Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration Concert
January 18, 2026
S
E A S O N S P O N S O R S
NICHOLS CONCERT HALL 2025-2026
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, John and Pauline Fife, Paul Galvin Memorial Fund, The Irving Harris 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, Sargent Family Foundation, Dr. Scholl Foundation, Shure, and The Wallace Foundation.
The Music Institute also acknowledges the generous support of the Evanston Arts Council, a city agency supported by the City of Evanston; the Farny R. Wurlitzer Fund from the DeKalb County Community Foundation; the Highland Park Community Foundation; the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity; and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal 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 and our annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Concert. This year’s program centers on music and its learners through the lens of Dr. King’s words. We are pleased to collaborate with a variety of community and arts organizations and look forward to showcasing the wonderful work each is doing.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once remarked, “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 a beautiful, welcoming space where we can come together to learn, share, and celebrate.
Every day, dedicated teachers and organizations work to bring people together and 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 count as colleagues the leaders of the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative, the Evanston Children’s Choir, the Evanston Art Center, Hearing in Color, Ravinia’s Reach Teach Play Program, Northwestern University, District 65, and others who, together with the Music Institute of Chicago, are sharing the talent of their brilliant young artists.
Music and the arts are vital to keeping us connected to one another and expanding our understanding of the world around us. Everyone is invited to join the MIC community, where our mission is to lead people toward 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.
For now, let us come together to reflect and celebrate the achievements and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Thank you for joining us.
Warmly,
Shalisa Kline Ugaz President and CEO
Music Institute of Chicago
D r. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration Concert
PROGRAM
PLEASE JOIN US IN SONG
“Lift Every Voice and Sing”
Music by John Rosamond Johnson (1873-1954)
Words by James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938)
Led by Soul4Real
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.
WELCOME
Shalisa Kline Ugaz, Music Institute of Chicago President and CEO
“Soul4Real Theme”
SOUL4REAL
“Ain’t No Sunshine” Bill Withers (1938-2020)
“Electric Lady” Janelle Monae (b. 1985)
REMARKS
Kaleigh Medlow
President, Gamma Chi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®
RAVINIA’S REACH TEACH PLAY
“A Change is Gonna Come”
Daelyn Calloway, voice
Matthew Hagle, piano
Sam Cooke (1931-1964)
DISTRICT 65 - HAVEN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Excerpts from Dr. King’s “What Is Your Life’s Blueprint”
Lila Hall, speaker
EVANSTON CHILDREN’S CHOIR
Gary Geiger, artistic director
Jeremy Vigil piano
“Climbin’ Up the Mountain” Traditional arr. Rollo Dilworth (b. 1970)
“Aya Ngena” Zulu folk song arr. Ruth Morris Gray (b. 1961)
DISTRICT 65 - HAVEN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Excerpts from Dr. King’s “The Purpose of Education”
Wes Morgan, speaker
CHICAGO
MUSICAL PATHWAYS INITIATIVE
Concerto for Flute and Orchestra Carl Nielsen (1865-1931)
I. Allegro moderato
Kaylee Johnson, flute
Matthew Hagle, piano
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Dr. Jonathan Bailey Holland
Dean of the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University
MUSIC INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
“Night” Florence Price (1887-1953)
Poetry by Louise C. Wallace
“Hold Fast to Dreams” Florence Price
Jaiden Hsu, voice
Matthew Hagle, piano
Poetry by Langston Hughes
DISTRICT 65 - HAVEN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Excerpts from Dr. King’s “Keep Moving from This Mountain”
Micah Thompson speaker
HEARING IN COLOR AND CHROMA VOCAL ENSEMBLE
Remarks from Abisola Toukourou
“Unknown” Abisola Toukourou (b. 2010) “In Di Riva” Jalen Scott
Thank you for coming!
Please join us for a special art exhibition in the Nichols Concert Hall lobby presented by the Evanston Arts Center and curated by Fran Joy.
SOUL4REAL
Soul4Real is Northwestern’s premier Black a cappella group. With love, peace, and soul, they have been singing blues, jazz, R&B, and more since 2009.
Gamma Chi Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, an international service organization, was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1908. It is the oldest Greekletter organization established by African American collegeeducated women.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated® is comprised of more than 390,000 initiated members in more than 1,105 graduate and undergraduate chapters located in 14 nations and territories.
