Chicago Sinfonietta Invites You to “Bring Your Own Beat”

Bring Your Own Beat concert poster
“‘BYOB: Bring Your Own Beat will be anything but typical for a night at the symphony (and yes, jeans are allowed)’, states Chicago Sinfonietta in its announcement of this event. Certainly, this concert program will impress the audience with its loud percussion noises and especially with a raucous finale, where the audience members will be
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MacArthur Foundation Gives Grants Exclusively to Chicago Arts Scene

“The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has chosen Chicago’s cultural landscape and arts scene to exclusively receive its artist grants in 2016.” “The decision to award these grants solely to Chicago arts and culture community reflects the foundation’s commitment to its hometown and its hope to strengthen the city’s vibrant cultural life, a
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Review: Chicago Sinfonietta Hosts Stellar MLK Tribute

“The Chicago Sinfonietta hosted a stellar Martin Luther King Jr. tribute concert at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra On Monday, Jan. 18 Music director Mei-Ann Chen was brilliant as she conducted the Sinfonietta with her signature charismatic style.” Read more about our 2016 Martin Luther King Tribute Concert in Rollingout’s full review!
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Mei-Ann Chen Voted one of MA’s 30 Professionals of the Year

Mei-Ann Chen was named one of MusicalAmerica's 30 professionals of the year
“Mei-Ann Chen never misses an opportunity to try something new. During one Chicago Sinfonietta performance, for example, a Chicago-based punk marching band, Mucca Pazza, emerged from below stage wearing mismatched uniforms for Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. As a toy cannon shot confetti, younger listeners tried to grab handfuls. According to Chen, imaginative touches like these draw
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Feature: Sinfonietta’s Diversity Mission Shifts Into High Gear

Chicago Sinfonietta music director Mei-Ann Chen
“Daring. Defiant. Different. That’s how the Chicago Sinfonietta markets itself. It’s no empty assertion. “For 27 seasons the mid-sized orchestra has made it its niche mission to promote ethnic diversity among its players, staff, board and audience. It prides itself on the sometimes outrageous eclecticism of its programs. It has been a role model for
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Review: Chen leads Chicago Sinfonietta, Vocal Forces Through Exuberant, Sensual ‘Carmina Burana’

Music director Mei-Ann Chen leads the Chicago Sinfonietta, the choir of Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts, and the Anima Young Singers of Greater Chicago in Carl Orff's 'Carmina Burana'
“The singular community spirit of Chicago Sinfonietta was on proud display March 23 at Orchestra Hall in a stylish, disciplined and roundly entertaining performance of Orff’s “Carmina Burana” conducted by the organization’s music director, Mei-Ann Chen. “Featured with Chen’s chamber-size ensemble were two Chicago choruses, both prepared to a fare-thee-well: the choir of Roosevelt University’s Chicago College
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Review: Chicago Sinfonietta’s “Primal Instincts” Concert Review – A Perfect Spring Concert

Cristina Pato plays the gaita in Emilio Solla's
“The Libretto for Carmina Burana in Latin and English was contained in the program and illuminated the music. All of the performances were outstanding and included the Roosevelt University CCPA Conservatory Choir, Anima Young Singer of Greater Chicago, Kimberly Jones, Soprano, Jonathan Weyant, Tenor (expressing the agony of a dying swan) and Joseph Lattanzi, Baritone. The music was so powerful
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Review: Despite Setbacks, the Legacy MLK Set in Motion Cannot be Stopped

Chicago Sinfonietta's 2015 Martin Luther King Tribute Concert
“I see Dr. King’s dream personified in the mission and vision of the Chicago Sinfonietta,  the country’s most diverse symphonic orchestra, which hosted their annual MLK Concert on yesterday. It was more than serendipity that Maestro Paul Freeman, the Sinfonietta’s founder, met Dr. King in an airport and the idea to form the organization was born. Maestro Freeman’s
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Review: I Have a Dream – Chicago Sinfonietta Promoted Young Talents at its Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr.

Music director Mei-Ann Chen conducts the Chicago Sinfonietta's 2015 Martin Luther King Tribute Concert
“If this great man would be alive today, he would look at the performances of those young talented people of color with great satisfaction and pride.” “This triumph of equity and freedom demonstrated by young and talented people of different races and nationalities was presented by one of the most incredible symphony orchestras in the
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Review: Chicago Sinfonietta and Mucca Pazza at Symphony Center Review – Kindred Spirits Leave Audience Beaming Smiles

Mucca Pazza performs Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture with the Chicago Sinfonietta.
“When Chicago Sinfonietta coined it’s new logo – ‘Daring, Defiant, Different’—they mistakenly left out ‘Delightful’. That was abundantly clear by the end of their joint concert with seeming kindred spirit Mucca Pazza, the punk marching band that has bottled joy in its shtick-on-steroids marching band persona. “…With cheerleaders carrying pom-poms made from crime scene caution tape, band members wearing
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