The Music Institute of Chicago Announces Family Programming, 3/17

The Music Institute of Chicago will join the national celebration of Music In Our Schools Month with a day of concerts for all ages and an instrument petting zoo Saturday, March 17 at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston. The day's events, all free except where noted, are as follows:

• 9 a.m.: Open house including the Music Institute's instrument petting zoo, refreshments, early childhood demonstrations, Suzuki opportunities, and more.
• 10 a.m.: Family Concert by Rami Vamos: Introducing: Wolfgang Amadeus Schmutzinberry introduces children both to the instrumentation and textures of the string quartet as well as the compositional process. The mediocre genius Schmutzinberry creates his masterpiece to the sounds of a live string quartet. Ludwig van Beethoven even makes a cameo appearance! Cost: $10 per family.
• 1 p.m.: Music Institute Composer-in-Residence Mischa Zupko will explore all things musical with students fromSkokie Montessori School. Building on the skills that the Skokie Recorder Level 1 and 2 students have developed with Music Institute instructor Rachel Page, Zupko will focus on the expressive qualities composers build into their works.
• 3 p.m.: In celebration of Music In Our Schools Month, the Music Institute honors the Joseph Sears School Band from Kenilworth, directed by Patrick Dawson, with its 2012 award for Excellence in Middle School Instrumental Music, which includes a $500 cash prize for the band program and five $100 scholarships for students to study at the Music Institute. The band performs with Music Institute ensembles-in-residence Quintet Attacca and Axiom Brass.
• 5 p.m.: To conclude the day's events, Evanston Escola de Samba, which offers classes at the Music Institute, performs a high-energy family concert, featuring a trumpet welcome by students from the Music Institute's Dawes School and Walker School "Brass for Beginners" Program, followed by an interactive samba experience. Brazilian Chicago websiteChicagoano recently named Evanston Escola de Samba Chicago's Best Samba School.

About Rami Vamos

Combining his talents as a performer, educator, writer, and composer, Rami Vamos has produced a wide array of creative output, ranging from children's musicals to chamber compositions. For the past 10 years he has used these creations to share an appreciation of classical music with people of all ages and backgrounds.

The Music Institute of Chicago believes that music has the power to sustain and nourish the human spirit; therefore, our mission is to provide the foundation for lifelong engagement with music. As one of the three largest and most respected community music schools in the nation, the Music Institute offers musical excellence built on the strength of our distinguished faculty, commitment to quality, and breadth of programs and services. Founded in 1931 and one of the oldest community music schools in Illinois, the Music Institute is a member of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts and accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. Each year, our world-class music teachers and arts therapists provide the highest quality arts education to more than 5,000 students of all ability levels, from birth to 101 years of age at campuses in Evanston, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Lincolnshire, Winnetka, and Downers Grove. The Music Institute also offers lessons and programs at the Steinway of Chicago store in Northbrook and early childhood and community engagement programs throughout the Chicago area and the North Shore. Nichols Concert Hall, our education and performance center located in downtown Evanston, reaches approximately 14,000 people each year. Our community engagement and partnership programs reach an additional 6,500 Chicago Public School students annually. The Music Institute offers lessons, classes, and programs through four distinct areas: Community School, The Academy, Creative Arts Therapy (Institute for Therapy through the Arts), and Nichols Concert Hall.