Six artists of color make their mark in classical music | Chicago Sun-Times, August 2020

Kyle MacMillan of the Chicago Sun-Times spoke with Chicago Sinfonietta Principal Violist Marlea Simpson for a feature on the future of classical music. “According one report, the share of African American and Latino musicians in American orchestras stood at just 2.5 percent in 2014. Success for Marlea Simpson will be when the entire field functions
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The Southside Friends of Chicago Sinfonietta present “Summer Magic” | August 2020

The Southside Friends of Chicago Sinfonietta presented Summer Magic: A Virtual Brunch on August 4, 2020 to help raise critical funds to support musician operations in the wake of the devastating impact of COVID-19. The program was a success, providing much needed support for our musicians through general operating expenses with lively performances that celebrated
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Chicago Sinfonietta Confronts Racial Bias In Classical Music | Newcity Music, July 2020

Seth Boustead of New City Music speaks with Project Inclusion Director Danielle Taylor for an insider perspective on Chicago Sinfonietta’s groundbreaking fellowship and education program. “What does it mean to make art now? When survival is the primary thing on our mind, and then also to do so under circumstances where you can’t make art
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NewCity | Orchestrating Change: Chicago Sinfonietta Confronts Racial Bias In Classical Music

As in the wake of the MeToo movement, classical music is having to confront a legacy most organizations would prefer not to talk about—in this case, a long legacy of racial exclusion in nearly every area, from the stage to key administrative and management positions. Read more
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Chicago Sinfonietta Announces New CEO

BLAKE-ANTHONY JOHNSON APPOINTED CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER The first African American executive to guide a nationally renowned orchestra, in May 2020 Blake-Anthony Johnson was named Chief Executive Officer at the age of 29 of the award-winning Chicago Sinfonietta, an organization acclaimed as a cultural leader in the field and a powerful champion of diversity, equity and
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A Conversation With Jennifer Koh

  JENNIFER KOH IS A VIRTUOSO MUSICIAN, BUT THAT ONLY BEGINS TO TELL HER STORY. The Korean-American violinist is a force for change and diversity in classical music through her commissioning projects (The New American Concerto, Limitless, and Bridge to Beethoven, among others) and multimedia collaborations. She is also the Founder and Artistic Director of
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Joel Thompson’s “Seven Last Words of the Unarmed”

  In November of 2014, a Staten Island grand jury chose not to indict the officer whose actions led to the death of Eric Garner. To me, the message was clear.   Any doubts I had seemed to evaporate. If I were to be killed in some interaction with authority figures, my loved ones should
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Roy Kinsey

We had the pleasure of speaking with Roy Kinsey. Roy works as a librarian over in Chicago’s Austin Neighborhood and shares how identifying as a musician has changed his perspective on life and some of the best places in Austin to grab a bite and relax.   What are 2-3 areas in the neighborhood that
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A Conversation With Dr. L. Subramaniam

  Dr. L. Subramaniam is considered one of the most outstanding Indian classical violinists, but he has also established himself as one of the foremost Indian composers in the realm of orchestral music. He has recorded, played, and composed a variety of music including South Indian Carnatic, Western classical, jazz, world fusion, and world music.
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A World Endangered – Interview with Michelle Isaac and Clarice Assad

  At a moment in our history when conservation is crucial and time is of the essence, Chicago Sinfonietta seeks to illuminate environmental change through the power of symphonic music. Forces + Fates, the orchestra’s first conversation of the season, explores the volatility of our planet, and how its future rests solely in the hands of the
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