute will perform works by Price, culminating with a celebration concert featuring remarks from interpreters and scholars of Price, including violinist RACHEL BARTON PINE, and a world premiere performance poem by artist K-LOVE honoring Price’s legacy.
ONE COMPOSER, ONE COMMUNITY (OCOC), first launched at the Music Institute of Chicago in 2021, focuses on the life and work of a single underrepresented composer over the course of an academic year.