Music Institute of Chicago To Honor Maestro Riccardo Muti 5/4

The Music Institute of Chicago (MIC), now in its 81st year, hosts its annual gala Wednesday, May 4 at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, 120 East Delaware Place. The oldest community music school in Illinois and one of the three largest community music schools in the nation, MIC is planning a celebratory evening highlighted by the presentation of the Dushkin Award to internationally renowned conductor and Chicago Symphony Orchestra Music Director Riccardo Muti.

Chaired by Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols, the evening begins at 6 p.m. with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, followed by an elegant dinner and awards presentation.

The prestigious Dushkin Award, established 25 years ago and named for MIC's visionary founders Dorothy and David Dushkin, has been conferred upon some of the most revered and accomplished musical artists and educators. Past recipients include Yo-Yo Ma, Leon Fleisher, Renée Fleming, Placido Domingo, William Warfield, Isaac Stern, Sir Georg Solti, Pierre Boulez, Samuel Ramey, and Bruno Bartoletti, among others. This year's recipient, Maestro Riccardo Muti, has conducted many of the world's greatest orchestras during an extraordinary career spanning more than 40 years.

The Music Institute of Chicago will confer its second annual "Cultural Visionary Award for Chicago" on Sandra and Jack Guthman, recognizing their extraordinary civic and philanthropic leadership in advancing Chicago's cultural presence.

Musical performances throughout the evening will include young musicians from both MIC's Community School and Academy, all of whom receive financial aid or scholarship support.

Honorary Chairs for MIC's 81st Anniversary Gala include John H. Bryan, Joan W. Harris and Cindy Pritzker, all of whom received the inaugural "Cultural Visionary Award for Chicago" at the 2010 80th Anniversary Gala. The Corporate Grand Benefactor for the evening is Northern Trust, which has provided generous underwriting support for the Gala.

The generosity of individuals and companies who support MIC's annual gala provide the primary source of scholarship and financial aid programs that benefit more than 7,000 students annually at the Institute's eight primary campuses, as well as through its extensive outreach programs in 12 Chicago Public Schools and with community-based nonprofit organizations.

Individual tickets to MIC's 81st Anniversary Gala are $550. For information, please call 847.448.8327.

 

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