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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260614T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260614T183000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260307T224553Z
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SUMMARY:A Taste of Funny III: This Time It's Matrimonial!
DESCRIPTION:Who couldn’t use a good laugh these days? Tom Orland and Marianne Murphy Orland share the stage in A Taste of Funny III\, an all-new collection of playful parodies\, comical covers\, and original originals. \nWith stories and songs of love\, laughter and lunacy; from their chance meeting at the Wilson el stop\, to the iconic proposal at the turn of the Millenium\, to a surprise wedding on April Fools’ Day 26 years ago\, celebrate matrimonial mirth with these two cabaret and folk favorites.\n  \nTom Orland is an award-winning songwriter and Emmy-winning filmmaker\, known for his unique perspective\, quick wit and authentic delivery. He has performed at prestigious venues such as the Bluebird Café in Nashville\, Victory Gardens\, Davenport’s Piano Bar & Cabaret\, and the Chicago Cultural Center. He is one of the founders of the Songwriter’s Circle at the Old Town School of Folk Music\, which has been meeting for over 30 years. Additionally\, he produced and hosted the songwriter’s showcase series North by Southport at Schuba’s. \nFor more information about Tom\, please visit: https://www.tomorlandproductions.com/ \n  \nWith a passion for storytelling and a way with words\, Marianne Murphy Orland has captivated cabaret audiences across the country with velvet vocals and sparkling stage presence. As a solo artist\, big band singer\, and as 1/3 of Girls Like Us\, each performance is infused with wit and emotion. Whether enchanting an intimate crowd or commanding a grand stage\, she brings vibrant energy and authenticity\, making every show a memorable experience. \nFor more information about Marianne\, please visit: https://beckiemenzie.com/girls-like-us/ \n  \nAward-winning concert artist Beckie Menzie has appeared at some of the nation’s top nightclubs and concert venues\, including Carnegie Hall\, Lincoln Center\, and Birdland in NY\, Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre\, Ravinia Festival and Park West. Hailed by WGN Radio as “One of the city’s finest cabaret performers”\, Beckie is a three-time winner of the Chicago After Dark Award. She tours the country with Musical Partner Tom Michael and with Girls Like Us\, a trio also featuring Laura Freeman and Marianne Murphy Orland. \nFor more information about Beckie\, please visit: https://beckiemenzie.com/
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/a-taste-of-funny-iii-this-time-its-matrimonial
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260606T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260606T203000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260513T020514Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260516T010220Z
UID:309499-1780772400-1780777800@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:Beethoven's Great Sonatas; Pathetique\, Moonlight\, & Appassionata
DESCRIPTION:Chicago-based international pianist Ani Gogova presents three of Beethoven’s great sonatas\, the Pathetique\, Moonlight and Appassionata. She will share the stage with her 13 year old student Constantine Wang just weeks prior to his debut at Carnegie Hall in NYC. \nProgram:\nSonata in C minor\, Op. 13 “Pathetique”\nSonata in C-sharp minor\, Op. 27 no. 2 “Moonlight”\nSonata in F minor\, Op. 57 “Appassionata” \nAni Gogova’s “dazzling artistic presence” and “virtuoso technique beyond reproach” have been captivating audiences around the world at venues like Carnegie Hall\, Chicago’s Harris Theater\, EXPO 2020 in Dubai\, and the Embassy of Bulgaria in Washington. Some of her concerts have been selected as top recommendations by Time Out Chicago Magazine and the Chicago Tribune and broadcast on NPR\, WBEZ\, TEDx Talks\, and WFMT Chicago. Internationally\, she has performed in Bulgaria\, Italy\, Serbia\, England\, Slovenia\, Romania\, Portugal\, Macedonia\, France\, Canada\, Mexico and UAE. James Harrington of American Records Guide writes\, “Gogova is a complete modern classical musician\, with the ability to communicate her music through straight concert performances\, videos\, multi-genre presentations\, and recordings… I would go out of my way to see her perform.” Her latest album titled “Fantasies\, Fairytales\, and Nightmares” was released on Blue Griffin Recording label gathering critical acclaim for her playing being “quite hypnotic”\, “eliciting fine nuances”\, “projecting a special magic “ and for its “incisive accuracy” “as if she were Martha Argerich on speed.” Gogova holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Michigan\, Ann Arbor and served as a professor at the Music Conservatory of Roosevelt University in Chicago. Currently\, when not on tour\, Gogova teaches at University of Chicago and gives masterclasses around the world. \n  \n \n 
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/beethovens-great-sonatas-pathetique-moonlight-appassionata
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260529T200000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260312T180116Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260312T180116Z
UID:309387-1780079400-1780084800@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:Lakeshore Rush | Thunder & Light: A World Premiere and Chamber Classics
DESCRIPTION:From the lush\, movie-like melodies of Nino Rota to the colorful\, shimmering sounds of Maurice Ravel and the light\, graceful style of Philippe Gaubert\, this program moves through music that feels both comfortingly familiar and excitingly new. At its core\, it’s the kind of mix Lakeshore Rush loves most: beloved chamber classics alongside fresh\, modern pieces full of personality. \nA cornerstone of the evening is music by Chicago composer Amos Gillespie\, whose works Maloik\, Soul Food\, and The Entertainment of Being showcase his distinctive voice—groove-driven\, colorful\, and deeply expressive. Gillespie’s music bridges classical precision with improvisatory spirit\, reflecting the creative pulse of the city Lakeshore Rush calls home. \nThe highlight of the concert is the WORLD PREMIERE of Thunder Dragon by Larry Axelrod\, written especially for Lakeshore Rush. This electrifying new work unleashes bold sonorities\, dramatic contrasts\, and vivid musical storytelling. As the first-ever performance of the piece\, this premiere represents Lakeshore Rush’s ongoing commitment to championing living composers and bringing brand-new music into the world. \nRooted in Chicago and dedicated to presenting music by living composers alongside overlooked chamber masterpieces\, Lakeshore Rush brings curiosity\, virtuosity\, and heart to every performance. Join them for an evening of radiant classics\, dynamic contemporary works\, and the excitement of a world premiere—music that moves\, surprises\, and sparks the imagination. \n  \nProgram: \nNino Rota – Trio for clarinet\, cello and piano\, mvts II \nAmos Gillespie – Maloik (vc\, pn) \nRavel – Trio for violin\, cello and piano\, mvts I and II \nPhilippe Gaubert – Médailles antiques\, for flute\, violin and piano\, mvt II – Danses \nNicola Resanovic – Trio for violin\, alto sax and piano\, mvts I and III \nLarry Axelrod – Thunder Dragon (cl\, fl\, vn\, vc\, pn) \nAmos Gillespie – Soul Food\, flute\, clarinet\, alto sax\, cello \nAmos Gillespie – The Entertainment of Being for flute\, clarinet\, violin\, cello\, alto sax and piano \n  \nErin Kendall Murphy\, flute\nLaura McLaughlin Lingle\, clarinet\nAmos Gillespie\, saxophone\nJanice Lee\, violin (guest artist)\nChristopher Ferrer\, cello\nElena Doubovitskaya\, piano \n  \nLakeshore Rush is an integral part of the Chicago community\, the city they call home. Their priority is to present music by living composers as well as forgotten chamber music masterpieces. Over the past ten years\, the ensemble has appeared at the Chicago Symphony Center\, WFMT – Chicago’s classical radio station\, Ear Taxi Festival\, Chicago Cultural Center\, the PianoForte Foundation\, Fulton Street Collective\, Garfield Park Conservatory\, Constellation\, and the Thirsty Ears Festival – Chicago’s only classical music street festival. Lakeshore Rush is an active member of New Music Chicago\, and has commissioned several works by local established composers\, including those by Beth Bradfish\, Seth Boustead\, Griffin Candey\, Kyong Mee Choi\, Amos Gillespie\, Jonathan Hannau\, Marc Mellits\, Logan Rutledge\, Laura Schwendinger\, and Roger Zare. Lakeshore Rush maintains an ongoing relationship with the Merit School of Music by providing educational programming for audiences aged 5 – 14\, and has presented workshops at the University of Illinois Chicago and Lawrence University. \nOther career highlights include premiering their first feature length film score by composer Seth Boustead titled Dreaming Grand Avenue (2020)\, and premiering and recording Beth Bradfish’s Curved Silence (2022)\, which served as the catalyst for their commissioned cinematic music video by Alina Markina and Mario Bosca featuring the City of Chicago as a narrative element of the film. Their debut album\, Lakeshore Rush: Moving Parts\, was released on Albany Records in 2022 (TROY 1896). The ensemble was also featured on Lawrence Axelrod’s album 5X4: Quartets for Various Instruments (Ravello Records 2023). A review in Gramophone magazine described their performance as ‘exquisitely rendered’. \nThe ensemble is named after a previously endangered grass that has recently revitalized the shores of Lake Michigan\, and commits itself to environmental stewardship in its programming. Past seasons included partnerships with the Honnold Foundation\, a nonprofit working to advance solar energy access all over the world\, and the Alliance for the Great Lakes\, a nonprofit formed to conserve and restore the freshwater resources of the Great Lakes through public engagement and policy promotion. To celebrate their 10th Anniversary Season\, “One Small World\,” they went beyond environmental stewardship to tackle broader social issues through a partnership with UNICEF – donating a portion of all ticket sales at the end of the season. \nOur programmatic theme for the 2025-2026 season is “You Can Dance If You Want To\,” which focuses on the lighter side of contemporary music and pieces inspired by dance and movement. We hope to see you at one of our upcoming performances!
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/lakeshore-rush-thunder-light-a-world-premiere-and-chamber-classics
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://pianofortechicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Lakeshore-Rush-Landscape.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260515T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260515T210000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260418T160358Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260423T234303Z
UID:309462-1778873400-1778878800@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:Benefit Concert for Centro Romero
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a beautiful chamber music concert featuring works by Raimi\, Schumann\, Poulenc\, and Dvorak\, for the benefit of Centro Romero. \nCentro Romero empowers the immigrant and refugee community by developing and strengthening the family unit\, fostering community leadership\, and providing quality social and adjustment services. The organization provides legal services\, a youth program\, a domestic violence program\, public benefits\, and adult education. \nDonations will be collected at the concert. \n  \nPianist Daniel Paul Horn earned a doctorate from Juilliard in 1987\, has been on the faculty of the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music since 1984\, and has collaborated with Max Raimi since 1972.  He continues an active career as a soloist\, chamber musician\, recording artist\, and educator. \nMax Raimi has played viola in the Chicago Symphony for more than 40 years.  He is an active educator and composer\, having had works performed and recorded by\, among others\, the American Chamber Players and the Chicago Symphony.  He has played the Star Spangled banner as part of a viola ensemble for the White Sox and the Bulls. \nRong-Yan Tang was appointed to the first violin section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by Daniel Barenboim in 2003. As a soloist\, she has performed in China\, Hong Kong and France\, and with several U.S. orchestras.  A former protégé of Isaac Stern\, Tang plays on a violin from Stern’s private collection\, and by his invitation performed at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. \nWilliam Welter was appointed Principal Oboe of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by Music Director Riccardo Muti in June 2018. Prior to his appointment to the CSO\, Welter performed as a guest musician with the Cleveland Orchestra\, Pittsburgh Symphony\, New York Philharmonic and as guest principal oboe of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.  He also participated in Music from Angelfire by invitation of acclaimed violinist Ida Kavafian. \nKeith Buncke began his tenure as Principal Bassoon of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in July 2015\, having been appointed to the position by Music Director Riccardo Muti. He made his solo debut with the orchestra in January 2018 performing Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto. He has had the great opportunity of performing chamber music with distinguished artists like Vadim Gluzman and Mitsuko Uchida. Currently on the faculty at DePaul University\, he has been a guest teacher at a number of institutions including the Aspen Festival and the Interlochen Arts Camp and Academy. \nHeather Wittels is a member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra first violin section where she was the co-Acting Assistant Concertmaster for the 2022-23 Season. She is the Director of Chamber Music at the University of Chicago\, and Artist Faculty at Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts. Since 2022\, Heather has spent her summers serving as Concertmaster of the AIMS Festival Orchestra in Graz\, Austria. \nStephen Balderston is a master chamber musician and coach of the highest caliber. While retired from DePaul University School of Music in June of 2025\, Balderston maintains a robust performance and teaching schedule in a variety of venues\, presents master classes\, and adjudicates around the United States. He has performed solo works and chamber music with Daniel Barenboim\, Pierre Boulez\, Christoph Eschenbach\, Lynn Harrell\, Yo-Yo Ma\, Menahem Pressler\, Gil Shaham\, Joseph Silverstein and Pinchas Zukerman\, and has appeared as featured artist at the Ravinia Festival\, the International Festival-Institute at Round Top\, the American String Project\, and Bargemusic\, as well as many other national and international festivals over his long career.
