North Central College takes pride in its role as a cultural gem in the Chicago area and specifically as a cultural leader right here in Naperville. They view it as part of their responsibility as an institution of higher education to engage the community through entertaining, enlightening, and thought-provoking performances, exhibits and presentations on our campus.
Author: CMO
Positively Naperville | UPDATE 2023 / NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS
Chicago Tribune | Chicago Sinfonietta’s MLK tribute comes to Naperville
The Sinfonietta’s artist-in-residence, Kathryn Bostic, will premier her commissioned work, “Letters from Moral Courage.” It’s a 20-minute read more.
WFMT | Music and Conversation with Blake-Anthony Johnson
George Preston is joined by Chicago Sinfonietta CEO Blake-Anthony Johnson to preview upcoming Chicago Sinfonietta performances, discuss Sinfonietta’s move to the Auditorium Theatre, and hear Blake-Anthony’s thoughts on being chosen as one of Crain’s 40 Under 40 Business Leaders.
Chicago Tribune | Chicagoan of the Year for Classical Music: Chicago Sinfonietta president and CEO Blake-Anthony Johnson leads an orchestra for everyone
For the past couple of years, all eyes have been on the Chicago Sinfonietta. Some of that attention was nothing new — or, at least, it shouldn’t have been, seeing as the Sinfonietta has championed racial and ethnic diversity onstage, in its audience and in its programming for, oh, 35 years now.
Spoleto Festival USA Announces Expanded Orchestra Showcase for 2023
Three concerts highlight the acclaimed Festival ensemble with special guest
conductors Mei-Ann Chen and Jonathon Heyward.
Ticket packages for the series are available Monday, December 5, 2022, at 12:00pm EST.
Spoleto Orchestra Series-PR-12.5.2022
Giving Tuesday
Chicago Sinfonietta has been making a real impact in Chicagoland communities and the performing arts space for over 35 years! Help us reach our goal this Giving Tuesday, November 29, 2022 by donating here: bit.ly/3FZcikM
Press Release | CS CEO named one of Crain’s 40 Under 40
Chicago Sinfonietta’s CEO Blake-Anthony Johnson was recently named one of Crain’s 40 Under 40.
Chicago Sinfonietta X Auditorium Theater
Chicago Sinfonietta recently announced that it will be joining the Auditorium Theater as it’s resident orchestra for the 2023-24 season! Learn more about this historic move here.
Press Release | Chicago Sinfonietta receives Donne award
Dedicated to achieving gender equality in the music industry,
the Donne Foundation creates impact through education and inspiration, and
projects such as Donne, Women in Music. The Foundation’s latest research
“Equality & Diversity in Global Repertoire” on repertoire presented by 111
select orchestras from 31 countries during the 2021-22 season found that of
those organizations, Chicago Sinfonietta was “the only orchestra to achieve
50/50 gender equality with an amazing diversity of composers as well.”
As a result of the findings, Donne has selected Chicago Sinfonietta as the first
recipient of its first Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Champions Award.
“I am delighted to present this award to the Chicago Sinfonietta and their Music
Director Mei Ann-Chen. Their motto is to be innovative, bold, and inclusive and
they are the real evidence that it can be done! I hope the world is watching and
that many will follow their incredible inspiration.” Stated Gabriella Di Laccio,
soprano and founder of the Donne Foundation.
“The Chicago Sinfonietta has been a pioneering force championing musicians
of color and women for years, and it is especially wonderful when such efforts
are recognized officially,” said Maestra Mei-Ann Chen. “Special thanks to the
hard work of Gabriella Di Laccio and Donne, Women in Music for its
contribution collecting repertoire done by orchestras and especially for its
inaugural EDI Champions Award.”
Executive Director Blake-Anthony Johnson stated, “Our Freeman
Fellowships, the appointment of Maestra Chen as Music Director, Kathryn
Bostic as our inaugural Artist in Residence, and our acclaimed Project W
highlighting contemporary, diverse, women composers are just a few examples
of Chicago Sinfonietta’s commitment to equity & representation within the arts.
Our push to make the universal language of music universally accessible has
been our mission from day one, and we are pleased to be honored for our
legacy but most importantly our dedication to the work ahead.”
ABOUT THE DONNE FOUNDATION
With a mission to create a more equitable music industry, the Donne
Foundation is a charitable foundation that celebrates, advances, and amplifies
women in music. Founded by the award-winning soprano Gabriella Di Laccio,
named one of the BBC’s 100 most inspirational and influential women in the
world in November 2018, the Foundation curates “The Big List” of female
composers and their works (over 5,000 strong and growing), education and
research projects, and multi-media content, podcasts, tailored programmes
and playlists, and more.
The Foundation’s Partners include the Arts Council England, Scala Radio,
PRS Foundation, St. Benedict’s School, Drama Musica, and Private
Goodness.
Further information, including the 2022 report and more, may be found on the
Donne website: https://donne-uk.org//research-new/
“How Much Would You Pay to Hear Great Music?”
New York Times: “With ticket prices for performing arts rising, could fresh approaches like pay-what-you-can increase access and foster more adventurous programming?”
Removing socioeconomic barriers is one of those things we have to be ahead of.” – Chicago Sinfonietta CEO Blake-Anthony Johnson on programs like our landmark Pay-What-You-Can initiative catching fire across the country.