Music Institute of Chicago to Open Season with 85th Anniversary Faculty Concert, 9/20

The Music Institute of Chicago celebrates the institution's 85th year of transforming lives through music by opening its 2014-15 with a concert showcasing its stellar faculty Saturday, September 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston.

Members of the Music Institute's impressive faculty, now numbering more than 150, perform compositions associated with the number 85, including C.S. Lang's Fanfare, Op. 85 for organ; selections from Schumann's 12 Character Pieces for Small and Big Children, Op. 85 for four-hand piano; Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words for piano, Op. 85; Ravel's String Quartet, L. 85; Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Capricho Diabolico, Op. 85; Brahms' Sechs Lieder, Op. 85; and Stravinsky's Octet.

Faculty members on the program include Claire Aebersold and Ralph Neiweem, four-hand piano; Elizabeth Barber, flute; James Baur, guitar; Aimee Biasiello, viola; James Russell Brown, organ; Mary Drews, piano; Julie Fischer, violin; Chelsea French, trombone; Chris Hasselbring, trumpet; Rae-Myra Hilliard, soprano; Akiko Konishi, piano; James Setapen, conductor; Addison C. Teng, violin; and Sophie Webber, cello.

The Music Institute of Chicago is a community music school dedicated to transforming lives through music education. The institution exists to lead everyone in its community toward a lifelong engagement with music. Founded in 1931, the Music Institute has grown to become one of the three largest and most respected community music schools in the nation. Offering musical excellence built on the strength of its distinguished faculty, commitment to quality, and breadth of programs and services, the Music Institute is a member of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts and accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Pre-collegiate Arts Schools (ACCPAS). Each year, the Music Institute's teachers and arts therapists reach thousands of students and clients of all ages and levels of experience. Music Institute locations include Chicago, Evanston, Winnetka, Lincolnshire, Lake Forest, and Downers Grove. In addition, the Music Institute is proud of its longstanding partnership with the Chicago Public Schools through its Arts Link program. The Music Institute offers lessons and classes, creative arts therapy, and concerts through its Community School, Academy, Institute for Therapy through the Arts (ITA), and Nichols Concert Hall.

The Music Institute's 2014-15 Faculty and Guest Artist Concert Series at Nichols Concert Hall continues with its annual Jazz Festival, this year featuring the music of Charlie Parker, Nov. 7-8, and a Community Music Festival, opening with the Cavani Quartet April 19, closing with the Ying Quartet May 2 and featuring 100 community concerts by Music Institute students during that time period.

The Music Institute of Chicago's 85th Anniversary Opening Concert takes place Saturday, September 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue in Evanston. Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for seniors and $10 for students, available at brownpapertickets.com/event/761157 or 847.905.1500 ext. 108. All programming is subject to change. For more information, visit musicinst.org.

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