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/benefit-concert-for-centro-romero
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260512T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260512T203000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260305T000024Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260305T000210Z
UID:309354-1778612400-1778617800@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:Chicago Cabaret Week | Girls Like Us present "It’s My Party"
DESCRIPTION:Girls Like Us present It’s My Party during Chicago Cabaret Week at PianoForte Chicago! \nJoin Laura Freeman\, Beckie Menzie\, and Marianne Murphy Orland for It’s My Party\, celebrating the Girls and the Groups of the 1960s—The Supremes\, The McGuire Sisters\, Lesley Gore and more. \nWhen we talk about music of the 1960s\, most people think of Bob Dylan\, The Beatles\, Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones\, but that’s really only part of the story. In a tiny window of about eight years\, popular music changed forever with the birth of a genre most historians don’t even acknowledge: Bubblegum Pop. \nSuddenly\, the airwaves were jumping with the sound of women – actually\, girls – teenage girls and their teenage problems. With charm\, skill and humor\, Laura\, Beckie and Marianne bring you the sparkling harmonies\, lyrics of happiness and heartbreak of first love\, origin stories and unforgettable sounds of Dusty Springfield\, Tina Turner\, The Mamas and the Papas\, and other icons of the ‘60s. Don’t miss this party! \n  \nAn award-winning concert artist\, Beckie Menzie has appeared at some of the nation’s top nightclubs and concert venues including the legendary Carnegie Hall\, Lincoln Center and Birdland in New York\, Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre\, The Ravinia Festival and Park West\, as well as at concert halls and art series across the country. Hailed by Chicago’s WGN Radio as “one of the city’s finest cabaret performers\,” Beckie is a three-time winner of Chicago’s After Dark Award for Outstanding Cabaret Artist. \nAs one of cabaret’s most in demand entertainers\, Beckie was featured in Michael Feinstein’s “Now & Then” Series for her Carnegie Hall debut. She has been a featured performer at many of the Mabel Mercer Cabaret Conventions in New York\, The Hamptons and in Chicago\, as well as performances for the Chicago Humanities Festival\, where she has served as a performer\, a director and musical director. \nShe performs regularly with Tom Michael\, and as a duo they are also recipients of the After Dark Award. They have toured their concerts across the country\, including Carnegie Hall’s 100th birthday celebration for Cole Porter\, with Rich Daniel’s City Light’s Orchestra\, and headlined with symphonies and Chicago Chamber Orchestras with their Holiday show. Beckie is also one third of the trio GIRLS LIKE US with Laura Freeman and Marianne Murphy Orland\, entertaining sold-out audiences across the Midwest and in New York\, and is a sought-after coach for musical talent across the country. \nFrom swing to torch songs\, Beckie’s interpretive style\, rich smoky voice and inventive piano stylings rank her among the best nightclub entertainers in the country. Hers is a talent that not only warms but breaks your heart. \n  \nEvoto\nOne of Chicago’s favorite and most versatile talents\, Marianne Murphy Orland has performed as a big-band singer\, cabaret artist\, director and voice-over talent since music came on vinyl (the first time around!) Notable venues for her critically acclaimed and sold-out performances include: Park West\, Victory Gardens\, Metropolis\, Skokie Theatre\, Davenport’s\, Hey Nonny\,  Madden Theatre at NCC\, Acorn Theatre in Three Oaks\, MI\, Theatre at the Center\, in Munster\, IN and Chicago’s venerable Auditorium Theatre. \nIn addition to being one third of renowned trio Girls Like Us\, Marianne is best known for her tribute shows: If I Were a Carpenter: The Life & Music of Karen Carpenter\, Pet Project: The Remarkable Petula Clark\, and Rags to Rhinestones: The Musical Life of Dolly Parton. \nWith a passion for storytelling and a way with words\, Marianne has captivated cabaret audiences across the country with velvet vocals and sparkling stage presence. Each performance is infused with wit and emotion. Whether enchanting an intimate crowd or commanding a grand stage\, she brings vibrant energy and authenticity\, making every show a memorable experience. \n  \nWith an ideal combination of theatricality and musicality\, Laura Freeman has been delighting audiences around the country and abroad for over twenty years. Known for her wit and warmth\, Laura finds the heart and soul in her material\, whether it’s a song from musical theater\, the Great American Songbook\, or a beloved jazz standard. As background music for an evening of dining or providing the night’s main attraction\, Laura lights up the room with her trademark charm. \nAs an Equity actress\, Laura has toured the US and Europe extensively in such productions as Into the Woods\, as the Witch\, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat\, as the Narrator. She has been featured at Theatre at the Center in Munster\, Porchlight Theatre inC Chicago\, and at Ravinia (Annie Get Your Gun with Patti LuPone). \nAs a cabaret performer\, Laura has created tributes to Doris Day\, Julie Andrews\, the USO performers of WWII\, and Backstage Pass (a look at her production support life in New York\, Chicago\, and on the set of Chicago PD) along with salutes to Broadway and Hollywood. As a soloist\, and as one third of Girls Like Us\, she has performed at venues throughout the Chicagoland area\, the Midwest and New York\, including Park West\, Auditorium Theatre\, Davenport’s\, Skokie Theatre\, Drury Lane\, Freedom Hall\, Hey Nonny\, Metropolis\, Chicago Cultural Center and the Acorn Theatre in Michigan. \n  \n \nThe fifth annual Chicago Cabaret Week will be Friday\, May 8 through Sunday\, May 17\, 2026! \nThis annual ten-day festival showcases Chicago’s top cabaret artists performing blues\, Broadway\, burlesque\, jazz\, R&B\, American Songbook\, French chanson\, and world music. Last year’s schedule included more than 95 performers performing in 17 intimate venues throughout Chicagoland\, with discounted tickets available for many performances. \nTo find more information\, please visit our website: https://www.choosechicago.com/things-to-do/festivals-and-special-events/chicago-cabaret-week/
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/chicago-cabaret-week-girls-like-us-present-its-my-party
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260509T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260509T183000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260406T175251Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260406T175251Z
UID:309447-1778346000-1778351400@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:American Chamber Music Society: ROMANTIC CROSSROADS
DESCRIPTION:The American Chamber Music Society Presents: \nROMANTIC CROSSROADS: SEASON FINALE \n“Electric . . . [the] performance extracted all the tensions\, fun\, and charm that can be found” \n~THIRD COAST REVIEW \nROMANTIC CROSSROADS is an evening of dazzling chamber music to conclude the 25-26 season\, tracing the expressive breadth of Romanticism through a variety of works for piano and strings. ACMS welcomes three artists making their series debuts: violist Joseph Skerik of the Vega Quartet\, captivating cello soloist Alexander Hersh\, and GRAMMY-nominated pianist Marta Aznavoorian. They join Eric Gratz\, ACMS Director and international prizewinning violinist. \nThis richly varied program features music by Debussy\, Webern\, Turina\, and Schumann—composers writing into\, within\, and beyond the Romantic era. Spanning France\, Germany\, Austria\, and Spain\, these contrasting voices converge in a program that is as searching as it is expressive\, drawing the listener into a world of shifting emotion and perspective. \nACMS performs all concerts at PianoForte\, an intimate 75-seat concert hall with spectacular acoustics in downtown Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood. A reception and meet-and-greet with the performers will follow the program. \nTickets are $25 GA/$10 students. \n——– \nThe American Chamber Music Society is deeply invested in inspiring and connecting with our local community. As one of the most intimate classical music experiences in Chicago\, it is our honor to enrich our culture by performing repertoire ranging from centuries ago to the present\, providing a variety of educational opportunities and offering tickets at a discounted price. There is nothing like sitting a few feet away from the best musicians in the world\, especially when many of them are from your home town. I am confident the diverse and innovative programming of our events will leave you moved\, exhilarated\, and eager to return. \n–ERIC GRATZ\, DIRECTOR
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/american-chamber-music-society-romantic-crossroads
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260507T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260507T203000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260319T214903Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260319T214944Z
UID:309397-1778180400-1778185800@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:Sonata Noir presents: Melodic Textures
DESCRIPTION:Two quartets – two eras – same interwoven rhythmic fabric and expressive counterpoint  \nJessie Montgomery’s Strum for string quartet (2012)  \nIn the composer’s own words:  \nStrum is the culminating result of several versions of a string quintet I wrote in 2006. It was originally written for the Providence String Quartet and guests of Community MusicWorks Players\, then arranged for string quartet in 2008 with several small revisions. In 2012\, the piece underwent its final revisions with a rewrite of both the introduction and the ending for the Catalyst Quartet in a performance celebrating the 15th annual Sphinx Competition.  \nOriginally conceived for the formation of a cello quintet\, the voicing is often spread wide over the ensemble\, giving the music an expansive quality of sound. Within Strum I utilized texture motives\, layers of rhythmic or harmonic ostinati that string together to form a bed of sound for melodies to weave in and out. The strumming pizzicato serves as a texture motive and the primary driving rhythmic underpinning of the piece. Drawing on American folk idioms and the spirit of dance and movement\, the piece has a kind of narrative that begins with fleeting nostalgia and transforms into ecstatic celebration.  \nBrahms String Quartet No. 1 in C minor\, Op. 51\, No. 1 (1873)  \nAnxious about being compared to other great Romantic composers\, such as Schubert or Beethoven\, Johannes Brahms avoided publishing his first two string quartets (Op. 51) until nearly a decade after he began writing them. Thankfully though\, his thematic congruity and undeniable musical expression proved his self-doubt to be misplaced.  \nThe quartet has two tumultuous and passionate outer movements\, with two more tender and intimate movements between them. The opening motif with its upward swinging motion is the cell from which the rest of the work is built. Structurally\, the forms of the movements are very traditional; with the first having a robust sonata form\, the Romanze having a clear three-part form\, and the last being a sonata-rondo. The third movement may be the only one a bit more out of the ordinary\, as the beginning still maintains this melancholic tone when we would expect something playful and contrasting\, but comedic relief does eventually come in the trio section later in the movement. Calling back to the turbulent nature of the beginning\, the finale drives towards the end\, never compromising the distraught C minor character.  \n  \nSonata Noir is a Chicago-based all-women string ensemble that performs throughout the city and surrounding suburbs. Although we do freelance work\, our mission is to empower other women-owned businesses and engage with and give back to our community whenever possible. In our concert series\, we like to program more traditional “canon” works with more contemporary works to provide a well-balanced artistic experience to our listeners. Other genres that we have performed in the past include jazz\, tango\, and Bridgerton-style arrangements.  \n  \nLorena Uquillas is a Venezuelan violinist from Barquisimeto who began playing the violin at the age of five. She received her early musical training at the Vicente Emilio Sojo Conservatory and later studied at the Latin American Violin Academy with Francisco Díaz and Sergio Celis. As a member of El Sistema\, she performed with the Young Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela and participated in the international tour A Mi Maestro in Chile alongside Gustavo Dudamel and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra.  \nCurrently based in Chicago\, she is pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University on a full scholarship\, studying with Almita Vamos and Liba Shacht. She is also an associate member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and regularly performs with orchestras across the Midwest. In addition to her orchestral career\, Lorena performs with chamber ensembles and collaborates in concerts and events presenting classical repertoire for a wide variety of audiences. \n  \nMaria Bernal is a Colombian violinist who began studying violin at a young age. She received her Master’s in violin performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University\, and is now a member of the Chicago Civic Orchestra. She performs with professional orchestras throughout the Midwest (including Peoria Symphony and Illinois Philharmonic)\, and gives chamber concerts throughout the city with a variety of high tier ensembles.  \n  \nAlways seeking a good adventure\, Rachel Mossburg continually explores ways to nourish her musical wanderlust. She graduated from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in 2020 with a music performance degree\, and moved to Chicago shortly after to pursue her career as a professional musician. Rachel is an engaging performer\, enjoys pushing musical boundaries by playing genres of all types\, and has been captivating audiences with her exceptional string playing for over two decades.  \nHaving performed with many of the midwest’s finest symphonic orchestras\, various bands and eclectic groups\, Rachel is well-versed in knowing how to inspire a crowd. Some of her highlight performance experiences in recent years include: sharing the stage with Michael Bublé for five shows\, performing with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra\, playing in the 18-piece orchestra for the Netflix series Our Planet: Live in Concert production tour for ten weeks\, and performing with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago in Symphony Center. In addition\, she is an active member of the Chicago-based group\, Mucca Pazza\, where she has been the lead electric violinist for five years. \n  \nSydney Andersen holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and a Master’s from DePaul University. She’s currently a section cellist for Gainesville Symphony; substitute for Ocala Symphony\, Space Coast Symphony\, and Punta Gorda Symphony; and has been a founding member of multiple independently run orchestras in Chicago including the Intermezzi Ensemble and Chicago Opera Productions.   \nShe is currently a cello instructor for Sistema Ravinia\, and has held multiple teaching positions through USF and DePaul; acting as the USF Community Music Project’s cello instructor\, the USF Music Theory Teaching Assistant for levels I through IV\, and a DePaul Community Music Division Teaching Artist. She has freelanced throughout the Midwest and Southeast in weddings\, funerals\, corporate events\, and church services- and has even performed for several politicians\, including the mayor of Chicago. She is on-call for Fever’s Candlelight Concert series\, and has performed Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (among other programs) for them. She believes that the primary goal of music is communication and genuine human connection\, and enthusiastically plays classical pieces\, Arabic music\, tango\, or top R&B hits.
