Ravinia Festival Teams With Local Teens To Bring Young Listeners To Chicago Symphony Orchestra Concerts

In an effort to bring awareness and opportunity of classical music performances to young people, Ravinia Festival teamed with teens from Highland Park High School to create the Classical Youth Initiative, to urge high school students to experience the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for free and a chance to win money for their school's music programs. The program consists of three parts; free lawn attendance for high school students with a valid school I.D. at all classical concerts; a summer-long CSO attendance contest where students can gain points for their school to win a $1,000 grant; and a special high school night including a pre-concert event and the chance to gain double points for the attendance contest.

This year, Ravinia has made lawn admission free to high school and college students for classical events when they present a current student I.D. at the Ravinia Box Office including the 75th anniversary of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's summer residency (excluding the July 23 Gala). Reserved-seat upgrades may become available at a reduced price for students. Likewise, lawn admission to classical concerts will be free to all kids age 15 and under.

The attendance contest spans the duration of the 75th anniversary of the CSO summer residency at Ravinia, from July 7 to August 19. High school students simply show their valid student I.D at the Ravinia Box Office for free lawn admission at any CSO show (excluding the July 23 Gala) and the box office will keep track of the primary high school they attend. The school from which has the most student visits at the end of the CSO residency will be awarded a $1,000 grant from Ravinia Festival towards that school's music programs.

The festival, along with the Ravinia Student Advisory Board will also host a special teen night pre-concert event for high school students from 3 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., on Sunday, July 31, before the CSO's all-Tchaikovsky program including the "1812" Overture which features live cannons. "Cannon Ball 2011" will include free snacks and refreshments in a designated exclusive area and students who attend the event and performance will also receive double points for their high school. To RSVP for the event, students can visit Ravinia.org and click on "Cannon Ball."

The Ravinia Student Advisory Board consists of students from Highland Park High School who volunteered their time during the 2011 spring semester to work with Ravinia staff, brainstorming ideas of bringing their peers to CSO concerts at Ravinia and create interest in classical music. The students gave a multimedia presentation of their idea at the school's celebrated "Focus on the Arts," a biennial arts immersion program that excuses students from their regular classes to they can attend various cultural programs and events, which are also open to the public. The event was attended by their peers, teachers, parents and Ravinia staff and trustees. The Ravinia Student Advisory Board continues to meet with Ravinia staff during the summer months.

For more information on this project, visit Ravinia.org. Ravinia welcomes all festival fans to follow, connect and interact online at backstage.ravinia.org, facebook.com (search Ravinia Festival) and twitter.com/raviniafestival. Ravinia Festival is a not-for-profit organization.

 

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