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, Edwardson Family Foundation, John and Pauline Fife, John R. Halligan Charitable Fund, 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, 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; 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
Welcome to the Music Institute of Chicago (MIC) and Nichols Concert Hall. We are excited to continue the 2025-2026 season with our unique and familyfriendly “Duke It Out!” Nutcracker, an annual favorite produced in collaboration with Dance Chicago. We hope you enjoy this special production, which features live music from Music Institute ensemble-in-residence, Quintet Attacca, as well as members of the Braeburn Brass, performing selections from both the classical Tchaikovsky and Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn scores.
Looking ahead, on Sunday, January 18 at 3 pm, we invite the community to join us for our annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Concert. This free event weaves together voices from the arts, education, social justice, and interfaith communities.
We are also delighted to feature an array of performances by MIC’s Resident Ensembles: Apollo’s Fire, Chicago a cappella, Civitas Ensemble, The Orion Ensemble, Rembrandt Chamber Musicians, and worldclassmusic.live. Be sure to visit NicholsConcertHall.org for more information and join us throughout the year for a variety of great musical performances.
Nichols Concert Hall is just one part of MIC’s mission to give people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds the chance to experience the transformative power of music. As a top-tier, non-profit community music school, we offer music lessons and classes to thousands of students of all ages and levels each year. Feel free to explore the lower level of this building, where you will find eleven state-of-the-art teaching studios and learn more about MIC lessons and classes as well as stories of those who study here by visiting: muisicinst.org.
Wishing you and yours a holiday season full of the joy music brings!
“DUKE IT OUT” NUTCRACKER 2025
ELLINGTON/STRAYHORN VS. TCHAIKOVSKY
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
John Schmitz, Dance Chicago
CURATED BY Altin Naska
ELLINGTON/STRAYHORN BRASS QUINTET ARRANGEMENT
James Stephenson
MUSICIANS
Quintet Attacca and Braeburn Brass
Jonathon Wenzel, drums • Ann Chang, celeste
1. Waltz of the Snowflakes Tchaikovsky
Plainfield Dance Academy
Choreography: Altin Naska
Dr. Drosselmeyer: Altin Naska • Clara: Chrissa Gallos
Dancers: Elizabeth Birkholz, Clare Domke, Madelyn Duker, Emma Jaromin, Broolynn Lugay, Zoe Meachum, Eive Mesco, Caroline Rhoades, Lexi Young
2. Overture Tchaikovsky
Choreography: Altin Naska
Dancers: Jamie Demeny as the Nutcracker with Sophia de Leon Sanchez, Kendall Hutson, Addilyn Mader, Kross Michaels, Lydia Miller, Bella Ramsey, André Rodrigues, Rebecca Taylor, Gwendolyn Warrenstein
3. Overture
Ellington/Strayhorn
Tapman Productions
Performances by:
Tristan Bruns as the Mouse King and Jamie Demeny as the Nutcracker
4. Mirliton Tchaikovsky
Plainfield Dance Academy
Choreography: Altin Naska after Marius Petipa
Dancers: Zoe Meachum, Eive Mesco, André Rodrigues
5. Toot Toot Tootie Toot —Ellington/Strayhorn
Forum Dance Theatre
Choreography: Lindsey Beebe, Catie Deitz-Griffith, Julianne Deitz
Dancers: Jaimee Asistores, Mallory Drury, Rutva Gandhi, Jorah Holdeman, Kendall Hutson, Madison Jones, Lexi Koetz, Arianna LaTendresse, Autumn Lutz, Audrey Makey, Lydia Miller, Gabriella Petrucci, Araceli Rojas, Caroline Stock
6. Spanish Dance — Tchaikovsky
Plainfield Dance Academy / *Joffrey Ballet Trainee
Choreography: Altin Naska
Dancers: Elizabeth Birkholz, Caroline Rhoades, Kross Michaels*
7. Le Chocolat – James M. Stephenson
Elevations Studio Company
Choreography: Catie Deitz-Griffith, Julianne Deitz
Dancers: Cece Beil, Ellie Griffith, Abby Jahnke, Penelope Lillie-McDonald, Addilyn Mader, Molly McGowen, Alyssa Omiotek, Grace Pederson, Bella Ramsey, Ava Robinson, Emma Spence