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/sonata-noir-presents-melodic-textures
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260504T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260504T210000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20250911T172133Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250911T172133Z
UID:308853-1777923000-1777928400@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:The Orion Ensemble - Concert 4
DESCRIPTION:Francis Poulenc\nSonata for Clarinet and Piano\, FP 184 (1962) \nJohann Sebastian Bach\nSelected Solo Movements \nRobert Schumann\nQuintet for Piano and Strings in E-flat Major\, Op. 44 \n-with guests Stephen Boe (viola) and Mathias Tacke (violin) \n  \nRecognized as one of Chicago’s finest chamber music groups\, The Orion Ensemble has been performing since 1992. John von Rhein of the Chicago Tribune called Orion “one of Chicago’s most vibrant\, versatile and distinctive ensembles.” With the possibilities inherent in its unique combination of instruments—piano\, string trio and clarinet—Orion offers exciting interpretations of standard repertoire\, introduces audiences to rarely performed masterpieces and inspires composers with commissions for new works. \nThe Orion Ensemble boasts a roster of superb musicians who have performed throughout North America\, Europe and Asia\, as an ensemble and individually in solo\, orchestral and other chamber music roles. In Chicago\, Orion presents a four-concert series in three venues\, is heard regularly on the broadcast series “Live from WFMT” and appears frequently on the Chicago Cultural Center’s Lunchbreak Series “Classical Mondays.” \nOrion programs diverse works ranging from Mozart\, Beethoven and Brahms to William Bolcom\, Chick Corea\, Paul Schoenfield\, Augusta Read Thomas and other living composers\, offering audiences a remarkably broad chamber music experience. Orion’s expansive commitment to chamber music embraces the works of the classical through modern standard repertoire as well as an extensive range of new pieces for piano quartet and clarinet. Orion continues to inspire composers with commissions for new works written especially for its unique combination of instruments. As the Chicago Tribune’s John von Rhein wrote upon Orion’s 10th anniversary\, “It seems like only yesterday that a remarkable chamber group of musicians calling itself the Orion Ensemble was born. The Orions … quickly established themselves as one of the Chicago area’s most vibrant\, versatile and distinctive ensembles\, at home in every period but especially committed to enlarging the repertory of its unusual combination of piano quartet and clarinet.”
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/the-orion-ensemble-concert-4
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://pianofortechicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/orion.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260503T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260503T163000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260318T155537Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T155537Z
UID:309392-1777820400-1777825800@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:Kariné Poghosyan | Vienna: Mozart270
DESCRIPTION:Following her critically successful Khachaturian recital last year\, the virtuoso pianist Kariné Poghosyan returns to Pianoforte Chicago with a triumphant celebration of Mozart’s 270th anniversary and the composer’s beloved city of Vienna. This unique program\, titled Vienna: Mozart270\, will include Mozart’s own F Major Sonata\, Beethoven’s iconic Symphony no.5 written and premiered in Vienna\, transcribed for piano by Liszt. A short masterwork by the native Viennese Franz Schubert will follow – the beloved lied Ständchen\, also in Liszt’s transcription. The grand finale of the program is Franz Liszt’s most virtuosic and profoundly creative tribute to Mozart and his opera Don Giovanni\, a work which Busoni labeled “the highest point of pianism.” Described as ‘The Powerhouse Pianist’ ‘extraordinary’ and ‘larger than life\,’ the award-winning Armenian pianist has been praised for her “ability to get to the heart of the works she performs.” Her performances truly exemplify the difference between listening to music and experiencing music. As such\, they ultimately bring a fresh new appeal to classical music that transcends all generations. \n  \nProgram \nMOZART Piano Sonata in F Major\, K. 332 \nBEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5 in C Minor (arr. Liszt for solo piano) \nLISZT “Ständchen” from Lieder aus Franz Schubert’s Schwanengesang \nLISZT Réminiscences de “Don Juan” de Mozart – Grande Fantasie\, S.418 \n  \n“There’s such a sense of joy\, even ecstasy as she plays.” This is how NY1’s Stephanie Simon describes the Armenian-American concert pianist Kariné Poghosyan‘s performances. Ms. Poghosyan’s recent concerts include recitals at Musikverein and Ehbar Saal in Vienna\, Casa Armena in Milan\, Chicago Cultural Center\, the Sheldon in Saint Louis\, the Soraya Performing Arts Center in Northridge\, California\, and several sold- out recitals at Carnegie Hall\, including a Release concert of her “Rachmaninoff and Stravinsky” CD. This recording has garnered rave reviews\, with Gramophone Magazine praising its “masterly textural layering and resounding climaxes\,” and the American Record Guide stating that “a more heroic program would be hard to find\, and few could play as well as the Armenian-American Poghosyan.” She was also featured on WQXR and was interviewed by David Osenberg on his award-winning program on WWFM\, Cadenza. Renowned pianist and WWFM radio host Jed Distler described her performance in the following way\, “This is big piano playing\, but big in the sense of being in the moment\, being present\, and totally owning her vitality and imagination.” Oscar-winning screenwriter Alex Dinelaris said\, “Listening to and watching Karine Poghosyan play fills one with life and energy. The combination of her formidable skill and her unchecked passion is an experience I recommend for anyone who needs to be reminded of the artist and art within themselves. \nDuring the pandemic\, Ms. Poghosyan performed 100 consecutive free weekly virtual concerts\, gathering a loyal world-wide following as well as press coverage from the Pianist Magazine\, Katie Couric’s newsletter The Wake-up Call\, NY1’s Stephanie Simon\, and ABC’s Rick Rowe. In February 2023\, Ms. Poghosyan released her third album Folk Themes on Parma Recordings\, to wonderful reviews. The TakeEffectReviews wrote “A body of work that’s passionate and exploratory\, Folk Themes illustrates much tenderness and vibrancy via Poghosyan’s riveting playing\,” and Lucid-Culture called it “a colorful\, expressive\, minutely jeweled new album.” \nIn January 2021\, Ms. Poghosyan launched her own monthly recital broadcast series on Patreon\, which she performs live from New York to a global audience of patrons and an intimate in- person audience. She has since created and performed 5 different 12-recital series\, with a new hour long program each. Ms. Poghosyan’s 2025-2026 season includes an exhilarating monthly recital broadcast series she produces and performs on the last Sunday of each month from various venues in NYC\, which one can attend in person in NY or virtually through her Patreon. Additional performances include a collaboration with the Harlem Chamber Players\, solo performances at Carnegie Hall\, Milan\, Chicago\, Jacksonville\, and a return residency at Saint Louis University. \nhttps://karineplays.com/ \n \nThe recital is co-presented by the PianoForte Foundation and AGBU Chicago
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/karine-poghosyan-vienna-mozart270
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://pianofortechicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/karine-poghosyan-concert-pianist-new-york-19-1024x480-1.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260501T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260501T210000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260318T152253Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T152253Z
UID:309389-1777663800-1777669200@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:Avalon 30
DESCRIPTION:The Avalon Quartet closes its 30th season with works that have made a mark on our journey as an ensemble. The compact intensity of Bartók’s Fourth Quartet sets the stage for Schubert’s Quartet in G: cosmic in scope but vulnerably intimate in detail. \n  \nDescribed by the Chicago Tribune as “an ensemble that invites you — ears\, mind\, and spirit — into its music\,” the Avalon String Quartet has established itself as one of the country’s leading chamber music ensembles. \nThe Avalon has performed in major venues including Carnegie Hall\, Alice Tully Hall\, the 92nd St Y\, Merkin Hall\, and Bargemusic in New York; the Library of Congress and National Gallery of Art in Washington DC; Wigmore Hall in London; and Herculessaal in Munich. Other performances include appearances at the Bath International Music Festival\, Aldeburgh Festival\, Caramoor\, La Jolla Chamber Music Society\, NPR’s St. Paul Sunday\, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum\, Dame Myra Hess Concerts\, Los Angeles Music Guild\, and the Ravinia Festival. The quartet performs an annual concert series in historic Fullerton Hall at the Art Institute of Chicago\, where it has presented the complete quartet cycles of Beethoven\, Bartok\, and Brahms in recent seasons. \nThe Avalon is quartet-in-residence at the Northern Illinois University School of Music\, a position formerly held by the Vermeer Quartet. Additional teaching activities have included the Icicle Creek Chamber Music Institute\, Interlochen Advanced Quartet Program\, Madeline Island Music Camp\, and the Britten-Pears School in England\, as well as masterclasses at universities and conservatories throughout the United States. Additionally\, they have given numerous performances and presentations to young audiences in under-resourced schools and communities. \nIn 2015\, the quartet released “Illuminations”\, its first recording for Cedille Records. It was met with praise from NY Times\, WQXR radio and Chicago Tribune. This recording follows a critically acclaimed CD of contemporary American works on the Albany label in 2010. The Avalon String Quartet’s debut CD\, Dawn to Dusk\, featuring quartets by Ravel and Janacek\, was honored with the 2002 Chamber Music America/WQXR Record Award for best chamber music recording. \nThe quartet’s live performances and conversations are frequently featured on Chicago fine arts radio station WFMT. They have also been heard on New York’s WQXR and WNYC\, National Public Radio’s Performance Today\, Canada’s CBC\, Australia’s ABC\, the ARD of Germany\, and France Musique. \nThe Avalon captured the top prize at the ARD Competition in Munich (2000) and First Prize at the Concert Artists Guild Competition in New York City (1999). In its early years\, the ensemble trained intensively with the Juilliard Quartet at The Juilliard School\, the Emerson Quartet at the Hartt School of Music\, and the Vermeer Quartet at Northern Illinois University. \nhttps://avalonquartet.com/
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/avalon-30-3
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260501T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260501T153000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260303T212712Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260303T212816Z
UID:309349-1777644000-1777649400@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:An Afternoon of Opera Aeterna
DESCRIPTION:Experience a matinee fundraiser concert featuring international opera stars Andrea Silvestrelli and Viktoria Vizin\, joined by other exceptional artists of Opera Aeterna. Enjoy beloved arias and duets in support of our upcoming productions of Puccini’s La Bohème\, presented by Opera Aeterna on May 11–16. \n  \nAndrea Silvestrelli is an internationally acclaimed basso profondo\, celebrated for his powerful portrayals on the world’s leading opera stages. He earned critical acclaim with his Lyric Opera of Chicago debut as Sparafucile in Rigoletto\, being praised by the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune for his “terrifying\, sepulchral tone” and “big\, black\, menacing bass”. \nA regular guest at Houston Grand Opera\, he has delivered commanding performances in roles such as Klingsor in Parsifal\, Fafner and Hagen in Wagner’s Ring Cycle\, and Sparafucile in Rigoletto. His career encompasses world-renowned houses\, including the Metropolitan Opera\, San Francisco Opera\, Seattle Opera\, the Royal Opera House\, and more. \n  \nHungarian mezzo-soprano Viktoria Vizin is a dramatic artist whose dynamic stage presence commands top-tier opera houses such as the Metropolitan Opera\, Lyric Opera of Chicago\, Royal Opera House Covent Garden\, and Hungarian State Opera. \nHer diverse repertoire spans principal and supporting roles—Charlotte (Werther)\, Composer (Ariadne auf Naxos)\, Phedre (Hippolyte et Aricie)\, Carmen (with over 100 performances)\, and Flosshilde\, Waltraute\, and Schwertleite in Wagner’s Ring cycle. A reigning expert in concert repertoire\, Vizin has graced stages with Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony\, Handel’s Messiah\, Verdi galas\, and celebrated opera festivals in Europe and North America. \n  \nPianist and music director Irina Feoktistova is an accomplished collaborative artist known for her stylistic sensitivity and deep knowledge of the operatic repertoire. She has worked with distinguished singers and conductors in the United States and abroad\, serving as coach\, répétiteur\, and music director for numerous productions. She has served as accompanist and coach at Lyric Opera of Chicago\, Opera Festival Chicago\, and Northwestern University\, and is affiliated with the Ryan Center\, Apollo Chorus\, and Chicago Children’s Choir. A champion of contemporary music and cross-disciplinary projects\, she leads innovations like “Colors in Music\,” combining live performance with visual art. \n  \nWe look forward to celebrating these extraordinary artists with you at Pianoforte\, and thank you for supporting Opera Aeterna!