Its mission of five basic tenets remain unchanged since the sorority’s inception: to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standard; to promote unity and friendship among college women; to study and help alleviate problems concerning girls and women in order to improve their social stature; to maintain a progressive interest in college life; and to be of “Service to All Mankind.”
REACH TEACH PLAY®
Ravinia’s Reach Teach Play® programs serve over 50,000 people in under-resourced Chicago-area communities and schools, opening doors for all to access and experience the positive impact of live music.
Kaleigh Medlow President
Gamma Chi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®
Several programs extend Ravinia’s reach into Chicago and Lake County public schools that otherwise have little to no music curriculum of their own, providing 20,000 students with live performances and integrative activities that spark a love of music and invite exploration of varied genres and styles, as well as programs that teach the foundations of music and encourage children to engage
Ravinia gives students the opportunity to play musical instruments, develop their talents, and create pathways for continued success through a variety of programs, including a community family music school, El Sistema–inspired orchestral programs that foster social development, and a mentorship program for high school jazz musicians.
Central to Reach Teach Play’s mission of access, Ravinia provides free summer concert passes to thousands of community members through partnerships with over 150 social service agencies, as well as public libraries and community music and performing arts schools.
For more information visit: ravinia.org/ReachTeachPlay
DAELYN CALLOWAY, VOICE
Daelyn Calloway is a junior Vocal Music major at Lincoln Park High School and an emerging vocalist in Chicago’s classical and contemporary music scene. She has performed with the Lyric Opera of Chicago as a Principal Artist in The Magic Flute and in the choruses of Tosca, The Queen of Spades, and Dead Man Walking. She has also performed Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
A member of Ravinia’s Lawndale Reach, Teach, Play program and Uniting Voices Chicago’s Groove ensemble, Calloway has performed internationally at the Ravello Festival on Italy’s Amalfi Coast and the Porretta Soul Festival, as well as at the Kennedy Center. Highlights include performing in the NBA AllStar Game halftime show with Chance the Rapper, performing with Yo-Yo Ma, and singing the national anthem at a Chicago Bears game in December 2025. in music-making and express themselves creatively.
EVANSTON CHILDREN’S CHOIR
Gary Geiger, Artistic Director
The Evanston Children’s Choir is a dynamic platform for “diversity in harmony,” creating a transformative experience for young choir members from all walks of life and their varied audiences across Chicagoland. With a commitment to inclusion and accessibility, positive energy, and mutual respect, the ECC engages young people in several strong, supportive ensembles with a reputation for musical excellence.
Based at Evanston’s Noyes Cultural Arts Center, ECC has performed in a wide variety of major venues including the Rosemont Theatre, Evanston’s Alice Millar Chapel, the Harris Theater and Orchestra Hall. Now in our 24th season, the ECC has grown from a mere three singers at its inception to a multi-tiered program that continues to evolve. Recent developments now have us including changed voices and adult community members in our programming.
ECC ensembles are regularly sought after for collaborations and have shared the stage with the likes of the Apollo Chorus of Chicago, the Evanston Symphony, Barry Manilow, S.O.U.L. Creations, the Chicago Philharmonic, the Ondas Ensemble and the North Shore Choral Society. Recent seasons have included an Orchestra Hall debut, two full-blown pop/rock concerts with live bands, and premieres of several new songs. The ECC is a past recipient of the Mayor’s Award for the Arts.
The Evanston Children’s Choir accepts young people grades 1–12 of all ability levels and never turns anyone away for lack of ability to pay.
For more information about the Concert Choir, Pop Hits Choir, Story Choir or the Pope John XXIII School Choir visit: evanstonchildrenschoir.org
CONCERT CHOIR ROSTER
Ari Aft
Margot Brooks Audenaerd
Elke Anyakem
Seamus Claydon
Mateo Garcia
Kotomi Geiger
Marley Asha Gitau
Mahin Goel
Douglas Golds
Samantha Goll
Elizabeth Gordon
Flora Hanson
Noa Killian-Dudnik
Isaac Larson
Ella Lei
Seneca Lyonsmith
Zinnea Lyonsmith
Aine McCormack
Meadow McLaughlin
JoseLuis Mercado
Gabriela Mercado
Ayden Milton
Grace Nester-Detweiler
Myka Reyngold
Freja Rogne
Oscar Rogne
Charlotte Ryznor
Ford Soderstrom
Jacob Sparber
Kaymie St-Jean
Charlie Ziegler
EVANSTON DISTRICT 65 - HAVEN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Haven Middle School is a dynamic and inclusive community where curiosity is ignited, challenges are embraced, and every student is empowered to succeed. The school has a dedicated partnership of students, educators, and families working together to navigate the critical middle school years and is focused on fostering academic excellence and a safe, civil school environment by building a positive and supportive culture where every student feels known, safe, and valued.