8. Chinese Dance - Tchaikovsky
Plainfield Dance Academy
Choreography: Altin Naska
Dancers: Madelyn Duker, Emma Jaromin
9. Chinoserie - Ellington/Strayhorn
Tapman Productions
Performances by: Tristan Bruns and Jamie Demeny
10. Arabian Dance – Tchaikovsky
Plainfield Dance Academy - * Joffrey Studio Company
Choreography: Altin Naska
Dancers: Clare Domke, Kross Michaels * with Elizabeth Birkholz, Gwendolyn Warren
11. Arabesque Cookie – Ellington/Strayhorn
Part 1 - Performance by: Sophia de Leon Sanchez
Part 2 - Footprints Tap Ensemble
Artistic Director: Danielle Brooks
Dancers: Sasha Steinhous, Kenzie Stalbaum, Alice Vincent, Lexi Young, Tessa Wells
12. Sugar Plum Fairy - Tchaikovsky
Wheatland Dance Theater
Choreography: Olena Nalyvaiko after Marius Petipa
Performance by: Chrissa Gallos
13. Sugar Rum Cherry – Ellington/Strayhorn
Elevations Studio Company
Choreography: Catie Deitz-Griffith, Julianne Deitz
Dancers: Ellie Griffith, Addilyn Mader, Bella Ramsey, Ava Robinson, Emma Spence
14. Slavic Dance - Tchaikovsky
Plainfield Dance Academy
Choreography: Altin Naska
Dancers: Brooklynn Lugay, André Rodrigues with Zoe Meachum, Eive Mesco
15. Volga Vouty – Ellington/Strayhorn
Forum Jazz Dance Theatre
Choreography: Catie Deitz-Griffith, Abby Morris, Sinead Gildea
Dancers: Jaimee Asistores, Rutva Gandhi, Kendall Hutson, Madson Jones, Lydia Miller, Araceli Rojas
16. Grand Pas Deux - Tchaikovsky
Wheatland Dance Theater - * Joffrey Studio Company
Choreography: Olena Nalyvaiko after Marius Petipa
Dancers: Rebecca Taylor, Javier Cubillas Izaguirre *
17. Finale - Tchaikovsky
Grand Finale / Bows
18. Entre-acte – Ellington/Strayhorn
Grand Finale / Bows
For more information on featured dance organizations please visit their website: DanceChicago.com, PlainfieldDanceAcademy.com, WheatlandDanceTheater.com, ForumDanceTheatre.net, ElevationsDance.com, TalentForum.biz, TapmanProductions.com
Please join us in the concert hall lobby for a post-concert photo opportunity with the dancers!
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY
(1840–1893)
Although young Tchaikovsky exhibited great interest and ability in music, his education prepared him for a career as a civil servant. At the time, there was scant opportunity for a musical career in Russia and no public music education system. However in 1861, Tchaikovsky learned that the Russian Musical Society offered classes. He began musical studies there and eventually graduated from the Saint Petersburg Conservatory in 1865.
Tchaikovsky went on to write symphonies, concertos, operas, ballets, and chamber music, and is now considered one of the great Romantic Era composers. Just two years before his death, Tchaikovsky was commissioned by the legendary choreographer Marius Petipa to write music for a ballet based on E.T.A Hoffman’s story, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King . The show premiered in 1892 at the Mariinsky Theatre of Russia, home of the Kirov Ballet. The work made its way to Western Europe in the 1930’s and to America by 1940. The Nutcracker has since become a popular annual holiday tradition.
DUKE ELLINGTON (1899–1974)
BILLY STRAYHORN (1915–1967)
Both Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn began their music studies on piano. Ellington, originally from Washington D.C. and Strayhorn from Pittsburgh, first met in 1938 and began their long collaboration shortly thereafter. Considered among the most original and influential American composers, their long parternship flourished after Strayhorn moved to New York and joined the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Working together, Ellington and Strayhorn wrote hundreds of enduring compositions. Their music extended beyond jazz to blues, gospel, and classical music. Though they are most famous for their jazz writing for big band, they also composed for film, theater, and dance.