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/an-afternoon-of-opera-aeterna
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260430T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260430T193000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260411T144949Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260411T144949Z
UID:309459-1777572000-1777577400@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:Swell Soirée Swinging 60’s
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an evening with a little bit of rhythm and blues\, rock and roll\, the British Invasion\, soul and Broadway. The 1960’ were both swinging and turbulent. It witnessed a revolution of new sounds introduced to our country. We will celebrate them with some of Chicago’s top cabaret artists. They will be performing along with talented theatre arts students from the five Chicago area universities where we fund scholarships. \nFollowing the performance\, join us for an intimate fundraiser dinner with the cast at Victory Tap\, 1416 S. Michigan Ave.\nCAST: \nDirector – Carla Gordon | Music Director – Beckie Menzie \nFeaturing: \nDevin Eichel\, Northwestern University School of Communications \nAudrey Geysbeek\, Northern Illinois University\, School of Theatre and Dance \nMargaret Higgins\, Chicago College of Performing Arts\, Roosevelt University \nEmma Jacobson\, Columbia College \nPeyton Owen\, The Theatre School at DePaul University
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/swell-soiree-swinging-60s
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://pianofortechicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/image03.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260427T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260427T190000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260411T144326Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260421T180528Z
UID:309455-1777312800-1777316400@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:WDCB Live Broadcast | Celebrating International Jazz Day with Robert Irving III
DESCRIPTION:Robert Irving III\, an interdisciplinary artist\, completes a distinguished lineage of post-bop pianists/composers who collaborated with the legendary Miles Davis. At age 26\, Irving’s composition “Space” initiated the 1981 comeback of Davis and their prolific nine-year collaboration. Irving produced two award winning Columbia Record albums for Davis\, “Decoy” and “You’re Under Arrest\,” while adding to his arranging/orchestration credentials by studying with Gil Evans\, who decades earlier had famously arranged some of Miles Davis’ most celebrated recordings. \nIrving has created several film scores\, most notably Alfred Hitchcock Presents The Prisoner’s starring Yaphet Kotto and Cristina Raines (uncredited)\, Street Smart (the last film of Christopher Reeve and the first film of Morgan Freeman) and Scenes For the Soul\, the debut film of Director\, George Tillman (Soul Food). Irving has produced five Grammy Award nominated projects while working closely with Terri Lyne Carrington\, Carlos Santana\, Wayne Shorter\, Patrice Rushen\, Diane Reeves\, Grover Washington Jr\, Nancy Wilson\, Branford Marsalis\, Regina Carter\, Roy Ayers\, and many other greats; also serving as Musical Director for The Last Poets\, Dr. Donald Byrd and Sister Sledge. \nIrving Co-founded the Sonic Portraits Entertainment label in 2007 which was re-branded in 2017 as Sonic Portraits Jazz. In 2009 the Jazz Institute/Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs commissioned Irving to create the orchestral suite\, “Sketches of Brazil” prompting the formation of his 33-member Sonic Portraits Orchestra. The suite premiered August 13\, 2009 with 12\,500 fans in attendance at Chicago’s Millennium Park. Chicago Tribune music critic\, Howard Reich wrote about the piece\, “Extraordinarily ambitious… a tour-de-force of orchestral writing.” On December 9\, 2018\, Irving premiered a commissioned composition featuring his Sonic Portraits Orchestra Youth Division in the performance of Sound Pictures of A Century the Living Legacy of Timuel D. Black. Professor Black\, who mentored Harold Washington and Barack Obama\, also brought Martin Luther King to Chicago for the first time. \nIn 2020 Irving formed Ri3 Reels Corporation NFP and Chi Worldview Studio LLC towards the development and production of Documentary films with the initial focus being seminal Chicago born and/or based musicians. He has produced and edited music videos for over a decade. \nIrving is Musical Director of the Miles Electric Band featuring Miles Davis alums. Irving states\, “This band does not pay tribute to Miles\, but rather\, it extends his legacy.” \nIrving\, who has worked as a art director and columnist for an internationally distributed magazine magazine and exhibited globally as a visual artist\, garnered the Cover Story/Interview Nov/Dec 2016 Issue Chicago Jazz Magazine. He is the recipient of two Lifetime Achievement Awards; from Chicago Music Awards 2015 and from the Jazz Institute Chicago on October 26\, 2018. He has served as a professional mentor for the latter organization for over 15-years. \nhttps://robertirvingiiimusic.com/bio-page/ \n  \nPresented by WDCB 90.9 FM\, Chicago’s Home for Jazz! \n 
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/wdcb-live-broadcast-celebrating-international-jazz-day-with-robert-irving-iii
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://pianofortechicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Robert-Irving-III-at-the-piano-by-Richard-Duncan-1024x619-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260426T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260426T203000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260126T011145Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260126T011145Z
UID:309245-1777230000-1777235400@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:Interior Visions Part II - Late Music of Schubert for Two and Four Hands | Matthew Hagle and Mio Isoda-Hagle\, piano
DESCRIPTION:Program: \nAll by Franz Schubert \nPiano Sonata in A major\, D.664 \n“Lebensstürme”\, Allegro in A minor\, D. 947 \nPiano Sonata in A major\, D. 959 \n  \nPianist Matthew Hagle is a musician of great versatility and depth\, whose performances are a rare mixture of  musical understanding\, imaginative programming\, pianistic command and beauty of sound. In solo performance  he often tries to shed new light on the piano repertoire\, using thoughtful programming and committed  performance to present lesser-known works and to illuminate the traditional canon. In a more conventional  vein\, he has also performed all of Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas and the complete later pieces of Brahms in live  radio recitals. Mr. Hagle is also highly valued as a collaborator by many other artists. With violinist Rachel  Barton Pine\, he has released three acclaimed CDs on the Cedille label\, and performed many recitals in North  and South America. His piano duo performances with Mio Isoda-Hagle have been highlights of the annual  Chicago Duo Piano Festival. Other chamber music partners have been the Parker Quartet\, the Avalon Quartet\,  Quintet Attacca\, and members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. \nMatthew Hagle has been heard in concert halls throughout the United States\, including the National Gallery of  Art and Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.\, Symphony Space in New York\, and in concert at the United  States Supreme Court. Outside of the U.S.\, he has performed at venues in England\, Canada\, Brazil\, Australia  and Japan. A resident of the Chicago area\, Hagle performs frequently at local spaces including the Ravinia  Festival\, Symphony Center\, and the Chicago Cultural Center. Mr. Hagle can often be heard on radio station  WFMT in Chicago\, and has also been heard on NPR’s Performance Today and Minnesota Public Radio’s St.  Paul Sunday Morning programs. Among others\, the New York Times has described him as “a sensitive pianist”\,  Clavier Magazine praised the “rare clarity and sweetness”of his playing\, and the Springfield (MA.) Republican  remarked that he “played with unaffected brilliance and profound understanding.” Mr. Hagle’s performance of  Elliott Carter’s Piano Sonata in the Sydney International Piano Competition received special notice and  favorable commentary in Australian national radio’s coverage of the competition. \nMr. Hagle is a dedicated teacher of piano\, music theory\, and composition\, whose students have won high honors  in local and national competitions and gone on to study music at some of the country’s finest music schools. He  is currently on the faculty of the Music Institute of Chicago\, where he is director of the Musicianship program  in addition to his teaching duties. In addition\, he has taught at the University of Notre Dame and at Elmhurst  College. His own studies were with Robert Weirich and Donald Currier at the Peabody Conservatory\, with  Claude Frank at the Yale School of Music (where he received the DMA)\, and with Maria Curcio Diamand in  London as a Fulbright Scholar. A comfortable speaker on diverse musical subjects\, Mr. Hagle likes to use this  ability to draw connections between very new and older music\, or between music and other art forms. In his  spare time he likes to read on a variety of subjects\, to try to learn Japanese\, and to spend time with his wife and  two children. \n  \nMio Isoda-Hagle has been heard in concerts as soloist and chamber musician  throughout her native Japan\, United States\, France\, Belgium\, and England.  Mio’s studies were at the Juilliard School\, Tokyo National University of Fine  Arts and Music\, Conservatoire National Superieur de Danse et de Musique  de Paris\, where she received the Premier Prix in 1991\, and the Mannes  College of Music\, where she completed her Master’s Degree as a student of  Jacob Lateiner. Her other teachers have been Yasuko Nakayama\, Reiko  Sakai\, Takashi Yamazaki\, Germaine Mounier\, Gerard Fremy\, and Maria  Curcio Diamand. She has been a laureate of the Senigallia and “Les Grand  Maitres Francais” international competitions. Mio teaches at the Merit  School of Music in Chicago\, and performs by herself\, in chamber music\, and  as a duo with her husband\, Matthew Hagle.
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/interior-visions-part-ii-late-music-of-schubert-for-two-and-four-hands-matthew-hagle-and-mio-isoda-hagle-piano
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://pianofortechicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/image0-5-scaled.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260423T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260423T210000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260213T155831Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260213T160115Z
UID:309301-1776972600-1776978000@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:Claire Huangci: Live in Concert  (Supporting Sharing Notes)
DESCRIPTION:Sharing Notes is proud to present a piano recital by internationally acclaimed pianist Claire Huangci \nConcert will begin at 7:30 pm with doors opening at 7:00 pm.\nClaire’s program will have an American focus featuring works by Amy Beach\, Florence Price\, and George Gershwin combined with some European classics.\nAll ticket sales will directly support Sharing Notes\, a Chicago-based non-profit that brings live music directly into hospitals and senior living facilities.\nSeating is limited and is by advance purchase only.\n  \nAmerican pianist Claire Huangci continuously captivates audiences with her “radiant virtuosity\, artistic sensitivity\, keen interactive sense and subtle auditory dramaturgy” (Salzburger Nachrichten). \nWith an irrepressible curiosity and penchant for unusual repertoire\, she proves her versatility with a wide rangeof repertoire spanning from Bach and Scarlatti via German and Russian romanticism to Bernstein\, Amy Beach\, and Barber. \nIn solo recitals and with international orchestras\, Claire Huangci has appeared in some of the most prestigious halls such as Carnegie Hall\, Suntory Hall Tokyo\, Paris Philharmonie\, Frankfurt Alte Oper\, Dortmund Konzerthaus\, Munich Prinzregententheater\, Hamburg Elbphilharmonie\, Berlin Philharmonie\, Vienna Konzerthaus\, and Salzburg Festspielhaus. She is a welcome guest of renowned festivals including the Lucerne Festival\, Rheingau Musik Festival and Klavier Festival Ruhr. Her esteemed musical partners include the Mozarteumorchester Salzburg\, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra\, Tonhalle-Orchester Zurich\, Musikkollegium Winterthur\, Munich Chamber Orchestra and Basel Chamber Orchestra\, together with Carl St. Clair\, Elim Chan\, Michael Francis\, Howard Griffiths\, Pietari Inkinen\, Jun Märkl\, Cornelius Meister\, Sir Roger Norrington\, Eva Ollikainen\, Alexander Shelley and Mario Venzago. \nBorn in Rochester New York\, Claire displayed an early penchant for piano and was invited to the White House in 1999. She studied with Gary Graffman and Eleanor Sokoloff at the Curtis Institute of Music before moving to Hannover for further studies with Arie Vardi. She rose to international prominence with top prizes at several major competitions\, including European and US Chopin competitions\, ARD Music Competition\, Geza Anda Competition\, and Grand Prix of the Paris Play Direct Academy. Since then she has led a number of orchestras in various concerto repertoire. \nClaire has released more than 12 CD recordings on the Alpha Classics\, BBC Orchestra\, Berlin Classics\, and Capriccio labels. \n  \nThis program made possible by a generous donation by Nicholas and Susan Yasillo. \nSharing Notes is a Chicago-based non-profit that brings joy and comfort to hospital and assisted living facility patients\, their support networks and facility staff through a dedicated group of over 170 professional & pre-professional locally-based musicians who are passionate about sharing the healing power of music. For more information about Sharing Notes\, visit our website. \n  \n \n 
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/claire-huangci-live-in-concert-supporting-sharing-notes
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=application/pdf:https://pianofortechicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Claire-Huangci-SN-4.23.pdf
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260422T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260422T210000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260320T145957Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260320T145957Z
UID:309404-1776886200-1776891600@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:Markus Rutz & Third Coast Sounds
DESCRIPTION:April is Jazz Appreciation Month—come catch a vibe with Markus Rutz & Third Coast Sounds! \nFree entry (yes\, really)—thanks to the Chicago Federation of Musicians and Music Performance Trust Fund. \nStep into a spring night filled with smooth grooves\, bluesy riffs\, and swing that moves you. We’re bringing brand-new original tunes\, jazz classics\, and the kind of melodies you didn’t know you missed. \nPull up with your crew\, bring your energy\, and hang where the music feels just right.
