Artelize - Chicago Sinfonietta's Vibrant Season: Celebrating Music, Culture, and Legacy

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Chicago Sinfonietta's Vibrant Season: Celebrating Music, Culture, and Legacy

Dive into Chicago Sinfonietta's enthralling season with 'Bollywood & Beyond,' 'Holidays of Hope,' 'Open Heart,' 'Still I Rise,' and 'American Rhapsody.' These events celebrate cultural diversity, honor remarkable legacies, and pay tribute to iconic figures in music and history. From the symphonic melodies echoing Bollywood flair to the heartwarming harmonies of holiday classics, and from tributes to pioneers in medicine and music, this season embodies a rich tapestry of sound and spirit.

Jul 9, 2025

1. Bollywood & Beyond

Step into a vibrant celebration of sound, spirit, and light—just in time for Diwali, the Festival of Lights. Bursting with color and energy, the evening opens with Symphony Masala, conducted by Roger Kalia, former Freeman Conducting Fellow, and starring North American Bollywood Sensation, Anuradha “Juju” Palakurthi.

17 - 18 Oct, 2025

Chicago Sinfonietta

Chicago, IL · Fine Arts Building Chicago + 1 other locations

2. Holidays of Hope

You’ll hear sparkling works by Czech and French female composers, audience favorites like Coleridge-Taylor’s Christmas Overture and Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride, plus a few surprises sure to make your spirits bright. And don’t miss the annual audience sing-along, hosted by CEO & President Sidney P. Jackson, complete with glowing luminaria lighting our hall in harmony.

19 - 20 Dec, 2025

Chicago Sinfonietta

Chicago, IL · Mandel Hall + 1 other locations

3. Open Heart

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.

18 - 19 Jan, 2026

Chicago Sinfonietta

Chicago, IL · The Auditorium + 1 other locations

4. Still I Rise

Chicago’s own Deeply Rooted Dance Theater joins us in an unstoppable collaboration, bringing Florence Price’s vibrant Dances in the Canebrakes to life through original choreography—honoring the first Black woman to have her music performed by a major American orchestra.

6 - 7 Mar, 2026

Chicago Sinfonietta

Chicago, IL · Harris Theater + 1 other locations

5. American Rhapsody

Chicago Sinfonietta commissioned a bold new symphonic tribute honoring the 100th birthday of jazz icon Miles Davis—born in Alton, Illinois and raised just outside Chicago. Composed by Chicago Sinfonietta’s very own Assistant Principal Violist Seth Pae, this powerful premiere reimagines the boundary-pushing spirit of a legend who forever changed the sound of American music.

8 - 10 May, 2026

Chicago Sinfonietta

Naperville, IL · North Central College

Conclusion

The Chicago Sinfonietta’s season is not just a series of concerts but a journey through cultural landscapes and historical legacies. It's a celebration of diversity and artistic expression, offering something for everyone. As audiences experience the music and stories behind each event, they are reminded of the power of music to unite, inspire, and transform. Whether you're a lifelong lover of orchestral music or new to its charms, this season promises an unforgettable exploration of sound and spirit.

2025 Artelize••