Flutronix, the forward-thinking duo of Nathalie Joachim and Allison Loggins-Hull, presents Black Being, a four-movement song cycle for flutes, electronics, voice, and chamber orchestra that explores and reclaims the Black female experience.
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Black Being features Grammy-nominated performer and composer Nathalie Joachim, âa fresh and invigorating cross-cultural voiceâ (The Nation), and âpowerhouseâ (The Washington Post) performer, composer, and producer, Allison Loggins-Hull, with the Chicago Sinfonietta under the direction of Mei-Ann Chen.
Praised at its premiere as âthe most stunning live performanceâ and named among the Top 10 Classical Music Events of 2021 by the Chicago Tribune, the work incorporates evocative poetry by North Carolina Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green, revealing facets of the collaboratorsâ lives rarely shared within a classical-concert frame.
The opening movement, âAngels,â reflects on the terror and confusion of the American slave trade, its atmosphere shaped by looping flute textures and Joachimâs vocoder recitations. The second movement, âWater Babies,â casts harrowing light on those thrown overboard from slave ships.
A nostalgic shift arrives with âMoon Pies and Stardust,â a meditation on the comfort and memory of shared space with loved ones. The cycle concludes with âBlack Lights,â an iterative finale that rises from the weight of the journey to affirm the breadth and radiance of Black womanhood across eras.
Originally introduced in a small-scale version at the Arts Club of Chicago in 2021, Black Being received its chamber orchestra premiere with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (a co-commissioner with the Chicago Sinfonietta) in April 2022.
Black Being was produced by Elaine Martone (Sonarc Music) and engineered by Dan Nichols. The album was recorded on January 21â23, 2025, in the Mary Patricia Gannon Concert Hall at DePaul University.
Black Being is made possible by generous support from an Anonymous donor, The Robert & Isabelle Bass Foundation, Inc., and the Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University.
Newly Elected Board Vice Chair Althea Alviar Lee Joins New Chair Wendy Lewis to Lead Orchestraâs Board
Chicago Sinfonietta is pleased to announce the election of Althea Alviar Lee as its new Vice Chair, succeeding Genhi Givings Bailey, who served in this capacity since 2022. Lee joins newly elected BoardChair Wendy Lewis, President and CEO Sidney Jacksonâwhose tenure with the organization began earlier this summerâand Music Director Mei-Ann Chen to create a diverse quartet of executive, board, and artistic leadership that is unmatched in the field.
Together, the orchestraâs leaders are dedicated to ensuring that founder Paul Freemanâs mission for the Sinfoniettaâto create a culturally responsive organization that advocates for inclusivity in all aspects of its workâis carried forward, as well as to the ideal that those values are embodied at all levels of the organization, on stage and off.
Chicago Sinfoniettaâs new President and CEO Sidney Jackson, who joined the Sinfonietta in May, said, âThis moment is a true inflection point for our esteemed organization, as we begin an inspired 2025-26 season designed by Maestra Chen. Iâm thrilled to have Wendy and Althea as two outstanding partners to lead the Board in our collective efforts to embrace excellenceâboth artistic and otherwiseâwhile further entrenching ourselves in the greater Chicago communities. Both of these outstanding leaders bring a wide range of perspectives and deep executive experience to our team, and we are energized for an exciting year of imaginative, thoughtful programs and educational initiatives.â
Althea Alviar Lee, incoming Board Vice Chair, said, âI was drawn to Chicago Sinfonietta by the feeling of community and connection that its performances create for everyone in the audience. I have experienced firsthand the impact of the Sinfoniettaâs work and am honored to have a role on the Board that allows me to help amplify it and create more connections through community engagement.â
As a board member, Lee has served as secretary and on the Nominating & Governance, Finance, and Executive Committees. She was the founding chair of the Sinfoniettaâs Associates Board prior to her appointment to the Board of Directors in 2016, and brings many years of experience in human resources and talent management to her role.
âIt makes me so proud to lead an organization such as this one that is so well aware of and connected to its legacy,â said Board Chair Wendy Lewis. âLooking ahead, itâs our intent that the Sinfoniettaâs mission be embedded across all areas of our organizationâthrough administration, performances, and community engagement initiativesâso that we have the opportunity to carry this distinguished legacy forward.â
Lewis has served on various committees of the Chicago Sinfoniettaâs Board since 2016 and was elected as Chair of the Board this summer. She served as interim CEO during the organizationâs search for President and CEO, and brings decades of experience in the diversity and inclusion space from her work with Major League Baseball and McDonaldâs to her Board role.