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/markus-rutz-third-coast-sounds-2
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://pianofortechicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMGL1158-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260418T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260418T210000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260125T202300Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260331T164716Z
UID:309242-1776540600-1776546000@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:From Romanticism to Rhapsody | Greg Hartmann
DESCRIPTION:Featuring Franz Liszt’s epic and monumental Sonata in B minor as well George Gerswhin’s iconic and quintessentially American Rhapsody in Blue. \n  \nProgram: \nFantasy in C minor\, K. 475\, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) \nRhapsody in Blue\, by George Gershwin (1898–1937) (Solo transcription by the composer) \nSonata in B minor\, S. 178\, by Franz Liszt (1811–1886) \n  \nPianist Greg Hartmann is a rising star in the classical music world\, with performances in recent seasons across America and Europe. Greg holds an Artist Diploma from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama as well as a doctorate in piano from the City University of New York. Greg has won first prize in the 2023 Knoxville International Piano Competition\, first prize in the 2018 Memphis International Piano Competition\, second prize in the top division of the 2021 Schubert Club Scholarship Competition\, third prize in the 2021 William Knabe International Piano Competition\, third prize in the 2019 Thousand Islands International Piano Competition\, and third prize in the 2018 High Point University Piano Competition\, among others. He has performed concerti with the New Albany Symphony Orchestra\, Rochester Symphony\, Lakeshore Wind Ensemble\, Concord Chamber Orchestra\, and Waukesha Area Chamber Orchestra. Greg wrote his doctoral dissertation on the intersection between performance and music theory\, with a particular emphasis on Schenkerian analysis\, rhythm and meter\, and phrase-level form.  Also an accomplished composer\, Greg won the 2018 Paula Nelson-Guenther Young Composer Competition with his orchestral work Requiem for a Memory: Nocturne for Orchestra\, and in recent seasons has conducted the world premieres of two of his orchestral works\, Spark (2022)\, and Cloudburst (2023). Greg has participated in music festivals including the Aspen Music Festival and School\, Pianofest in the Hamptons\, the Bowdoin International Music Festival\, the Sejong International Music Festival\, Euro Music Festival and Academy\, and the Gijón International Piano Festival. In his free time\, Greg enjoys tennis\, running\, and ping pong.
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/greg-hartmann-solo-piano-recital
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://pianofortechicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/greg-hart-1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260417T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260417T210000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260312T172109Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260312T172139Z
UID:309381-1776454200-1776459600@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:Hearing Around Corners
DESCRIPTION:Steve Million is a pianist\, composer\, and arranger from Chicago\, by way of NTSU (Denton\, TX)\, Kansas City and New York. Steve has led countless projects\, resulting in recordings as a leader (Million to One\, Thanks A Million\, Truth Is\, Poetic Necessities\, Mood Point\, Live in Racine\, Remembering the Way Home)\, as well as JazzWords with singer Sarah Marie Young; What I Meant to Say with guitarist Steve Cardenas; and Perfectly Spaced with jazz violinist Mark Feldman. Steve has also performed and recorded locally and abroad with jazz luminaries including Chris Potter\, Randy Brecker\, Dick Oatts\, Seve Cardenas\, Michael Moore\, Ron Vincent and Mark Feldman.” \n  \n \nHoward Levy\, two-time Grammy Award Winner (Pop Music Performance and Instrumental Composition) is an acknowledged master of the diatonic harmonica\, a superb pianist\, innovative composer\, educator and producer. At the age of 19\, he discovered how to play the diatonic harmonica as a fully chromatic instrument by developing techniques on it that had never existed before. This enabled Howard to take the harmonica out of its usual role as a Folk and Blues instrument\, and into the worlds of Jazz\, Classical\, Middle Eastern music\, and more. His discovery unlocked infinite possibilities for the harmonica world. \nAt home in many musical styles\, he is a favorite with audiences worldwide and a recording artist sought after by Kenny Loggins\, Dolly Parton\, Paquito D’Rivera\, Styx\, Donald Fagen\, Paul Simon\, and many others. Howard has appeared on hundreds of CD’s and several movie soundtracks\, most prominently on A Family Thing with Robert Duval and James Earl Jones. \nHoward has released 20 albums under his own name\, capturing his versatility and innovation as a musician and composer. His solo album Alone and Together and his trio album Tonight and Tomorrow both received 4-star reviews in DownBeat. Howard also recorded a classical CD featuring his Concerto for Diatonic Harmonica and Orchestra—the first true concerto composed for the instrument. His recent composition\, Eastern European Harmonica and Piano Concerto for Single Soloist\, is set to premiere in 2026. \nAs an educator\, Howard has taught at leading universities and conservatories\, and online for TrueFire/ArtistWorks. His revolutionary technique books “Rhythms of the Breath Vol.1&2” are the first of their kind to apply drum rudiments to harmonica breathing patterns\, enlightening players around the world. \nHoward tours as a solo artist\, with Trio Globo\, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones\, and his band\, The Howard Levy 4. \n  \nSarah Marie Young is an award winning (Montreux Jazz Competition\, Thelonious Monk Competition) singer\, songwriter and musician. She has been featured with Postmodern Jukebox\, Playing For Change’s “Skin Deep” video with Buddy Guy\, and has played festivals all over Europe and Brazil. With seven albums out\, Sarah also sings with the acoustic group\, The Oh Yeahs\, and is a songwriter for the Story Jam storytelling series. In 2020\, she began producing her own children’s music show\, Sarah’s Music Room for the National YMCA\, and released two children’s EPs in 2021. Her holiday album “The Most Wonderful Time” was released in 2022. Sarah’s newest EP\, “Drive Across the Country” was released in summer of 2025 coinciding with her Chicago Jazz Festival performance on The Pritzker Pavilion stage. Sarah is also the leader of Chicago’s premier event band Rendezvous. \n  \nEmma Taylor is a bassist\, vocalist\, and educator based in Chicago. A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign\, Emma studied Jazz Performance under the direction of Larry Gray. Emma has played with renowned musicians such as Brian Lynch\, Carl Allen\, Derrick Gardner\, Gary Smulyan\, Tito Carrillo\, Troy Roberts\, Jim Pugh\, Joel Spencer\, and Ben Markley. Aside from playing in the US\, Emma has also toured in Argentina\, Brazil\, Chile\, Cuba\, and Mexico—most recently completing a two week-long residency performing and teaching classes in Brazil at the Federal University of Uberlândia.
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/hearing-around-corners
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://pianofortechicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/pianofortechicago_concerto300dpiSTAMPA-scaled.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260414T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260414T203000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260322T162335Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260322T162722Z
UID:309418-1776193200-1776198600@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:Francesco Cafiso & Joe Block Duo
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an exciting jazz night at PianoForte\, with the music of Francesco Cafiso and Joe Block. \nAs the concert unfolds\, from the very first to the last note played by Cafiso and Block\, a deep sense of mutual understanding clearly emerges. Creativity\, emotion\, and a touch of artistic madness arise naturally from two musicians who share the same musical language. \nThe Duo’s repertoire draws both from Cafiso’s original works and from a selection of jazz standards. With his warm\, lyrical tone\, Cafiso deconstructs melodies\, crafting solos of remarkable originality and creativity Block provides his partner with a rich sonic tapestry\, shaping melodic lines on the piano within a sophisticated harmonic and rhythmic framework\, while never relinquishing his own distinct solo voice. The result is a dialogue of the highest artistic level between two outstanding musicians\, confirming the vitality and enduring prestige of jazz today. \n  \nThe concert is part of the initiatives presented for International Jazz Day 2026. \nIn November 2011\, the United Nations Educational\, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially designated April 30 as International Jazz Day in order to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe. \nIn 2026 the city of Chicago was selected to host the 15th anniversary International Jazz Day celebration in 2026. For over a century\, Chicago has been a jazz mecca. As early as the 1920s\, jazz musicians sailed up the Mississippi from New Orleans and found the city to be a creative hub. Jazz legends such as Louis Armstrong\, King Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton made their names in the city\, developing the “Chicago style” of jazz. This style valued solos\, improvisation\, big band arrangements and a faster\, more rhythmic sound\, bringing instruments like the saxophone to the fore. Today\, Chicago continues to celebrate its heritage through the Chicago Jazz Festival and iconic venues such as the Green Mill and the Jazz Showcase\, founded 75 years ago. \nFor International Jazz Day 2026\, Chicago will also host a series of other jazz concerts\, educational initiatives\, discussions and events for audiences of all ages\, in partnership with the Chicago Jazz Alliance\, the Ravinia Festival\, the City of Chicago\, the Illinois Arts Council\, the State of Illinois and others. \n  \nJoe Block has ascended to be one of the premier pianists\, composers\, and bandleaders working in music today. Born and raised in Philadelphia\, Block began his musical journey playing classical piano at 2. In middle school\, he began regularly studying at the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts and the Kimmel Center’s Creative Music Program while soaking in the city’s rich jazz scene. Block now resides in New York City and is a graduate of the Columbia-Juilliard dual-degree program (BA ’21 and MM ‘22) where he studied with Geoffrey Keezer\, Marc Cary\, Ted Rosenthal\, and Frank Kimbrough. \nBlock captures the most special moments and feelings of humanity through his music and compositions. He has played with musicians including Wynton Marsalis\, Kurt Rosenwinkel\, and Leslie Odom Jr. and at venues such as Carnegie Hall\, Lincoln Center\, the Apollo Theater\, and the Village Vanguard. He has been nationally recognized as a YoungArts Foundation Finalist\, a Jazz at Lincoln Center J. Douglas White Award winner\, and has played on Orrin Evans’ Grammy-nominated album\, “The Intangible Between”. \nHailed by Jazz at Lincoln Center as one of “jazz’s most promising young composers”\, Block is a regular arranger for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. He also writes for the Wynton Marsalis Septet\, the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra\, Grace Kelly\, Kenny Overton\, and the Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia. In April 2023\, he served as the musical director and pianist for Internationally Ellington\, a Jazz at Lincoln center concert celebrating Duke’s international repertoire featuring drummer Herlin Riley. \nIn the summer of 2023\, he performed at the Village Vanguard with the Kurt Rosenwinkel Quintet and at the Marciac Jazz Festival with the Wynton Marsalis Septet. Most recently\, he was named a finalist in the 2023 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition. \nBlock is the co-founder and leader of the Philadelphia Ambassador Big Band as well as the Joe Block Quintet\, where he regularly performs his original compositions. He has taught over 30 students\, carrying forward the rich culture of mentorship he was surrounded with. \nhttps://www.joeblockmusic.com/ \n  \nFrancesco Cafiso was barely nine years old when he took his first steps on the stage\, working with musicians of international acclaim.  \nSince then\, Francesco has gone on to perform with a dizzying array of the biggest names in jazz\, including Hank Jones\, Dave Brubeck\, Cedar Walton\, Mulgrew Miller\, Jimmy Cobb\, Ben Riley\, Ray Drummond\, Lewis Nash\, James Williams\, Joe Lovano\, Christian McBride\, George Mraz\, Kenny Wheeler\, Gonzalo Rubalcaba\, Enrico Rava\, and Stefano Bollani\, to name but a few. \nA decisive moment in Francesco’s career came in 2002\, when he met Wynton Marsalis at the Pescara Jazz Festival\, in Italy. Amazed by what he heard from the thirteen-year-old\, Marsalis invited Francesco to join his septet in Europe the following year on a tour that included some of the most prestigious theaters in Europe. From that moment on\, Francesco’s career took off\, both in Italy and abroad. He won various important prizes: the Massimo Urbani National Award in Urbisaglia\, the EuroJazz Award in Lecco\, the International Jazz Festivals Organization Award in New York\, the World Saxophone Competition in London\, and the Django d’Or in Rome amongst many others. \nIn search of new experiences\, musical styles and genres\, Francesco then traveled to New Orleans\, where he played with Ellis Marsalis and many other important local musicians. In 2004\, he was featured as a special guest at Italy’s Sanremo Music Festival. In the 2005 edition of Swing Journal\, the authoritative Japanese jazz music magazine\, he was presented with the New Stars Award: a prize reserved for emerging foreign talents. The same year\, he was awarded the “Best New Talent” in the Top Jazz charts of the Italian magazine\, “Musica Jazz”. In 2006\, Francesco graduated from the Musical Institute Vincenzo Bellini in Catania with a Diploma in Transverse Flute. In 2008\, Francesco took on the role of Artistic Director at the Vittoria Jazz Festival\, in his native city; a role which he continues to fulfill today. On January 19\, 2009\, he performed in Washington DC during the celebrations in honor of President Barak Obama for Martin Luther King Jr Day. On July 17\, 2009\, the Umbria Jazz Foundation named Francesco “Ambassador of Italian Jazz Music Around the World.”  In 2012\, he arranged “Don’t Stop”: the music used in an ongoing commercial for ENI Station. In 2010\, he obtained a Masters Degree in Jazz at the Corelli Conservatory of Messina. Soon after\, he was featured in the “Best of Italian Jazz” festival at the Shanghai Expo in China. In July 2012\, he was invited to perform in London for the Summer Olympics\, at the headquarters of “Casa Italia” in the presence of the Italian Ambassador in London and of the leaders of CONI (the Italian National Olympic Committee). In September of the same year\, during an extended stay in the USA\, he held a series of saxophone master classes at the prestigious University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. In June 2013\, at the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Consulate General of Philadelphia\, in collaboration with the American Secretary of State John Kerry\, Francesco represented Italy during the celebrations for the “Year of Italian Culture” in the United States. On February 20\, 2014\, Francesco received the “Grand Award of Merit” from the “American Society of the Italian Legions of Merit” in New York\, on behalf of the many Sicilian musicians that have contributed to the development of jazz music throughout the world. In March 2015\, Francesco’s ambitious work entitled “3” was released (Alfredo Lo Faro Productions). It consists of three albums\, each unique in their own right: “La Banda”\, “Contemplation” and “20 Cents per Note”. The three albums see Francesco in the role of composer\, arranger\, and performer. In 2016\, Francesco created and launched his own jazz record label\, named “EFLAT Records”. In 2017\, Francesco recorded the album “We Play For Tips” at the Vittoria Jazz Festival\, which was released in 2018 on his record label\, EFLAT Records\, obtaining widespread acclaim and recognition from specialized critics. In 2019\, Francesco returned to the recording studio with the infamous London Symphony Orchestra\, giving life to his project “Irene of Boston – Conversation avec Corto Maltese”\, which was released in 2020. On December 27\, 2022\, Sergio Mattarella\, the President of the Italian Republic\, knighted Francesco with the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. The decree\, coming directly from Mattarella himself\, is the highest recognition the President of the Republic can confer. On May 19\, 2023\, Francesco received a graduate Artist’s Diploma in Jazz Studies from The Juilliard School of New York. ​In 2024\, the website JazzTokyo selected Francesco’s concert held at the Italian Institute of Culture of Tokyo as the best performance of the year. \nFrancesco continues to perform throughout the world with various musical ensembles under his own direction. \nhttps://www.francescocafisomusic.com/ \n  \nPresented by the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/francesco-cafiso-joe-block-duo
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://pianofortechicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/italian-institute-april-2026.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260411T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260411T203000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260222T173259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260222T173259Z
UID:309319-1775934000-1775939400@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:Pavel Nersessian | Piano Recital
DESCRIPTION:Internationally acclaimed pianist Pavel Nersessian presents a program spanning Romantic lyricism and impressionistic color\, featuring Mendelssohn’s Songs Without Words\, Schubert’s Impromptus\, Fauré’s Sicilienne\, and Ravel’s virtuosic masterpiece Gaspard de la nuit. This intimate recital offers a rare opportunity to experience his distinctive artistry in a close concert setting. \n  \nProgram \nMendelssohn — Six Songs Without Words\, Op. 67 \nSchubert — Impromptus\, Op. 90 (Nos. 2–4) \nMendelssohn — Rondo capriccioso\, Op. 14 \nFauré — Sicilienne\, from Pelléas et Mélisande\, Op. 80 \nRavel — Gaspard de la nuit \n  \nPavel Nersessian is regarded as one of the most refined pianists of his generation. A graduate of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory\, where he studied with Sergei Dorensky\, he joined the Conservatory faculty upon graduating with highest honors and worked closely with an extraordinary circle of pianists\, including Nikolai Lugansky\, Denis Matsuev\, and Olga Kern. \nA prizewinner of major international competitions\, Nersessian received First Prize at the Dublin International Piano Competition in 1991. He has appeared in major cultural centers worldwide — including London\, Paris\, Vienna\, Tokyo\, Seoul\, New York\, and Beijing — and has collaborated with leading orchestras\, conductors\, and ballet companies such as the Kirov and Bolshoi Theatres. Since 2013\, he has served as Professor of Piano at Boston University and regularly gives masterclasses internationally. \nAcross a wide range of repertoire\, his interpretations often move beyond conventional expectations. Meticulous in detail yet expansive in atmosphere\, he draws from the piano a sound of unusual beauty and strength\, opening new dimensions of the instrument’s expressive possibilities. \nMore information about Pavel can be found here: https://pavelnersessian.com/ \n  \nThis concert is supported in part by the Manhattan Music and Arts Foundation. \nPresented by Hiroko Nagahata. \n  \n \n 
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/pavel-nersessian-piano-recital
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://pianofortechicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_5323-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260410T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260410T210000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260205T191557Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260205T192154Z
UID:309274-1775849400-1775854800@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:From This Moment On!
DESCRIPTION:Starring Anna Palermo\, Lina Koutrakos (director)\, Beckie Menzie (music director). Join Anna Palermo for an evening of self discovery through a musical concert. With songs by Mary Chapin Carpenter\, Kander and Ebb\, The Beatles\, Johnny Mercer\, and more! With Beckie Menzie on piano and Irwin Berkowitz on percussion. \n  \nAnna Palermo is Chicago’s up coming star in the Cabaret scene. Anna is a cabaret performer and has a BFA in Musical Theatre.  She is a single mother of two who put her career on hold until the boys got older. Anna started up again in 2014 and worked up to her performance of her show\, Powerful Women in Steppenwolf’s LookOut Series for up and coming artists. \nAnna grew up in a little town outside of Savannah\, Georgia. She began singing and dancing at the age of ten. She performed in countless musicals\, pageants\, and Shakespeare competitions. Anna has studied at Greenville Fine Arts Center High School in Greenville\, SC\, with the late\, Michael V. Rice. She also had the opportunity to compete on Lincoln Center stage for the English Speaking Unions Shakespeare Competition two years in a row. Her path lead her to Boston Conservatory where she earned a BFA in Musical Theatre. One of her highlights in Boston was working with Spiro Veloudos at the Publick Theatre. \nOnce Anna graduated she moved to Hoboken\, NJ\, and began auditioning in New York. While in New York\, Anna worked with Discovery Health Channel on the reality show\, Buff Brides\, danced in a Kings of Leon video\, sang the National Anthem at Meadowlands for the NJ Nets\, and worked on student films and theatre. \nAnna then made her move to the Midwest and now resides in Chicago. She has appeared in national commercials and performs in Chicago’s cabaret scene. Beckie Menzie is Anna’s music director and mentor. She has also had the honor of coaching with Lina Koutrakas\, K.T. Sullivan\, Sally Mayes\, Karen Mason\, Amanda McBroom\, Lucy Arnez\, Faith Prince\, and Rick Jensen. Anna also has been on the other side of the table interning at O’connor Casting and PR Casting learning a tremendous amount about the acting business. \nAnna also has a love for fitness. She has been a personal trainer for 19 years. She had her own studio while living in Hoboken. After moving to Chicago\, she began working independently\, as well as at the ever popular\, East Bank Club. \nFor more information\, please visit https://annapalermosings.com/home. \n  \nAn award winning concert artist\, Beckie Menzie has appeared at some of the nation’s top nightclubs and concert venues including the legendary Carnegie Hall\, Lincoln Center and Birdland in New York\, Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre\, The Ravinia Festival and Park West\, as well as at concert halls and art series across the country. Hailed by Chicago’s WGN Radio as “one of the city’s finest cabaret performers\,” Beckie is a three time winner of Chicago’s After Dark Award for Outstanding Cabaret Artist. \nAs one of cabaret’s most in demand entertainers\, Beckie was featured in Michael Feinstein’s “Now & Then” Series for her Carnegie Hall debut. She has been a featured performer at many of the Mabel Mercer Cabaret Conventions in New York\, The Hamptons and in Chicago\, as well as many performances for the Chicago Humanities Festival\, where she has served as a performer\, a director and musical director. \nBeckie has two acclaimed solo CD’s\, Real Emotional Girl and Heart & Soul\, that have received national airplay. Both are an eclectic mix of classic ballads\, standard jazz favorites as well as her own original songs. Cabaret Scenes Magazine called Real Emotional Girl “one of the year’s finest recordings.” Beckie is also an award-winning songwriter. \nShe performs regularly with Tom Michael\, and as a duo they are recipients of the After Dark Award for Outstanding Cabaret Artist. She performs regularly with Tom Michael and as a duo they have toured their many concerts across the country\, including Carnegie Hall’s 100th birthday celebration for Cole Porter\, they’ve performed with the Rich Daniel’s City Light’s Orchestra and headlined with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra and many other symphonies with their holiday show. Beckie is also one third of the GIRLS LIKE US group that includes Laura Freeman and Marianne Murphy Orland who entertain sell out audiences across the Midwest. Beckie is an award winning songwriter who coaches Musical musical talent across the country. \nFrom swing to torch songs\, Beckie’s interpretive style\, rich smoky voice and inventive piano stylings rank her among the best nightclub entertainers in the country. Hers is a talent that not only warms but breaks your heart. \nFor more information\, please visit https://beckiemenzie.com/about/
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/from-this-moment-on
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260329T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260329T173000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260111T225447Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260125T164124Z
UID:309195-1774800000-1774805400@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:Bellissima Opera & Song's "Under 30" Showcase
DESCRIPTION:Showcasing 8 of Chicago’s rising young performers from Classical to Cabaret.\nHosted by Claudia Hommel\, Carl Ratner & Christine Steye with Dana Brown\, Collaborative Pianist\nTop: Harrison Mueller\, Karissa Burkhardt\, Peter Lorenzo\, Chiemerie Obianom\nBottom: Brandon Burkhardt\, Kunying Li\, Hannah Grace Weber\, Jasmine Doll \nOn-site reception to follow. \nPlease note\n-Parking: Many inexpensive SpotHero and on-street options. We recommend either reserving these in advance or arriving early to find on street parking\n-Limited Tickets: Please we recommend purchasing tickets in advance.