In 1960, Ellington recorded jazz interpretations of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, arranged by Ellington and Strayhorn for the Columbia label.
DANCE CHICAGO
JOHN SCHMITZ is the founder and artistic director of is the founder and artistic director of Dance Chicago and it’s producer, Emergence Dance Theatre. As a performer Schmitz has danced and choreographed both nationally and internationally including Paris premieres: 1989 at Cafe de la Danse and 1992 at Theatre des Amandiers. From 1985-1995 his company, Emergence created over 60 multi-image / film dance interactive works including three manifestations of Carmina Burana. He has been producing inventive dance events for over forty years, promoting alliances and collaborations between artists and dance organizations both nationally and internationally. Locally he has managed Ballet Chicago, Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theatre, The Joel Hall Dancers, The Chicago Repertory Dance Ensemble, Rockford Dance Company, as well as Emergence Dance Theatre. In 1995, he was honored as one of Chicago Tribune’s “Chicagoans of the Year.” In 1998 he received a Ruth Page Award for “Outstanding Contribution to the Dance Community”, and in 2006 his Dance Chicago was honored with The Columbia College Arts Entrepreneurship of the Year Award. That same year, he created the Dutch National Ballet Project, matching Chicago choreographers with an ensemble of DNB dancers. Schmitz partnered with Altin Naska in two special Dance Chicago tours: Tirana, Albania (2003) and Istanbul Turkey (2005). Since 2011 he has served as president of Athenaeum Theatre Productions, the management corporation of Chicago’s Athenaeum Theatre.
ALTIN NASKA is an internationally known, award winning choreographer, dancer, and master teacher with over three decades of performing and teaching experience in Europe and the United States.
He was soloist with Istanbul State Opera and Ballet, the Istanbul City Theater in Turkey, and a soloist with Tirana State Opera and Ballet in his native Albania. Naska graduated from the Albanian Arts Conservatory and also studied choreography at the Tirana Institute of Arts. After moving to Chicago in 1999, he performed with the national and international tour companies Thodos Dance Chicago and Mordine & Company to name a few, and guest in several suburban productions of “Nutcracker.” His choreography credit include Thodos Dance Chicago’s New Dances 20002003, The Dutch National Ballet’s 2004 New Voices program, The Joffrey Ballet dancers for Dance Chicago 2005 Choreography Project, Stars of Dance Chicago 2006 – 2016, Chicago Dance Theatre, as the Artistic Director for 2007 season, SPACE Conservatory as co-founder and director 2005-2015 and Wheatland Dance Theater as the Artistic Director since 2016.
Naska is recognized for his fusion of ballet, character and modern techniques and has taught master classes and workshops all around Chicago-area, nationally and internationally. In 2003, he was honored with Albania’s highest artistic achievement award for his choreography and outstanding professional career overseas. In 2007 he received the Dance Chicago’s Outstanding Choreography Award, and in 2012 was chosen as one of the 100 success stories of Albanian Excellence.
Currently, besides owning and directing Plainfield Dance Academy, Naska serves in several NFP dance organizations including co-founder and artistic director of the International Dance Embassy, an organization committed to honor and celebrate culturally diverse forms of dance through presentation, education and support of local artists, Executive and Artistic Director of Wheatland Dance Theater, a youth dance company affiliated with PDA with mission to foster a passion for artistic dance, to increase the community’s cultural awareness, Director of Cultural Exchange of Dance Chicago and Artistic and Touring Director of the Stars of Dance Chicago.
BRAEBURN BRASS
Based in Chicago, Illinois the chamber ensemble was first established in Appleton, Wisconsin at the 2019 Atlantic Brass Quintet Seminar. Braeburn has found success in their acceptances to the Aspen Music Festival, Fresh Inc Festival. In addition, they were featured in the 2020 virtual Atlantic Brass Quintet Seminar. The ensemble has premiered works such as Improv Take II by Benjamin Palmateer, Broad Street by Ryne Siesky, and Wind, Waves, and Web by Spencer Arias. Dedicated to expanding the brass repertoire, the Braeburn Brass have been involved in numerous commissions and consortiums.