LILAH HALL
Lilah Hall is an eighth-grade multi-sport athlete and actress who took part in Haven Middle school’s devised fall musical while also participating in track, volleyball, basketball, and more. Next year she will continue to pursue her broad array of interests as a Freshman at Evanston Township High School.
WES MORGAN
Wes Morgan is an eighth-grader at Haven Middle School. He plays volleyball for Church & Dodge and also loves being in plays and musicals. He hopes to be a sports broadcaster when he grows up.
MICAH THOMPSON
Micah is an eighth-grader at Haven Elementary. He enjoys playing drums and video games as well as acting and computer programming.
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 music-education 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.
KAYLEE JOHNSON, FLUTE
Kaylee Johnson is a vibrant 17-year-old senior at the Chicago High School for the Arts. Her musical journey began with Ravinia’s El Sistema Orchestra program, where she has been a dedicated member for many years.
She is also a member of the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative (CMPI), where she has the privilege of studying under the esteemed flutist Susan Levitin.
Kaylee’s talents shine brightly as a member of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO), where she participates in both the Symphony Orchestra and a woodwind quintet. Her commitment to music extends to her membership with the Merit School of Music, where she has been appointed section leader and performs with the Wind Symphony.
When she’s not immersed in her musical pursuits, Kaylee enjoys spending time with family and friends, swimming, and crocheting.
DR. JONATHAN BAILEY HOLLAND
The music of composer Jonathan Bailey Holland has been performed and commissioned by numerous organizations, both nationally and internationally, including the Atlanta, Baltimore, BBC, Cincinnati, Dallas, Detroit, New World, and San Antonio symphony orchestras; the Cleveland Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Chicago Youth Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra, Abeo Quartet, Hotel Elefant, der/gelbe/klang, and Roomful of Teeth, among many others.
Holland served as composer-in-residence with the Cincinnati Symphony and has held similar roles with the Detroit Symphony, South Bend Symphony Orchestras, Plymouth Music Series of Minnesota, Ritz Chamber Players, and the Radius Ensemble. His music has been recorded by the Cincinnati Symphony, the University of Texas Trombone Choir, Transient Canvas, trumpeter Jack Sutte, flutist Christopher Chaffee, pianist Sarah Bob, and more.
Holland has received awards and honors from the Guggenheim Foundation, The Boston Foundation, Civitella Ranieri Foundation, Massachusetts Cultural Council, Fromm Music Foundation at Harvard University, American Academy of Arts and Letters, American Music Center, ASCAP, the Presser Foundation, and others.
He studied composition with Ned Rorem at the Curtis Institute of Music, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree. He went on to receive a PhD in Music from Harvard University, where his primary teachers were Bernard Rands and Mario Davidovsky. Other teachers have included Andrew Imbrie, Yehudi Wyner, Robert Saxton, and Robert Sirota.
Holland is dean of the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, where he is also the Kay Davis Professor of Music. He previously served as the Jack G. Buncher Head of the School of Music at Carnegie Mellon University and chair of Composition, Contemporary Music, and Core Studies at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. He was a founding faculty member in the low-residency MFA program in music composition at Vermont College of Fine Arts, where he also served as faculty chair from 2016 until 2019. In addition, he serves on the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music.
photo © Todd Rosenberg
MUSIC INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
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, helping to ensure music is available to everyone. Each year, the Music Institute provides personalized music instruction to more than 1,500 students, regardless of age, level of experience, or financial means, across Community Music School locations in Chicago, Downers Grove, Evanston, Lake Forest, and Winnetka, as well as online. The Music Institute also offers scholarship opportunities to students in its Community School and the Academy, a nationally recognized pre-college conservatory program for gifted high school pianists and string players. The Music Institute welcomes more than 15,000 visitors annually for performances, masterclasses, and special events at Nichols Concert Hall.