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/bellissima-opera-songs-under-30-showcase
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://pianofortechicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/NEW-Under-30-square.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260328T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260328T210000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260125T170717Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260125T171323Z
UID:309238-1774726200-1774731600@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:North Shore Chamber Music Festival | onstage/offstage Series | Concert/Conversation with Lucas Chiche\, piano (AFSF'25)
DESCRIPTION:Born in Geneva in September 2011\, Lucas Chiche is a young concert pianist whose passion for music began at the age of 4 with Evgenia Pilyavina. At the age of 6\, he entered the prestigious Geneva Conservatory of Music\, and a year later joined the Musimax programme for gifted children. He is in the class of Mladen Tcholitch. \nAt just 13\, Lucas has already won a number of prestigious international competitions\, including the Rondo International Competition (2019 and 2020)\, the SJMW Swiss Competition (2021)\, the London Young Musician (2022) and the Geneva Baroque Competition (2023). In 2024\, the jury of the Grand Piano Competition awarded him the Special Prize and invited him to give a recital at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris – Salle Cortot. \nIn 2022\, he distinguished himself as a finalist in the ‘Prodiges’ competition on France 2\, winning praise from the jury comprising Gautier Capuçon\, Julie Fuchs and Marie-Claude Pietragalla. This performance brought him to the attention of a wide audience. In 2025\, he was invited to perform at the Victoires de la Musique Classique on France 3\, consolidating his reputation as a promising young artist. In March 2025\, Lucas was chosen to be part of the International selection of « Rising Stars » Classic FM in UK\, highlighting the most promising musicians under the age of 30. \nIn 2025\, he became the recipient of the Arkady Fomin Scholarship in US. \nLucas has already performed in such world-renowned venues as New York’s Carnegie Hall\, Geneva’s Victoria Hall\, Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Philarmonic Hall\, Tchaikovsky Conservatory Hall\, Zaryadye Hall\, Paris’s Salle Gaveau\, and many others. Whether as a soloist or accompanied by prestigious orchestras such as the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande\, the CMG Symphony Orchestra\, Divertimento\, the Svetlanov Orchestra\, the Moscow Virtuosi and the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia under Maestro Spivakov and many others\, Lucas impresses with his talent and musical maturity. He is a constant participant in the International School of M. Marchenko. He has also taken masterclasses with renowned musicians such as N. Goerner\, M. Voskresensky\, E. Leonskaya. \nAside from music\, Lucas finds his balance in travelling\, diving and basketball. \nhttps://www.lucaschiche.com/ \n  \nFor more information about North Shore Chamber Music Festival\, please visit: https://nscmf.org/
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/north-shore-chamber-music-festival-onstage-offstage-series-concert-conversation-with-lucas-chiche-piano-afsf25
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://pianofortechicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/img_6877-high.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260324T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260324T203000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260111T221715Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260322T024012Z
UID:309188-1774378800-1774384200@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:Strings of Memory
DESCRIPTION:Strings of Memory brings together powerful musical voices from Mexico and the Arab world\, inviting listeners on a journey across cultures. Featuring José Pablo Moncayo’s passionate Viola Sonata and Dia Succari’s colorful and rhythmic 5 Syrian Dances\, the program highlights how composers express national identity\, tradition\, and emotion through classical music. Two additional solo works—one rooted in Mexican tradition and one in Arab heritage—offer a personal glimpse into the soul of each culture. Blending the familiar and the unexpected\, this program celebrates the beauty of musical dialogue across continents. \n  \nProgram: \nSelections from Five Syrian Dances for Viola and Piano\, Dia Succari\nIV. Danse de l’accueil\nIII.Danse du Printemps \nTres Danzas Indigenas Jaliscienses\, Jose Rolin \nLe Bedouin\, Youssef Greiss\n(Arranged for Viola by Christina Ebersohl-Van Scyoc) \nSelections from Five Syrian Dances for Viola and Piano\, Dia Succari\nI. Improvisation et Danse\nII. Sultane de Damas \nBalada Mexicana\, Manuel Ponce \nSonata for Viola and Piano\, Jose Pablo Moncayo\nI. Allegro moderato\nII. Lento\nIII. Allegro \n  \nMelissa Terrall is an award-winning Oregonian pianist currently based in the Willamette valley. Melissa spent the 2023-24 academic year as a Fulbright scholar studying Mexican piano repertoire at Mexico City’s National Conservatory. Her research focuses on the evolution of Mexican classical piano repertoire before\, during\, and after the country’s revolution in the early 20th century. \nA passionate educator and performer\, Melissa has maintained a private piano studio for many years and has worked as interim piano professor at Linfield University and Clark College. Melissa received her master’s in piano performance at the University of Kansas\, where she was awarded a graduate teaching assistantship and studied under Dr. Scott McBride Smith. While in Kansas\, she served as director of the KU Community Music School\, teaching beginning piano lessons to students of all ages. \nThe youngest of six in a musical family\, Melissa’s first piano teachers were her mom and sister. She went on to study with Dr. Jill Timmons and Dr. Julia Lee at Portland State University. She has appeared as a concerto soloist with the Oregon Sinfonietta and Portland’s Jewish Community Orchestra. During her undergrad\, Melissa studied abroad in Spain\, working with pianists in Madrid and Barcelona\, an experience that piqued her interest in Iberian and Latin American classical music. When she is not at the keyboard\, Melissa finds inspiration hiking\, reading\, and improvising in the kitchen. \nViolist Christina Ebersohl-Van Scyoc brings a rare combination of expressive depth\, cultural fluency\, and visionary leadership to the international concert stage. Her 2024–2025 debut tour featured performances across Switzerland\, Egypt\, and the United States—including her Carnegie Hall debut in July 2024. The performance marked her remarkable transformation from Army linguist to celebrated concert artist. Joël Belgique\, principal violist of the Oregon Symphony\, calls Christina “part of a new generation of musicians—her talent alone is not enough… she’s inspiring.” \nHer debut album\, Viola al-Mashura / The Enchanted Viola\, released on Acis Productions in Spring 2026\, features contemporary works and world premieres that bridge cultures and genres. The project reflects Christina’s passion for global collaboration and artistic storytelling\, highlighting Egyptian composers and voices from the Arabic diaspora. A United States Army veteran and Arabic linguist\, Christina launched her solo career following her honorable discharge\, earning early acclaim for performances marked by fearless imagination and heartfelt sincerity. \nBeyond the stage\, Christina is a driving force in the viola world.  A 2022 Pat Tillman Scholar\, Christina is a leading advocate for blind and visually impaired musicians\, with speaking engagements at the New Music Gathering\, Music Library Association\, and International Vision Conference. She is a recipient of the NFB Pearson Scholarship for Teaching\, a Gilman International Scholarship alumna\, and a passionate mentor for inclusive teaching practices. Her first book—featuring interviews and biographies of contemporary Egyptian composers—will be published alongside the release of her CD in Spring 2026. \nA Licensed Body Mapping Educator\, Christina teaches workshops that help musicians prevent injury\, develop sustainable technique\, and rediscover the joy of movement. Her teachers include renowned violists Joël Belgique\, Kenji Bunch\, Basil Vendryes\, and Liz Freivogel of the Jupiter Quartet. She earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Viola Performance and Literature and Arabic Language as an Illinois Distinguished Fellow at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. \nChristina is not only performing on today’s global stages—she’s using music as a bridge: connecting cultures\, challenging boundaries\, and reimagining who classical music is for. \n 
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/strings-of-memory
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://pianofortechicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/humanitx-banner-ebersohl.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260321T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260321T210000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20251123T180916Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260304T033732Z
UID:309085-1774121400-1774126800@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:SAM SAOMEK "A GREAT MERCY" ALBUM RELEASE CONCERT
DESCRIPTION:Sam Saomek Srithongkum is a multigenre Thai pianist and composer based in Boston whose work bridges jazz\, contemporary classical music\, world traditions\, and gospel influences. Known for his expressive touch and vivid harmonic imagination\, he has collaborated with numerous award-winning and Grammy-nominated artists\, including Christylez Bacon\, Jamey Haddad\, Mehmet Sanlıkol\, and Mike Block. His expressive touch\, rich harmonic imagination\, and boundary-defying approach to composition have captivated audiences across the globe. \n \nAs a composer\, Sam continues to explore the intersection of tradition and innovation. His works often unite cultural idioms with modern forms — from Fallen Jasmine\, inspired by a traditional Thai melody\, to The Fourth Fortress\, which draws on the intricate rhythmic patterns of Gamelan and the resonant timbres of the gong. \nIn 2025\, he founded the Sam Saomek Quartet — with Paul Joseph\, Othniel Privat\, and Woody Pierre — which is preparing his debut album “A GREAT MERCY”\, to be released in March 2026. The album showcases Sam’s original compositions\, drawing on global musical traditions as well as the gospel and spiritual influences that have shaped his musical journey since childhood. \nSam is pursuing his master’s degree at the New England Conservatory\, studying with Ran Blake\, Hankus Netsky\, Bert Seager\, Frank Carlberg\, Akram Haddad\, and Mehmet Sanlıkol. \n  \n  \n  \nIn this concert\, Sam and his friends will be performing music from his album “A GREAT MERCY”  \n  \nSam Saomek Srithongkum: Piano \nWoody Pierre: Trumpet \nPaul July Joseph: Drums \nOthniel Privat: Bass \nEli Brandt: Soprano Saxophone \nMax Cannon: Alto Saxophone \nGraham Lin: Vocal \nPia Sanpitak: Violin I \nDavid Katahira: Violin II \nJulia Li: Violin III \nAmanda Zhang: Viola \nLaine Wang: Cello \n  \nhttps://www.samsaomek.com/
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/sam-saomek-a-great-mercy-album-release-concert
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://pianofortechicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/AZ3X9685-2-scaled.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260313T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260313T203000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260303T211415Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260303T211415Z
UID:309346-1773428400-1773433800@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:American Chamber Music Society: ECHOES OF BOHEMIA
DESCRIPTION:The American Chamber Music Society Presents: \nECHOES OF BOHEMIA \n“Electric . . . [the] performance extracted all the tensions\, fun\, and charm that can be found” \n~THIRD COAST REVIEW \nECHOES OF BOHEMIA is a rhapsodic evening exploring the folk spirit\, emotional depth\, and restless lyricism of three beloved composers: Dvorak\, Janacek\, and Smetana. By turns reflective and charged\, this program brings Bohemia’s musical voice vividly to life in works for piano\, violin\, and cello. ACMS welcomes the poetic French cellist Juliette Herlin in her series debut\, while critically acclaimed pianist Christopher Guzman returns for his second appearance. They’ll join Eric Gratz\, ACMS Director and international prizewinning violinist. \nACMS performs all concerts at PianoForte\, an intimate 75-seat concert hall with spectacular acoustics in downtown Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood. A reception and meet-and-greet with the performers will follow this 90-minute program. \nTickets are $25 GA/$10 students. \n——– \nThe American Chamber Music Society is deeply invested in inspiring and connecting with our local community. As one of the most intimate classical music experiences in Chicago\, it is our honor to enrich our culture by performing repertoire ranging from centuries ago to the present\, providing a variety of educational opportunities and offering tickets at a discounted price. There is nothing like sitting a few feet away from the best musicians in the world\, especially when many of them are from your home town. I am confident the diverse and innovative programming of our events will leave you moved\, exhilarated\, and eager to return. \n–ERIC GRATZ\, DIRECTOR
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/american-chamber-music-society-echoes-of-bohemia
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://pianofortechicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/acms-march-2026.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260309T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260309T210000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20250911T172033Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250911T172033Z
UID:308852-1773084600-1773090000@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:The Orion Ensemble - Concert 3
DESCRIPTION:Ludwig van Beethoven\nTrio in B-flat Major for Clarinet\, Cello and Piano\, Op. 11 \nEphraim Champion\nNew Composition for Orion \nAnton Arensky\nTrio in D Minor for Violin\, Cello and Piano\, Op. 11 \n  \nRecognized as one of Chicago’s finest chamber music groups\, The Orion Ensemble has been performing since 1992. John von Rhein of the Chicago Tribune called Orion “one of Chicago’s most vibrant\, versatile and distinctive ensembles.” With the possibilities inherent in its unique combination of instruments—piano\, string trio and clarinet—Orion offers exciting interpretations of standard repertoire\, introduces audiences to rarely performed masterpieces and inspires composers with commissions for new works. \nThe Orion Ensemble boasts a roster of superb musicians who have performed throughout North America\, Europe and Asia\, as an ensemble and individually in solo\, orchestral and other chamber music roles. In Chicago\, Orion presents a four-concert series in three venues\, is heard regularly on the broadcast series “Live from WFMT” and appears frequently on the Chicago Cultural Center’s Lunchbreak Series “Classical Mondays.” \nOrion programs diverse works ranging from Mozart\, Beethoven and Brahms to William Bolcom\, Chick Corea\, Paul Schoenfield\, Augusta Read Thomas and other living composers\, offering audiences a remarkably broad chamber music experience. Orion’s expansive commitment to chamber music embraces the works of the classical through modern standard repertoire as well as an extensive range of new pieces for piano quartet and clarinet. Orion continues to inspire composers with commissions for new works written especially for its unique combination of instruments. As the Chicago Tribune’s John von Rhein wrote upon Orion’s 10th anniversary\, “It seems like only yesterday that a remarkable chamber group of musicians calling itself the Orion Ensemble was born. The Orions … quickly established themselves as one of the Chicago area’s most vibrant\, versatile and distinctive ensembles\, at home in every period but especially committed to enlarging the repertory of its unusual combination of piano quartet and clarinet.”
