2024: a year of music, culture and celebration with CSO Latino Alliance

What an extraordinary year it has been for the CSO Latino Alliance!

We began 2024 with the Latino Alliance 10th Anniversary Celebration in January at the Instituto Cervantes. It was a night filled with joy, memories and camaraderie, highlighted by a stunning performance from three violinists, including Lydanys Graterol, a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Later that month, the CSO for Kids program Carnival of the Animals delighted children and families with an engaging concert and activities.

In April, we experienced the magic of the CSO x Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, a collaboration that captivated both jazz and classical enthusiasts. June brought another unforgettable moment with a breathtaking performance of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in Ravel’s Boléro.

In August, the CSO Latino Alliance Advisory Board gathered to strategize and refine its plans for the upcoming season. This productive meeting brought together advisory board members and CSO staff to collaborate on an exciting agenda. Together, we selected 14 concerts and planned six engaging events as part of the Alliance’s Nuestras noches series, promising a season filled with music and cultural connection.

As autumn unfolded, we welcomed conductor Andrés Orozco-Estrada in Romeo and Juliet (Sept. 19-20) and saluted his artistry with Celebrating Andrés Orozco-Estrada on Sept. 19. October offered a rich tapestry of cultural treasures: Jordi Savall’s Monteverdi: A Baroque Revolution (Oct. 8), a moving performance of Don Quixote (Oct. 24-26) and the vibrant Lila Downs in a Día de los Muertos concert on Oct. 27. The Día de los Muertos ofrenda in the Symphony Center Rotunda (Oct. 24-Nov. 3) provided a meaningful tribute to tradition and remembrance.

October also brought an exciting milestone as CSO Latino Alliance advisory board members attended the CSOA Annual Meeting on Oct. 30.

In November, we celebrated with Riccardo Muti, Music Director Emeritus for Life, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Nov. 8-9) and enjoyed a thought-provoking conversation Nov. 8 with composer Osvaldo Golijov, whose Megalopolis Suite received its world premiere during this run.

We closed this remarkable year with two festive December events: Noche navideña, followed by the annual yuletide revue Merry, Merry Chicago! on Dec. 21, bringing holiday cheer to Symphony Center.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in 2024 to celebrate music, culture and community. Here’s to another incredible year ahead!