For more information visit: musicinst.org
JAIDEN HSU, VOICE
Jaiden Hsu is a 17-year-old singer and actor from the Chicago area. A long-time student of Barbara Ann Martin at MIC, he has been a Merit Scholar and Student Ambassador since 2017 and also studies piano under Louise Chan.
Jaiden has earned top honors in voice competitions, including the Walgreens National Concerto Competition, which led to a performance at Ravinia at age eleven. He was the U.S. winner of the 2022 IFLC singing competition and toured Germany as part of the winners’ performance tour. Jaiden received the Maddy Summer Artist Award at Interlochen and a full-tuition scholarship for the 2024 academic year. He was also a semifinalist in multiple categories at the Classical Singer Voice Competitions in 2024 and 2025. Theatrical credits include Aida at Lyric Opera of Chicago, SIX, and Chicago: Teen Edition. An accomplished singer-songwriter, Jaiden has released two singles and is currently recording his debut album. Jaiden is represented by DDO Artists Agency Chicago.
DR. MATTHEW HAGLE, PIANO
A Music Institute of Chicago alumnus, Matthew Hagle continued his music education at Peabody Conservatory (B.M.) and Yale University (M.M., M.M.A., D.M.A) where he received prizes in piano, accompanying, and music theory. While at Yale, he received a Fulbright Scholarship to study piano privately in London. His teachers include Claude Frank, Robert Weirich, Donald Currier, and Maria Curcio Diamand.
Hagle has performed extensively across North America as well as in England, Australia, Brazil, and Japan. Hagle has appeared at local venues including the Ravinia Festival’s Martin Theater, Symphony Center, and the Chicago Cultural Center and on Chicago’s WFMT 98.7 “Live from WFMT”, NPR’s Performance Today, and Minnesota Public Radio. Hagle is also highly valued as a collaborator by many other artists. With violinist Rachel Barton Pine, he has released three acclaimed CDs on the Cedille label, and performed many recitals in North and South America. His piano duo performances with Mio Isoda-Hagle have been highlights of the annual Chicago Duo Piano Festival. Other chamber music partners have been the Parker Quartet, the Avalon Quartet, Quintet Attacca, and members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Hagle is a dedicated teacher of piano, chamber music, music theory, and composition, and directs the Music Institute’s musicianship program. He has also worked as a music educator at Elmhurst College, the University of Notre Dame, and the International Institute for Young Musicians. In 2017, he was recognized as a Distinguished Teacher by the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.
HEARING IN COLOR
Hearing in Color is a Chicago-based non-profit amplifying music and stories that have been historically excluded from musical spaces by providing resources to community artists to produce performances and music grounded in truth.
The HEARING
IN COLOR YOUNG COMPOSER RESIDENCY
, presented in partnership with La Caccina, nurtures emerging voices whose perspectives are shaping the future of choral music. This residency offers young composers the opportunity to workshop and premiere new works written for La Caccina, Chicago’s premier treble vocal ensemble, while receiving mentorship, community support, and professional development.
ABISOLA TOUKOUROU
Abisola Moriah Toukourou is a West African-American Composer, and she is the youngest-ever composer to be selected for the Hearing in Color Young Composer Residency. As a 15-year-old sophomore at Hinsdale Central High School, she has a strong background in piano, vocal performance, and the arts. She has cultivated her passion for music over several years at school and in Spirito Singers. At Hinsdale Middle School, she performed with Spartan Singers and Spartan Chorale. Abisola continues to grow as a vocalist through her involvement in Spirito Singers, where she has sung for four years, including three years in Ragazze with her eighth-grade year being section leader of the second sopranos and one year in Bravura.
This year is Abisola’s first year composing, and hopes to spread her songs all throughout the world. She is never afraid to try new things and enjoys a challenge. In addition to her musical pursuits, Abisola is an avid reader and writer, and she enjoys expressing her creativity through cooking and baking.
CHROMA
Chroma, the resident vocal ensemble of Hearing in Color amplifies the voices of the global majority through powerful choral works, world premieres, and collaborations with today’s most vital composers. More than an ensemble, Chroma is a community-built space for truth, joy, and cultural reckoning—where artists’ full identities birth a new ensemble sound. For more information about Hearing in Color and it’s programs, visit: hearingincolor.org.
