Music Institute And Dance Chicago 'Duke It Out' 12/8

Classical, jazz and dance combine when the Music Institute of Chicago collaborates with Dance Chicago to present a family concert, "Duke It Out!," Saturday, December 8 at 2 p.m. at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston.

This Nutcracker performance, curated by Dance Chicago, pairs the classical (Tchaikovsky) and jazz (Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn) versions of the holiday favorite, performed by Axiom Brass and Music Institute Ensemble-in-Residence Quintet Attacca. Featured ensembles in past years have included Forum Jazz Dance Theatre, Moscow Ballet's children's cast, The Kate Jablonski Statement, Tapman Productions, Visceral Dance Chicago, Wheatland Dance Theater, and other companies and choreographers participating in Dance Chicago. The performance is a family-friendly 60 minutes, followed by a festive holiday reception featuring refreshments and a photo booth with the artists. 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 (one of only two wind quintets to ever win the Grand Prize), the quintet spent 2006-09 as the Chicago Chamber Musicians' Professional Development Program Ensemble and continues as CCM's Outreach and Education 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.

The Music Institute's 2018-19 Faculty and Guest Artist Series continues with "Polonaise-Fantasie, the Story of a Pianist" featuring solo pianist Inna Faliks February 10; Paul Barnes, pianist and chanter, in "Love and Death and Resurrection in the Musical Vision of Philip Glass, Franz Liszt, and Ancient Chant" March 10; the genre-defying Time for Three trio April 7; a Lionel Hampton Birthday Celebration featuring Joe Locke, Tammy McCann, and Thaddeus Tukes April 20; and the Academy Orchestra with the Bach Week Festival and piano soloist Sergei Babayan April 28

"Duke It Out!" takes place Saturday, December 8 at 2 p.m.
at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue in Evanston.
Tickets are $5 general admission, available at 800-838-3006 or musicinst.org.
All programming is subject to change. Nichols Concert Hall

Noted architect Solon S. Beman designed the architecturally and acoustically magnificent First Church of Christ, Scientist, located at 1490 Chicago Avenue in Evanston, in 1912. In 2003, the building was sensitively restored to become Nichols Concert Hall, a state-of-the-art, 550-seat performance space and music education destination, easily accessible to numerous restaurants, on-street and metered parking, and the Davis Street CTA and Metra stations. The converted building, featuring a fully restored, 1914 E. M. Skinner pipe organ, received the Richard H. Driehaus Award for best adaptive use by the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois. Each year Nichols Concert Hall reaches approximately 15,000 people and hosts a world-class chamber music series, workshops and master classes, student recitals, and special events.

Music Institute of Chicago
The Music Institute of Chicago is dedicated to transforming lives through music education. Founded in 1931, the Music Institute has grown to become one of the 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 for Community Arts Education and accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Pre-collegiate Arts Schools (ACCPAS). Each year, the Music Institute's teachers reach thousands of students 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, and concerts through its Community Music School, Academy, and Nichols Concert Hall. Photo of Quintet Attacca courtesy of Quintet Attacca.