Chicago Sinfoniettaâs 2025-26 season is underway, and features five subscription programs, each performed in a distinguished Chicago venueâ Studebaker Theater, Mandel Hall, The Auditorium, Harris Theater, and Pick-Saiger Hallâand in Naperville at Wentz Auditorium at North Central College.
Chicago Sinfonietta Celebrates the Season with Holidays of Hope ConcertsCONCERTS
Kedrick Armstrong, a Freeman Fellow Alum, Conducts an Internationally-Inspired Program Featuring Duke Ellingtonâs  Jazz Twist on the Famous Holiday Classic Nutcracker Suite
December 19 at Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville December 20 at Mandel Hall in Hyde Park
[CHICAGO-November 21, 2025]âChicago Sinfonietta brings the holiday season to life with two performances of Holidays of Hope: Friday, December 19 at 7 p.m., at Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College in Naperville, and on Saturday, December 20 at Mandel Hall in Hyde Park at 7 p.m.
The cheerful holiday program is anchored around Duke Ellingtonâs jazzy Nutcracker Suite (After Tchaikovsky), and is curated to include music by women, immigrants, and artists of color with a dash of international flavor. Through a mix of beloved and lesser-known works, the program mirrors the diversity of the Sinfoniettaâs Chicago home and strengthens its bond with the community it has grown alongside. Past Freeman Conducting Fellow and rising star Kedrick Armstrong conducts.
âThe concert is a celebration of the joy and warmth that come from sharing our diverse cultural holiday traditions,â said Kedrick Armstrong. âThrough a rich tapestry of beloved holiday melodies, we hope to inspire a sense of unity, hope, and belonging. Our goal is for everyone in the audience to recognize a piece of their own heritage reflected on stageâand to leave feeling uplifted and connected. This program is a wonderful mix of my own favorites and some new-to-us all pieces that I hope everyone enjoys.â
Duke Ellington, inspired by Tchaikovskyâs music for the iconic holiday tale of the Nutcracker, opted to write a jazz version of the popular suite from the ballet; this brassy, fresh take on the classic melodies is sure to bring visions of sugarplums to all. The program of global seasonal favorites also includes a French symphonic interlude by Augusta HolmĂšs, Christmas Overture by British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, music for Hanukkah, Mexican piñata songs, a Czech Christmas song by VĂtÄzslava KaprĂĄlovĂĄ, the ever-popular Sleigh Ride, and a sing-along finale of seasonal favorites.
At these performances, Chicago Sinfonietta will continue to support its community by accepting food donations for the Pilsen Food Pantry. Accepted items for donation include unopened 32-ounce (or smaller) bottles of cooking oil, dry seasonings/spices (pepper, salt, garlic, cinnamon, etc), powdered milk, 16-ounce jars of peanut butter, spaghetti sauce (jar), 2-quart low sodium chicken broth, chicken noodle soup (pop tabs preferred), and dried pasta.
At both performances, festive pre-concert lobby activities for audiences include building their own luminaria for the sing-along finale and enjoy the complimentary hot cocoa bar.
Chicago Sinfoniettaâs 2025-26 season features five programs, each performed in a distinguished Chicago venueâStudebaker Theater, Mandel Hall, The Auditorium, Harris Theater, and Pick-Staiger Hallâand in Naperville at Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College. Other events and initiatives include the Freeman Fellowship program, monthly community performances, and much more.
Subscriptions and tickets for all events can be purchased via the website.
Saturday, December 20 at 7 PM Mandel Hall, University of Chicago, 1131 E. 57th St. (in Hyde Park), Chicago, ILHolidays of Hope Program
Nigel Hess
A Christmas Overture Â
Quinn MASONÂ
Christmas Eve
Peter JAFFE
Symph-Hanukkah
VĂtÄzslava KAPRĂLOVĂ
Christmas Prelude  Â
Duke ELLINGTONÂ Â
Nutcracker Suite (After Tchaikovsky) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Samuel COLERIDGE-TAYLOR
Christmas Overture
Robert Xavier RODRĂGUEZ
Piñata  Â
Augusta HOLMĂS
La Nuit et lâamour Â
Leroy ANDERSON
Sleigh Ride
Gary PARKSÂ Â
Joyeaux Noel! A Holiday Sing-A-Long Â
Tickets start at $30 and are available at ChicagoSinfonietta.org or by calling 312.284.1554. Box office hours are Monday-Friday, 12 PM to 4 PM and all day on concert days. Student tickets are also available; valid ID required.
