Stokman Piano Recital Supports Sheep Dog Impact Resistance

Music Institute of Chicago piano faculty Abraham Stokman performs a recital Wednesday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m. at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston. The performance is a fundraiser for Sheep Dog Impact Assistance, a national nonprofit organization that engages, assists, and empowers men and women in the military, law enforcement, fire and rescue, and emergency medical service professions to go beyond the call of duty by offering them opportunities to volunteer in their communities.

The all-Mozart program includes four Piano Sonatas and the Piano Trio in B-flat Major, K. 502. Joining Stokman for the Trio are violinist Sang Mee Lee, chair of the Music Institute's Strings Department, and cellist Paula Kosower, Northwestern University professor. Also a vivid painter, Stokman plans to create a new painting for the event to auction, with proceeds also benefiting Sheep Dog Impact Assistance.

Stokman's initiative corresponds with the Music Institute's year-long commitment to Music as Service, which provides students with the opportunity to share their music with people in need as volunteers across our community. The initiative also extends to faculty and ensembles in residence, including Quintet Attacca's performances at area VA hospitals in Illinois.

Abraham Stokman
A member of the Music Institute's piano faculty since 1991, Stokman has performed numerous solo recitals in Chicago and on the East Coast. He was a soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and performed a series of chamber concerts with Orchestra members throughout the city. He was a member of the Contemporary Chamber Players with Ralph Shapey and has also played with CUBE Ensemble. Stokman was the founder of the contemporary concert music series "Music for a While," which ran for nine years under the auspices of the Music Institute.

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. For more information, visit musicinst.org.