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/the-orion-ensemble-concert-3
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://pianofortechicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/orion.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260228T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260228T210000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260125T170322Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260125T171434Z
UID:309233-1772307000-1772312400@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:North Shore Chamber Music Festival | onstage/offstage Series | Concert by Anna Kesselman\, piano (AFSF'25) and Fiona Khuong-Huu\, violin (AFSF'22)
DESCRIPTION:Anna Kesselman is an 18 year old pianist from New York City. A graduate of the Special Music School at Kaufman Music Center\, she has studied with Ms. Natela Mchedlishvili for the last thirteen years. Anna is a Lang Lang Young Scholar\, 2025 National YoungArts Winner\, and participated in the 2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival. She has performed with numerous orchestras such as the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony\, Midwest Young Artists Symphony Orchestra\, and Special Music School String Orchestra\, and was a finalist in the 11th Yamaha USASU International Piano Competition\, whose jury panel included Martha Argerich. Anna has performed in 13 states across the country and internationally as well as in venues such as Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall\, Merkin Hall\, and The Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall. An avid chamber music collaborator\, Anna has played chamber works in esteemed halls such as Alice Tully Hall\, Rose Studio\, and Steinway Hall\, and has shared the stage with artists such as Antonio Pompa-Baldi and Peter Dugan. She has performed in masterclasses for many distinguished artists\, including Richard Goode\, Veda Kaplinsky\, Jeremy Denk\, and Vladimir Feltsman. \nA strong advocate for community outreach and engagement\, Anna co-authored the children’s book Who is Florence Price?\, published by G. Schirmer\, created a website and organization called Keys 4 Community (keys4community.com) that hosts benefit concerts and online fundraising projects through music\, founded a student organization at her school called Music For All\, which brings live music to hundreds of people at assisted living facilities and rehabilitation centers throughout the city\, and served as Co-President of her school’s National Honor Society chapter. In the fall of 2025\, Anna will pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree at Columbia University and continue her piano studies under the tutelage of Prof. Veda Kaplinsky. \n  \nBorn in New York City\, violinist Fiona Khuong-Huu currently studies with Professor Ilya Kaler at the Cleveland Institute of Music\, previously a student of Professors Itzhak Perlman in the Juilliard Pre-College Division. Fiona made her debut with the New York Philharmonic at 16 in David Geffen Hall\, performing the Mendelssohn Concerto under the baton of Maestro Thomas Wilkins for the Centennial Season of the NY Phil Young People’s Concerts\, and she frequently performs as a soloist and chamber musician in the United States\, Italy\, Germany\, Belgium\, the Netherlands\, London\, and more. \nShe has had the honor of performing for King Charles at the Lancaster House with the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Marios Papadopoulos\, with whom she has also performed as soloist in Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium\, the Windsor Castle\, and the Buckingham Palace along with Maxim Vengerov. Most recently\, she performed Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at the Kulturpalast Dresden with the Moritzburg Festival Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Josep Domenech. Other notable performances as soloist include the Juilliard Orchestra in Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center\, the Flanders Symphony Orchestra at the Bozar Concert Hall in Brussels\, and with the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra. Fiona was awarded the prestigious Career Grant Award from Salon de Virtuosi in 2021 and performed in several of their concert series\, as well as at Festival Napa Valley as one of their Bouchaine Young Artists. \nShe has performed as guest artist with Andrea Lucchesini and Robert McDuffie at the Rome Chamber Music Festival\, with Jan Vogler at the Moritzburg Festival\, with Vadim Gluzman at the North Shore Chamber Music Festival\, and with Paul Neubauer in the Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players concert series. She is fortunate to have received inspiration from world renowned mentors such as Menahem Pressler and Sheryl Staples. \n  \nFor more information about North Shore Chamber Music Festival\, please visit: https://nscmf.org/
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/north-shore-chamber-music-festival-onstage-offstage-series-concert-by-anna-kesselman-piano-afsf25-and-fiona-khuong-huu-violin-afsf22
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://pianofortechicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/nscmf-feb-2026-1.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260227T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260227T203000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260221T163957Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260221T163957Z
UID:309314-1772218800-1772224200@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:Nani Vazana | An Evening of Sephardic Soul and Global Rhythms
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an unforgettable night as acclaimed Ladino singer-songwriter Nani Vazana brings her mesmerizing blend of ancient Sephardic melodies and contemporary global sounds to Chicago. \nNani Vazana is a musical bridge between worlds—a keeper of Sephardic Jewish traditions who breathes new life into centuries-old Ladino songs while creating captivating original compositions. Born in Israel to a family with roots in the vibrant Sephardic communities of the Mediterranean\, Nani has dedicated her artistry to preserving and reimagining the rich musical heritage of Spanish-speaking Jews. \nWhat makes Nani truly special is her ability to make ancient poetry feel urgent and alive. Her powerful\, honeyed voice carries the weight of history while her innovative arrangements—blending Middle Eastern percussion\, flamenco guitar\, and contemporary folk—create a sound that transcends time and geography. Whether performing traditional Ladino ballads passed down through generations or her own introspective compositions\, Nani creates an intimate\, spiritual experience that resonates with audiences regardless of their background. \nThis is a rare opportunity to experience one of world music’s most distinctive voices in an intimate setting. Come discover why audiences worldwide have been captivated by Nani’s artistry—an evening of beauty\, soul\, and cross-cultural connection awaits. \nDon’t miss this special performance brought to you by The International Latino Cultural Center.
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/nani-vazana-an-evening-of-sephardic-soul-and-global-rhythms
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://pianofortechicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Nani-Vazana-PIANO-FORTE.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260226T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260226T203000
DTSTAMP:20260627T042006
CREATED:20260117T220851Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260118T195146Z
UID:309210-1772132400-1772137800@pianofortechicago.com
SUMMARY:10th Annual Chopin in the City Festival | Michal Drewnowski
DESCRIPTION:The 10th Annual Chopin in the City Festival will take place from February 20 to March 1\, 2025 (with a performance in Madison\, Wisconsin). For more information about the festival\, please visit: https://soundsandnotes.org/. \n  \nBorn in 1977 into a lineage of accomplished musicians in Warsaw\, Michal Drewnowski‘s musical journey began at the age of eight in Italy\, where he resided with his family. The young prodigy honed his piano skills under the expert guidance of his father\, Marek Drewnowski. \nIn 1991\, Michal commenced formal musical education at the esteemed Karol Szymanowski Music School in Warsaw\, studying under the tutelage of Bronislawa Kawalla and Ewa Poblocka. He graduated with the highest honors from the University of Music in Lodz\, further refining his craft at the Conservatory of Music in Geneva\, guided by eminent professors Dominique Merlet and Pascal Devoyon. In 2006\, he achieved his Master’s Degree with distinction. \nDrewnowski’s musical odyssey has been enriched by immersion in piano masterclasses led by luminaries like Naum Shtarkman\, Fou T’Song\, Rudolf Kehrer\, and Eugen Indjic. \nIn 2014\, he earned his doctorate\, presenting a thesis on the previously unknown Polish composer\, Tadeusz Majerski\, whose piano compositions he uncovered and recorded for the English label Toccata Classics. \nThe award-winning pianist has garnered numerous accolades at prestigious piano competitions: \n• Special Prize at the Tansman International Individual Musical Competition in Lodz (1996) • 1st Prize at the XIII Bacewicz Chamber Music Competition in Lodz (1998) \n• 1st Prize at the XXXII Polish Pianists Festival in Slupsk (1998) \n• 2nd Prize at the Mascia Masin International Piano Competition in San Gemini\, Italy (2000) • 2nd Prize at the A.GI.MUS. Piano Competition in Rome (2005) \nMichal Drewnowski has graced audiences worldwide with his solo and chamber performances\, captivating listeners in Poland\, Italy\, France\, Spain\, Switzerland\, Luxembourg\, Belgium\, Bulgaria\, England\, Austria\, Czech Republic\, Finland\, Denmark\, Germany\, and the USA. \nHe has shared the stage with distinguished orchestras including the Polish Radio Orchestra\, Chopin Philharmonic Orchestra\, Shumen Sinfonietta\, Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra\, Lviv Philharmonic Orchestra\, and Royal Scottish National Orchestra\, collaborating with esteemed conductors such as Massimiliano Caldi\, Emil Tabakov\, Emilian Madey\, Tadeusz Kozlowski\, Monika Wolińska\, Stanislav Oushev\, and Ruben Silva\, among others. \nDrewnowski’s enthralling performances have graced renowned festivals worldwide\, including the Passage Warsaw\, Salon of the Arts in Sofia\, Festival Musicale di Norcia (Italy)\, Varna Summer Festival (Bulgaria)\, Cracow Music Spring\, Warsaw Music Encounters\, Chopin Festival in Geneva\, Keminklavier in Kemi (Finland)\, Bolzano Piano Festival (Italy)\, and Chopin au Jardin in Paris. His music has resonated in prestigious venues like Bulgaria Hall in Sofia\, Gianicolo in Rome\, Steinway Kammersal in Copenhagen\, Wigmore Hall in London\, Palau de la Musica Catalana in Barcelona\,Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra and Carnegie Hall. \nBeyond his musical prowess\, Michal Drewnowski has demonstrated his acting acumen. From 1999 to 2002\, he delighted audiences as an actor-pianist in the New Theatre in Warsaw\, portraying Frederic Chopin in Adam Hanuszkiewicz’s ‘Chopin\, his life\, his love\, his music…’ In 2018\, at the Opera Lorraine in Nancy\, France\, he portrayed the role of I.J. Paderewski in Jessica Dalle’s “Paderewski\, the pianist who became Prime Minister.” \nDrewnowski’s discography spans several albums released by acclaimed recording companies: DUX\, GEGA NEW\, TOCCATA CLASSICS\, ARS SONORA\, and PRO ART. His recordings have earned enthusiastic praise in esteemed musical publications. \nA fervent advocate for lesser-known Polish composers\, Michal Drewnowski champions the works of Ludwik Grossmann\, Jadwiga Sarnecka\, Stefan Kisielewski\, Tadeusz Majerski\, and Joseph Hofmann. As a devoted proponent of contemporary music\, he has premiered compositions by Mariusz Dubaj\, Andrzej Nikodemowciz\, Ari ben Shabetai\, and Igor Scherbakov. \nMichal Drewnowski stands as the co-founder and artistic director of the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra of New Art\, a vibrant endeavor that flourished from 2009 to 2016. \nIn the academic year 2023/2024\, thanks to the Kosciuszko Foundation Exchange Program to the United States\, he held the esteemed position of Visiting Professor at the Chicago College of Performing Arts\, Roosevelt University. Beginning in the 2024/2025 academic year\, he has become a member of the piano faculty at the same institution.
URL:https://pianofortechicago.com/event/10th-annual-chopin-in-the-city-festival-michal-drewnowski
LOCATION:PianoForte Studios\, 1335 South Michigan Ave\, Chicago\, IL\, 60605\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://pianofortechicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/michal-chopin-feb-2026.jpg
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END:VCALENDAR