Civic Fellows Blog
Don’t Touch the Horsehair: An afternoon observing Davis King
It’s Halloween. I am sitting in an elementary school on the southwest side of Chicago, observing an interaction between a…
Time to Shine
On a Sunday afternoon in mid-September 2014, four Citizen Musician Fellows visited the Illinois Youth Center Warrenville. The Fellows were there with Storycatchers Theatre to meet the young women in residence at the facility, and to discuss the upcoming performances of this year’s musical, Teenage Tears — a story inspired by the girls’ life experiences, as captured by Storycatchers.
For the Love of Chamber Music
Making music in a small group can be challenging for even the most seasoned professionals, which is why I was especially intrigued when I learned the Citizen Musician Fellows were about to witness musicians as young as ten partake in the complex process that is chamber music.
Sharing Notes with Allegra Montanari
After a while, she realized that maybe being driven and ambitious didn’t have to mean pursuing this one single-minded goal. There had to be more to a life in music than the orchestra job she had always assumed she would get. She had to ask herself—is this what’s going to make me happy?
Learning to Love Audition Prep
Like running marathons, taking orchestral auditions isn’t for everyone. But for me, well, it’s pretty clear. I can’t stay away.
Meet the 2017/18 Civic Fellows
The Civic Orchestra of Chicago is proud to announce the 2017/18 class of Civic Fellows. Throughout the season, in addition…
Teaching Tuba with Scott Tegge
Seventy. Seventy students. The number rang through my head as I made the hour-long journey to Symphony Center a few weeks ago. I was excited to meet someone who leads his life in a way I envision for my own.
Musical Connections with Avo Randruut
There is a hidden gift in the omnipresence of music and sound; people seem to know a lot about music without even realizing it. In the often music-less schools throughout Chicago, Avo Randruut has exploited this implicit knowledge to not only teach students about classical music, but to even make music with them.
Collaboration at Constellation
On a cold and windy Friday evening, the fellows set out to Constellation, a new music venue on a mission to “present progressive performance and forward-thinking music with a focus on jazz, improvisation and contemporary classical.” Most of us had never been to Constellation before, but boy, did we choose the right night to go.
Old World Wisdom and Contagious Energy at Orchestra Hall
Every concert that an orchestra plays is a unique experience, not only because there are different pieces being performed as well as different conductors on the podium, but also because of the setting. Orchestras perform various styles of programs: educational concerts, Halloween concerts, holiday concerts, classics, subscription, pops, movies and more. As you would expect, the energy of the orchestra can change for each occasion.
Myron’s Story
For him it’s all about the music. More importantly, he believes in advocating for the visibility of composers whose works may have fallen by the wayside amidst the complexities and anxieties of premiers, hidden estates, or family feuds.