MOB in the Community
Through magnificent concerts, transformative arts education, and inspiring community events, Music of the Baroque strives to make music from the 17th and 18th centuries accessible to all, regardless of race, gender and sexual identity, age, class, or mobile/cognitive ability. Our artistic mission is rooted in the past, but our shared values come from the reality of our present.
STRONG VOICES
The Chicago Water Music (September 2024)
Dame Jane Glover, the Music of the Baroque Chorus & Orchestra, and the “Strong Voices” Chorus, made up of young musicians from the ensemble’s choral education program in 7 Chicago public high schools, performed Handel's Water Music on the Chicago River for the first time, along with the “Hallelujah” Chorus from Messiah, "See, how the conqu'ring hero comes" from Judas Maccabaeus, and Vivaldi's Gloria.
"Strong Voices" at "Viva Vivaldi!" (October 2023)
The "Strong Voices" Chorus, comprised of 235 students from our 7 Chicago public high school partners, performed the opening chorus of Vivaldi’s Gloria alongside Principal Guest Conductor Nicholas Kraemer and the Music of the Baroque Chorus and Orchestra at our "Viva Vivaldi!" concert at the Harris Theater.
"Strong Voices" at "A Musical Feast" Gala Benefit (October 2022)
The "Strong Voices" Chorus surprised attendees at Music of the Baroque's "A Musical Feast" gala benefit with a mashup of the Pachelbel Canon and Maroon 5's "Memories."
"Strong Voices" at Millennium Park (September 2021)
The "Strong Voices Chorus," comprised of students from our Strong Voices arts education program in six Chicago public high schools, joined us at Millennium Park in front of an audience of 6,500 people for Handel's "Hallelujah" Chorus from the oratorio Messiah.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERTS
"Serenísima Una Noche”— A Baroque Christmas (December 2024)
Music of the Baroque and the National Museum of Mexican Art presented a free concert of Christmas music from centuries past, written by composers active in Mexico and South America during the 17th and 18th centuries. Joined by special guest, Grammy Award-winning soprano Estelí Gomez, the Music of the Baroque Chorus and Brass Ensemble also performed Renaissance and Baroque music from Spain, Portugal, and Italy under the direction of Andrew Megill.
The Music of the Baroque Chorus and Brass Ensemble, led by Andrew Megill
Grammy Award-winning soprano Estelí Gomez performed Manuel du Sumaya's "Como aunque culpa" and the aria, "Yo sé que mi redentor vive” (I know that my redeemer liveth) from Handel's Messiah, translated into Spanish by Mario Montenegro
Audience members at the National Museum of Mexican Art
Classical Creatures (April 2024)
Music of the Baroque joined forces with the Lincoln Park Zoo for its fourth free community event at the Kehrein Center for the Arts in Chicago's Austin neighborhood. Lincoln Park Zoo staff led an interactive game focused on identifying local bird songs, while the Music of the Baroque Orchestra performed short, lively works featuring unusual animal sounds. Principal Guest Conductor Nicholas Kraemer and 98/7WFMT Music Director Oliver Camacho provided commentary throughout the program.
Jaeda and Paty from Lincoln Park Zoo's Community Engagement Team led "Sounds of Nature," a game about learning and recognizing the bird calls we hear around us.
Violinist Gina DiBello performed Vivaldi's "Spring" from the famous Four Seasons.
Principal Guest Conductor Nicholas Kraemer led the Music of the Baroque Orchestra in Telemann's unusually scored Cricket Symphony, featuring double basses Collins Trier and Sam Shuhan, and clarinetist Zach Good, flutist Mary Stolper, and oboist Anne Bach.
Violinist Kathleen Brauer took time to chat with young attendees following the event.
Vivaldi in Austin (October 2023)
Music of the Baroque presented a free community event at the Kehrein Center for the Arts in Chicago's Austin neighborhood centered around Italian Baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi. Principal Guest Conductor Nicholas Kraemer led the Music of the Baroque Orchestra in several of Vivaldi's inventive orchestral works while sharing Vivaldi's life story.
Nicholas Kraemer charted Vivaldi's life story, from his ordination as a priest to composing music for young women at the Pietà.