CHROMA SINGERS
Megan Fletcher
Catlin Watts
Nyandeng Juag
Kathryn Duncan
Chelsea Lyons
Clare Songco
Anthony Jones
Michael St. Peter LaRob K. Rafael
Dario Amador-Lage
Eric Miranda
Ivo Suarez
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.
For more information visit: evanstonartcenter.org.
FRAN JOY, CURATOR
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 2019. 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
Sholo Beverly
Yancey Hughes
J Allen Hyde
Fran Joy
Mister Joy
Tasha Nemo
David Niari
Debra Flint Salter
Jevoid Simmons
Stacy Thomas
Andrew Walker
Angela Williams
RESIDENT ENSEMBLES AT NICHOLS CONCERT HALL
The Music Institute of Chicago is pleased to host five resident ensembles and, new this year, worldclassmusic.live, a Resident Company who brings world music to Nichols Concert Hall for the 2025-2026 season.
These partnerships showcase the breadth and depth of great music-making in Chicago and beyond and compliment the Music Institute’s “Nichols Concert Hall Presents” series and robust calendar of Music Institute of Chicago faculty and student performances and events. In addition, these resident ensembles expand enrichment opportunities available to Music Institute of Chicago students through master classes and other educational offerings.
APOLLO'S FIRE
GRAMMY® winners Apollo's Fire, led by Jeannette Sorrell, are renowned for their passionate and historically informed performances of Baroque music.
CHICAGO A CAPPELLA
Chicago a cappella is a dynamic group known for their innovative arrangements and impeccable harmonies.
CIVITAS ENSEMBLE
Civitas Ensemble is a leading chamber music group whose repertoire spans four centuries of music history and numerous genres and styles, including newly commissioned works.
THE ORION ENSEMBLE
The Orion Ensemble is a renowned chamber music group known for their exciting interpretations of standard repertoire and their commitment to introducing audiences to rarely performed masterpieces.
REMBRANDT CHAMBER MUSICIANS
Rembrandt Chamber Musicians features a trio of highly accomplished Chicago musicians who perform an expansive repertoire, ranging from baroque classics to contemporary works by local composers.
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, 2024 and January 12, 2026.
$100,000 +
The Grainger Foundation
The Negaunee Foundation
John D. and Alexandra C.* Nichols
Family Foundation
Karen and Zalman* Usiskin
$50,000 to $99,999
John and Pauline Fife
Illinois Arts Council Agency
ITW
Lori Julian on behalf of the Julian Family Foundation
Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan
$25,000 to $49,999
Paul M. Angell Family Foundation
Edwardson Family Foundation
J. Thomas Hurvis and Ann Andersen
Susie Kiphart
KPMG and Scott* and Areta Verschoor
Jim Stone*
$10,000 to $24,999
BMO Bank
Dr. Tanya L. Carey
Henry Crown & Company
Linda and Wilbur Gantz
GCM Grosvenor
Jackson National Life Insurance and Hans* and Denitta Germann
Mrs. Mona Golub
The Gross Family Fund
Guidehouse
Karen Z. Gray-Krehbiel and John H. Krehbiel, Jr.
Dan* and Yoo Mi Hahn
Caryn and King Harris
Irving Harris Foundation
Courtney Holohan* and Wesley Mueller
Nancy D. Judge
Ethelle Katz
Michael and Maryfran Klein
Jim and Kay* Mabie Family
Shiraz* and Vijay Kotte
Yana Nedvetsky* and Axel Vargas
Sylvia M. Neil and Dan Fischel
Brenna and John D. Nichols, III
Northern Trust Corporation
Cathy and Bill Osborn
Renée Parquette*
Timothy Patenode* and Judy Royal
Vikram K. Raghavan* and Shruthi Atmaram
Scott and Nancy Santi
Sargent Family Foundation
Barbara* and Peter Sereda
Mrs. Barbara Ann Speer
Liz Stiffel
Lee Anne* and Rich Stoddart
The John Taylor Family
The Wallace Foundation
Kendra and Thys Wallace
Wintrust Commercial Banking and Carlos R. Cardenas*
Mr. Miles D. White
Zhu Family Fund*
$5,000 to $9,999
Rita and John Canning, The Canning Foundation
Boris Duchovny
Thomas and Patricia Gahlon
Paul Galvin Memorial Foundation
Dave Goetz, Jr.