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Media Contact:Rachelle Roe, Arts / Etc. Public Relations / 312.618.6655
[CHICAGO, September 5, 2025]â Chicago Sinfoniettaâs outgoing Board Chair Jim Weidner and newly appointed President and CEO Sidney Jackson are pleased to announce the election of the Sinfoniettaâs new BoardChair, Wendy Lewis, to a term of three years beginning this month. Weidner, who served as Chair for the past three years, became Emeritus Chair.
âIt has been a privilege to serve as the Chair of this Board these past few years,â said Weidner. âThe role of the Chicago Sinfonietta to bring classical music to ALL of Chicago has never been more important. Iâm particularly proud of the work weâve done both at home, to reach and serve more of Chicagoâs communities, and on the road in 2024 to perform at Spelman College in Atlanta.â
He continued, âI congratulate Wendy on her new post. I worked closely with Wendy in her role as Interim CEO this past year and am most confident in her abilities to lead this Board.â
Chicago Sinfoniettaâs President and CEO Sidney Jackson, who joined the Sinfonietta in May, said, âIâm thrilled to welcome Wendy as our new Chair. She is an outstanding leader who brings a wide range of perspectives and deep experience to our team, and itâs a dream come true for me to partner with her as we lead this unique organization forward! We are energized for an exciting year of imaginative, thoughtful programs and educational initiatives. Jim Weidner has my thanks, as well, for his steadfast support of this organization.â
âStaying true to the mission of our founder Paul Freeman is essential to Sinfoniettaâs strategic plan for continued growth,â said incoming Board Chair Wendy Lewis. âFreemanâs legacy is embedded in all aspects of the organization. It grounds us as well as propels us forward in purpose, artistic excellence, commitment to communities, and the richness of diversity. Iâm honored to be a part of leading this Board and this game changing institution.â
Wendy Lewis has served on various committees of the Chicago Sinfoniettaâs Board since 2016. She was appointed interim CEO during the organizationâs search for President and CEO and brings decades of experience in the diversity and inclusion space from her work with Major League Baseball and McDonaldâs.
Chicago Sinfoniettaâs 2025-26 season begins in October, and features five subscription programs, each performed in a distinguished Chicago venueâ Studebaker Theater, Mandel Hall, The Auditorium, Harris Theater, and Pick-Saiger Hallâand in Naperville at Wentz Auditorium at North Central College. Other events and initiatives include free Music Mondays at Chicago Public Libraries, the Freeman Fellowship program, monthly community performances, and much more.
Subscriptions and tickets for all events can be purchased via the website.
Chicago, IL – It was 2011 when North Central College partnered with Chicago Sinfonietta (CS), an award-winning orchestral group with established ties to Chicagoâs Loop. Attracted to Wentz Concert Hall for its acoustics and aesthetic beauty, Jim Hirsch, former executive director and CEO, was eager to cross-pollinate CSâs particular brand of innovative classical music with Napervilleâs diverse community of music enthusiasts and cultural consumers.
Learn more about our opening night and join us at Bollywood & Beyond on October 17 at 7 PM at Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville.
Season tickets, offering a substantial 40% savings, are now available on CSâs website.
The Strad | Chicago Sinfonietta Names New Principal Cello
Chicago, IL â The Strad the world’s most authoritative and influential string music magazine, read by makers, musicians and teachers since 1890, has featured Chicago Sinfonietta’s announcement of Lindsey Sharpe’s appointment as its new principal cello.
Sharpe was a member of the cello section in the 2024-25 season, and succeeds the Sinfoniettaâs founding principal cello Ann Griffin, who steps aside into the assistant principal role.
âStepping into the Principal role brings a deeper sense of responsibilityânot just musically, but as a leader within the ensemble,â said Sharpe in a statement. âIâm excited for the challenge of setting the tone for the section, helping shape our collective sound, and building strong collaboration with the other principals.â
The Chicago Sinfonietta will kick-off it’s 2025-26 season with Bollywood & Beyond on October 17 at Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville and October 18 at Studebaker Theater in Chicago.
Chicago, IL – The League of American Orchestras announced new members elected to its Board of Directors. Dr. Regynald G. Washington, a member of Chicago Sinfoniettaâs Board of Directors since October 2017, is one of the seven new Board members that have joined the League of American Orchestrasâ Board of Directors; and will serve a three-year term.