Violinists Gina DiBello, Kathleen Brauer, and Kevin Case perform Vivaldi's Concerto for 3 Violins in F Major.
Principal flute Mary Stolper performed a movement from Vivaldi's Goldfinch Flute Concerto.
Reginald Mobley in Concert and Conversation (November 2022)
Prior to our "Reginald Mobley Sings" concerts, Grammy-nominated countertenor Reginald Mobley presented a free community event at the glorious Kehrein Center for the Arts in Chicago's Austin neighborhood. Reggie performed a range of repertoire, from music by Purcell and Handel, to spirituals, and beyond. One of the evening's highlights was Reggie's rendition of "Deep River," arranged by Moses Hogan:
South Chicago Dance Theatre Collaboration (October 2022)
Music of the Baroque's "Baroque Heroes" program opened with a special addition: a new dance work choreographed by Kia Smith, the founder and artistic director of South Chicago Dance Theatre, set to a suite of dances from 17th-century composer Michael Praetorius’s iconic collection Terpsichore. We were thrilled to collaborate with a fellow Harris Theater resident company during Chicago's Year of Dance.
Music and Movement at the Hamilton Park Cultural Center (October 2022)
In advance of the "Baroque Heroes" program, Music of the Baroque and South Chicago Dance Theatre came together at the Hamilton Park Cultural Center in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood to bring to life the embodied experience of music and movement. The Music of the Baroque Orchestra performed music by Telemann, and an excerpt from C. P. E. Bach's cello concerto, featuring principal cello Paul Dwyer. South Chicago Dance Theatre started the afternoon with a short interactive movement workshop and presented two dance works: Kia Smith's world premiere choreography to dances by 17th-century composer Michael Praetorius, and Wade Schaaf's "Coéurs Separés" (Separated Hearts) to music by Johann Sebastian Bach.
Patrick Dupre Quigley conducts the Music of the Baroque Orchestra as members of South Chicago Dance Theatre present Wade Schaaf's "Coéurs Separés"
Patrick Dupre Quigley and Kia Smith provided commentary throughout the program.
The Chevalier (February 2021)
In partnership with the Kehrein Center for the Arts, Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association, North Shore Center for the Arts, and Concert Theatre Works, we presented the Midwest premiere of The Chevalier, a concert-theater work about the life and music of 18th-century Black composer Joseph Bologne, also known as The Chevalier de Saint-Georges.
Watch the full performance
Images from the Chevalier performance at the Kehrein Center in Chicago's Austin neighborhood
Merit School of Music Collaboration
Principal Guest Conductor Nicholas Kraemer led students from the Merit School of Music and our principal string players in Handel's Concerto Grosso in G Minor, op. 6, no. 6. The project also included master classes in which our string principals worked closely with the young musicians from Merit.
Rehearsals and interviews
The full performance
Project Inclusion
Music of the Baroque was thrilled to work with four Project Inclusion fellows as part of "McGill Plays Mozart." The inspiration of Chicago Sinfonietta founder Paul Freeman, Project Inclusion is a unique development opportunity in the performing arts aimed at increasing diversity and inclusion and ultimately guiding young professionals toward successful careers in music. Today, Project Inclusion offers multifaceted professional development fellowships to orchestral and ensemble musicians, conductors, arts administrators, and composers. The Grant Park Music Festival forged a partnership with Sinfonietta in 2013 to launch its own Project Inclusion program.
City of Chicago Proclamation
In honor of our 50th anniversary, Lori E. Lightfoot designated January 23, 2022, "Music of the Baroque Day" in Chicago. First Lady Amy Eschleman and Arts Commissioner Erin Harkey presented the proclamation on February 28, 2022.
Strong Voices Recital with Reginald Mobley
Renowned American countertenor Reginald Mobley performed a virtual recital for singers in our "Strong Voices" choral education program in six Chicago public high schools. Reggie and accompanist Stephen Alltop romped through a wide range of repertoire, from spirituals, to works by Henry Purcell and George Frideric Handel, to music by Baroque and Classical composers of color Ignatius Sancho and Joseph Bologne. In between pieces, he shared with the students the story of how he became a professional musician. Enjoy this stellar performance and inspirational story!
More information about the "Strong Voices" program