Where sparks of courage meet fires of change
This year’s MLK Tribute Concert beats with the spirit of compassion, courage, and community. We honor the revolutionary achievements of Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, a Chicago trailblazer who in 1893 performed the first successful open-heart surgery—just months before Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World” premiered. A pioneer and founder of the first Black-owned hospital in America, Dr. Dan’s legacy reminds us that opening hearts is both a medical miracle and a social mission.
Overview
Our IGNITE season continues with the Chicago premiere of a new film suite by Kathryn Bostic, the Sinfonietta’s first-ever Composer in Residence. Adapted from the major motion picture The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat, based on the novel by CS cellist Edward Kelsey Moore, this deeply human work captures the bonds of friendship, family, and resilience with cinematic warmth.
We revisit Joel Thompson’s powerful breathe/burn: an elegy, commissioned by Chicago Sinfonietta in 2020 in remembrance of Breonna Taylor, featuring acclaimed cellist Jeffrey Zeigler (praised by NYT as “fiery… with unforced simplicity and beauty of tone.”). Recently recorded by YoYo Ma with the Kansas City Symphony, Thompson’s searing music calls us to reflect, remember, and reimagine.
Antonin Dvořák’s “From the New World” closes our program, inspired by the spirituals and American voices he encountered after his move to the Midwest. His iconic Largo becomes a hymn of longing, justice, and unity—resonating across generations.
With choir, community, and courage, this is a tribute that opens every heart.
TAKE THE JOURNEY. get your tickets today.
Schedule
| Date | Time | Venue | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, January 18, 2026 | 4:00 PM | Wentz Concert Hall – Naperville, IL | Get tickets |
| Monday, January 19, 2026 | 7:00 PM | The Auditorium – Chicago, IL | Get tickets |
Program
| Kathryn Bostic | Suite from The Supremes at Earl’s All You Can Eat | ||
| Joel Thompson | breathe/burn: an elegy, Chicago Sinfonietta commission | ||
| Antonín Dvořák | Symphony No. 9 “From the New World” |
Related Events
Still I Rise
march 6-7
Our Women’s Month concert features an original collaboration with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater to Florence Price, plus a CS commission by Shirley J. Thompson.
American Rhapsody
May 8-10
Rhapsody in Blue featuring pianist Clayton Stephenson, Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony, and a tribute to Miles Davis conclude our IGNITE season.
Bollywood & Beyond
October 17-18
Symphony Masala with Guest Conductor Roger Kalia and guest vocalist Juju. Maestra Chen conducts the second half where East meets West.
Frequently asked questions
MAESTRA MEI-ANN CHEN
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