Dr. Washington joins a dynamic group of leaders. Other newly elected members announced alongside Dr. Washington include (in alphabetical order): Rei Hotoda, Music Director, Fresno Philharmonic; Blake-Anthony Johnson, CEO, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation; Barbara McCelvey, President, Foundation for Jones Hall and President-Elect and Chair of Development Committee, Houston Symphony Society; Pamela Mayo, CEO and founder of Kingâs Global Logistics and Member, Ravinia Festival Trustee and Ravinia Festival Womenâs Board Member; Jessica Phillips, Clarinet and E-flat Clarinetist for Metropolitan Opera, Graduate Studies Faculty specializing in Entrepreneurship at The Juilliard School, Consultant, Arts & Culture, 11A Collaborative, and Board Member and Member of Artist Services Committee, The Field; Elizabeth Shribman, Chief Operating Officer and Former Chief of Staff, San Francisco Symphony, and Treasurer and Immediate Past President, Association of California Symphony Orchestras.
Please visit Chicago Sinfoniettaâs website to learn about upcoming events, IGNITE, our 2025-26 season, and more: chicagosinfonietta.org.
Chicago Sinfonietta 2025 Summer Debut at Chicago Botanic Garden, “Morning Music” Series
CHICAGO, IL – Chicago Sinfonietta’s 2025 summer season gets underway at the end of this month with a debut appearance on the exquisite Chicago Botanic Garden’s Morning Music Concert Series at the McGinley Pavillion. This Community Partnership takes place in the neighborhood of GlencoĐ”/ Northbrook, North Suburbs.
Featuring Chicago Sinfonietta’s Principal Flute, Janice MacDonald and flutist Laura Hamm performing GP Telemann’s delightful Sonata No. 5 in A Major, TWV 40:105.
View the Garden’s lakes and Evening Island as you listen to a relaxing musical performance. You can also enjoy a walk or grab a bite at one of the dining locations.
Enjoy the sound of beautiful music and see/hear your Chicago Sinfonietta musicians in works not on the upcoming 2025-26 season, IGNITĐ!
Chicago Sinfonietta remembers long-serving Board member Phil Engel
CHICAGO, IL â Chicago Sinfonietta mourns the loss of its friend, long-time board member, generous supporter, and advocate Philip (Phil) Louis Engel. Born on August 20, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, Phil passed away peacefully on July 2, 2025, in his hometown. He is survived by La, his devoted wife of sixty-two years, his brother Thane and an adoring family. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.
âMy heart goes out to Philâs family,â said Chicago Sinfonietta Music Director Mei-Ann Chen. âPhil was on the search committee that hired me, and was an incredible force of support for Chicago Sinfonietta. I still vividly remember Philâs gentle smiles and warmest welcome when he interviewed me over dinner during my very first guest week with the Sinfonietta. One of the kindest and the most thoughtful person, I am thankful for Phil and all he did for Chicago Sinfonietta. We will miss the one and only Phil Engel tremendously!â
Mr. Engelâs decades-long legacy of support and generosity will continue to inspire us at Chicago Sinfonietta. His remembrance in The Chicago Tribune may be read here.
Chicago, IL â The Indian Eye, a prominent national South Asian publication, has featured Chicago Sinfonietta’s announcement of its groundbreaking season opener “Bollywood & Beyond” on their website today, bringing national attention to the orchestra’s historic programming.
The feature highlights the October 17-18 concerts that will present the Chicago premiere of the first-ever symphonic orchestral arrangements of Bollywood classics, marking a significant milestone in both the Sinfonietta’s programming and cross-cultural musical presentation.
The concerts will feature Indian American conductor Roger Kalia, a former Chicago Sinfonietta Freeman Conducting Fellow, and renowned North American Bollywood vocalist Anuradha “Juju” Palakurthi in the first half’s “Symphony Masala” selections. The second half returns to Western repertoire with works by composers from Taiwan, India, France, and China, truly embodying the “East Meets West” theme.
The Indian Eye’s coverage underscores the national importance of the Sinfonietta’s commitment to diverse programming and cultural celebration through symphonic music.
Friday, October 17, 2025, 7:00 PM â Wentz Concert Hall, Naperville
Saturday, October 18, 2025, 7:00 PM â Studebaker Theater, Chicago