John R. Halligan Charitable Fund
Highland Park Community Foundation
Erin and Wellington Hsu
Jane Irwin
Karen and Mark Koulogeorge
Swati and Siddharth (Bobby) Mehta
Thomas R. Penrose and Michael E. Whitmore
Nancy and Marc Poggioli
Dr. Scholl Foundation
Segal Family Foundation
Jennifer Steans and Jim Kastenholz
Mr. Carl W. Stern
Melanie and Christopher Thomas
Ross* and Emily Parker Updegraff
Audrey Weaver
The Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation
Florian Zettelmeyer* and Meghan Busse * MIC Trustee
BOARD OF TRUSTEES SENIOR MANAGEMENT
TRUSTEES
Timothy Patenode, Chair
Alexandra C. Nichols, Chair Emerita
Hans Germann, Treasurer
Barbara Sereda, Secretary
Carlos R. Cardenas, Vice Chair
Shiraz Kotte, Vice Chair
Lee Anne Stoddart, Vice Chair
Saurab Bhargava
Paul Brourman
Daniel Hahn
Courtney Holohan
Kay Mabie
Yana Nedvetsky
Renée Parquette
Jim Stone
Ross Updegraff
Zalman Usiskin
Scott Verschoor
Audra Wilson
Florian Zettelmeyer
LIFE TRUSTEES
John J. Berwanger
Mitzi Freidheim
Brooks Morgan
Rachel Barton Pine
Priscilla F. Richman
William N. Topaz
HONORARY BOARD
Robert Chen
Roberto Diaz
Peter Dushkin
John and Fran Edwardson
James Ginsburg
Wu Han
Jennifer Koh
Nina Kraus
Cathy and Bill Osborn
Marcus Roberts
Deborah F. Rutter
Scott and Nancy Santi
Rick and Cate Waddell
EX-OFFICIO TRUSTEE
Shalisa Kline Ugaz
Christopher Rintz
Shalisa Kline Ugaz
President and Chief Executive Officer
Sue Polutnik
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Academy Executive Director
Emily Abraham
Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs
Marcia Rubin
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Jennifer Hanson
Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
Jennifer Bienemann
Vice President and Chief Development Officer
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Matt Boresi
Director of Special Initiatives
NICHOLS CONCERT HALL
Kevin Harrison
Director of Operations, Nichols Concert Hall
Eric Desnoyers
Associate Director of Operations, Nichols Concert Hall
The board, administration, and faculty work diligently to further the MIC mission while dealing with the day-to-day needs of those we serve. Please do not hesitate to contact us with your ideas, questions, or concerns.
Main Administrative Office • 622 Davis Street, 4th Floor • Evanston, IL 60201 Phone: 847.905.1500 • musicinst.org
nicholsconcerthall.org
ACADEMY ORCHESTRA CONCERT
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21 AT 7:30 PM
JAMES SETAPEN, conductor
FEATURING MUSIC BY:
J.S. Bach, Gustav Holst, Russel Peck, Stacy Garrop, and Ari Barack Fischer
SPECIAL GUESTS:
Music Institute Resident Piano Duo Claire Aebersold and Ralph Neiweem
2025-2026 SEASON: UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday, January 28 at 8 PM
Ballaké Sissoko & Derek Gripper
Presented by worldclassmusic.live
Thursday, January 29 at 8 PM
Ballaké Sissoko & Derek Gripper
Presented by worldclassmusic.live
Saturday, January 31 at 1 PM
Angela Cheng and Alvin Chow
MIC Piano Master Class
Saturday, February 7 at 7:30 PM
Academy Chamber Music Concert
Award-winning chamber ensembles
Friday, February 27 at 7 PM
Chicago Duo Piano Mini-Fest presents: MIC Faculty Piano Duos in Concert
Friday, March 6 at 7:30 PM
One Composer, One Community Manuel María Ponce
Sunday, March 15 at 3 PM
Rembrandt Chamber Musicians presents: “The Trout” with Henry Kramer & Sam Shuhan
Sunday, March 15 at 7:30 PM
Orion Ensemble Concert
