Join us all season long for Salon Series experiences!
Join us all season long for Salon Series experiences!
Guided by our own CSO musicians, guest artists and musical experts, we examine our programming, our history and our musicians, past and present. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear rare perspectives and behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the people who know them best.
All events take place in Grainger Ballroom.
Schedule
- 5:30 Doors open, complimentary refreshments to be served
- 6:00 Program starts
“Ugly Symphony Is Well Played”: The CSO & Gustav Mahler
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Join us as we explore the CSO’s history with the music of Gustav Mahler. Guided by Frank Villella, Director of the Rosenthal Archives, we will dive into the life and work of Mahler, in particular his Sixth and Seventh symphonies, which are programmed for the 2024/25 season. Joined by Assistant Concertmaster Yuan-Qing Yu and Principal Oboe William Welter, we will also take a look at the CSO’s upcoming performance of these works at the Mahler Festival in Amsterdam this coming May.
On the Panel
Frank Villella, Director, Rosenthal Archives of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association
Yuan-Qing Yu, Assistant Concertmaster
William Welter, Principal Oboe
Creating Indigo Heaven
Monday, March 3, 2025
We have reached max capacity for this event.
Join us as guest moderator and local composer Stacy Garrop interviews CSO Principal Clarinet Stephen Williamson and composer Christopher Theofanidis about Indigo Heaven, the new clarinet concerto written by Theofanidis for Williamson and the CSO. Theofanidis will guide us through his creative process, and Williamson will help us explore the sound world of the clarinet in this new and exciting work.
On the Panel
Stacy Garrop, Moderator
Christopher Theofanidis, Composer
Stephen Williamson, Principal Clarinet
Creating Harmony with the Chicago Symphony Chorus
Monday, May 19, 2025
At the invitation of sixth music director Fritz Reiner, Margaret Hillis founded the Chicago Symphony Chorus during the 1957/58 season. Since then, the ensemble has appeared in Orchestra Hall, at the Ravinia Festival, in Carnegie Hall and Europe, performing and recording hallmarks of the choral canon to universal acclaim, including ten Grammy Awards from the Recording Academy.
How does the Chorus prepare to perform these large-scale works? What are the logistics of getting 150+ musicians onstage? How can one join this illustrious ensemble? Join us as we sit down with Chorus leadership and musicians to explore the jewel that is our Chicago Symphony Chorus.
On the Panel
Randolph Elliot, Director, Artistic Administration of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association
Melissa Hilker, Chorus Manager
Salon Series is a benefit for donors who make gifts of $500 or more each season to support the work of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association.