QUINTET ATTACCA
Founded in 1999, Quintet Attacca is one of Chicago's most dynamic chamber music ensembles. Grand Prize Winner and Wind Division Gold Medal Winner of the 2002 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the quintet spent 2006-2009 as the Chicago Chamber Musicians' Professional Development Program Ensemble. Quintet Attacca is also proud to be in residence at the Music Institute of Chicago, offering performances, family programming, chamber music coaching and individual lessons.
Quintet Attacca is an ensemble dedicated to bringing the unique sound of the wind quintet to all types of audiences. Quintet Attacca has reached audiences from Italy (at the 2003 Emilia Romagne Festival) to New York (at the Schneider Concerts Series at the New School) to concert halls all over Chicagoland as well as many live broadcasts on WFMT. Recent performances include a residency with Chamber Music Society of Detroit, C3 Composers at Constellation, and Chamber Music on the Fox.
Priding itself on its innovative programming, Quintet Attacca enjoys presenting concerts that are both accessible and cutting-edge. Programs span from Classical and Romantic eras to jazz and Latin influenced works and include pieces of today’s leading composers as well. Additionally, six works have been written for the quintet: David Smooke's Trompe L'oeil , Collin Anderson's Tangram , Rami Levin’s Danças Brasilieras and Portraits , Dana McCormick's Two Episodes for Wind Quintet , and Daniel Asia’s Chicago Variations.
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, 2025 and December 1, 2025.
$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
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
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
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
Dr. Scholl Foundation * MIC Trustee
Give the gift of music!
Few things can transform lives and bring comfort and joy the way music can.
This holiday season, purchase a gift certificate and bring music into the life of someone you love.
Lessons and classes are available at campuses in Chicago, Downers Grove, Evanston, Lake Forest, and Winnetka.
Available through Friday, December 19, 2025 for a guaranteed delivery by December 25, 2025.
musicinst.org/mic-holiday
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.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
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
Vikram Raghavan
Jim Stone
Ross Updegraff
Zalman Usiskin
Scott Verschoor
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
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 TRUSTEES
Shalisa Kline Ugaz
Christopher Rintz
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
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
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
NICHOLS CONCERT HALL
nicholsconcerthall.org
ACADEMY CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6 AT 7:30 PM
TONIGHT!
Advanced pre-conservatory piano and string students will share the stage at Nichols Concert Hall for the MIC Academy’s first chamber music concert of the season. Featuring the music of Beethoven, Mozart, Dvorák, Haydn, and more!
2025-2026 PUBLIC EVENTS CALENDAR - FALL SEMESTER
Sunday, December 7 at 2, 3:30, & 5 PM
Adult Student Recitals
Thursday, December 11 at 12 PM
MIC Concert Band
Thursday, December 11 at 7 PM
Chamber Music Workshop for Adults Concert
Saturday, December 13 at 7:30 PM
Chicago a cappella presents: Holidays a cappella
Sunday, December 14 at 1:30 - 4:30 PM
Piano Departmental Recitals
Saturday, January 10 at 3 PM
MIC Chamber Music Concert
Saturday, January 10 at 5 PM
Master Class with violinist Midori
Sunday, January 11 at 2 PM
MIC Chamber Music Concert
Friday, January 16 at 7 PM
Rembrandt Chamber Musicians presents: Philippe Quint plays Chausson
Sunday, January 18 at 3 PM
Nichols Concert Hall Presents: Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration Concert
Sunday, January 18 at 7 PM
Winds, Brass, Percussion Departmental Recital
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 & Alvin Chow Piano Master Class
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CELEBRATION CONCERT
SUNDAY, JANUARY 18 » 3 PM
This annual tribute to the historic American leader features performances by Music Institute students and community partners.
FEATURING
Keynote address from Dr. Jonathan Bailey Holland Dean of the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University and Kay Davis Professor of Music
PERFORMANCES AND NEW WORK
Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative • Dance Center Evanston Evanston Art Center • Hearing in Color Young Composer Residency Music Institute of Chicago • Ravinia’s Reach Teach Play
