The Music Institute of Chicago announces concerts taking place during the 2025–26 season at its historic Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue in downtown Evanston, including classical music programs and family-friendly events. The Music Institute also welcomes back its five Resident Ensembles and one new Resident Company.
“At Nichols Concert Hall, we celebrate the arts as a vibrant part of life in Evanston and the Chicago area,” said Music Institute of Chicago President and CEO Shalisa Kline. “Each season brings incredible performances, and with every concert we open our doors to all audiences, affirming our belief that music has the power to connect, inspire, and uplift.”
Returning as Resident Ensembles are Apollo’s Fire, Chicago a cappella, Civitas Ensemble, The Orion Ensemble, and Rembrandt Chamber Musicians, joined by a new Resident Company, World Class Music Live. These groups have performances at Nichols Concert Hall throughout the 2025–26 season; information is available at nicholsconcerthall.org and the individual organizations’ websites.
Suzuki cellists at Nichols Concert Hall, photo by Layne Dixon
Fall Fundraiser Concert: supporting scholarships and financial aid
Sunday, November 2, 3 p.m.
FREE; donations encouraged
The Music Institute of Chicago presents a joyful afternoon of performances by members of its world-class faculty, as well as selected students and alumni from its Community Music School and Academy, culminating with a community sing. A photo booth, meet and greet, and sweet treats for every guest follow the performances in the lobby.
Matthew Hagle, photo by Mike Canale
Jesters and Gargoyles: Humor, Imagination, and Virtuosity in the Piano Repertoire
Saturday, November 8, 7:30 p.m.
$35 general admission
What happens when a great composer’s imagination takes a strange turn? Each of the works on this program has a streak of humor, oddity, or capriciousness in its makeup, turning the structure and discipline of traditional classical forms and styles on its head. The wily and surprising humor of Beethoven’s Sonata No. 16 in G Major leads to a more chaotic picture in Bartok’s Suite Op. 14 and Alkan’s Le Festin d’Esope, finishing with Chopin’s intense and exciting Scherzi.
Duke It Out! Nutcracker, photo by Mike Grittani
Duke It Out! Nutcracker
Saturday, December 6, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
$20 general admission
The Music Institute’s Ensemble in Residence Quintet Attacca and members of Braeburn Brass team up with Dance Chicago in a family-friendly, one-hour version of The Nutcracker that alternates between Tchaikovsky's original score and the jazz version by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Between the two performances, an instrument petting zoo takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Nichols Concert Hall lobby. This interactive event features hands-on exploration of various instruments, including violin, viola, cello, guitar, and piano with guidance from Music Institute faculty members.
Violinist David Roche performing at the Music Institute's 2025 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Concert, photo by Mike Grittani
23rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration Concert
Sunday, January 18, 3 p.m.
FREE
This annual tribute to a great American leader features performances by Music Institute students and community partners.
Music Institute faculty violinist Sang Mee Lee performing at the 2025 One Composer, One Community concert honoring Florence Price, photo by Mike Grittani
One Composer, One Community (TBD)
Friday, March 6, 7:30 p.m.
Free
The Music Institute’s One Composer, One Community program focuses on the life and music of a single, under-represented composer during the course of an academic year. This year’s subject will be announced shortly.
Music Institute of Chicago Academy with Director James Setapen (C), photo by Mike Grittani
Music Institute of Chicago Academy
Founded in 2006, the Music Institute of Chicago Academy is a nationally recognized pre-conservatory program for gifted high school pianists and string players. The Academy provides a comprehensive musical education for students who aspire to be professional musicians. With the ultimate goal of creating musicians for the 21st century, the Academy provides gifted young musicians with the tools, knowledge, and inspiration to be leaders in classical music performance and education. The Academy performs seven free concerts at Nichols Concert Hall this season, concluding with a 20th anniversary celebration, featuring several Academy alumni as soloists, chamber musicians, and members of the orchestra, along with current Academy students in a program that will conclude with Beethoven’s joyous Symphony #7.
Academy Orchestra Concerts
- Saturday, November 15
- Saturday, February 21
- Saturday, May 30—20th Anniversary Celebration
7:30 p.m.
FREE
Conducted by Academy Director James Setapen
Academy Chamber Music Concerts
- Saturday, December 6
- Saturday, February 7
- Saturday, March 21
- Saturday, May 2
7:30 p.m.
FREE
Piano and string duos, trios, and quartet
Music Institute of Chicago Chorale, photo by Patrick O'Malley
Music Institute of Chicago Chorale
Under the leadership of Conductor Daniel Wallenberg, the Music Institute of Chicago Chorale is a community chorus that provides an opportunity for adult singers with prior experience to study and perform the best in sacred and secular choral music. Since it began in 1987, the Chorale has one continuing goal: to perform the finest sacred and secular choral music with the highest of standards in a community setting. The Chorale performs its four-concert season of free concerts at Nichols Concert Hall.
Exultate Deo: Motets and Anthems Throughout the Ages
Sunday, November 23, 3 p.m.
FREE
The program includes works by Scarlatti, Sweelink, Purcell, J.S. Bach, Chesnokov, Chicago native composer Frank Ferko, Duruflé, Pinkham, and Zvi Avni.
Choir Plus
Sunday, March 22, 3 p.m.
FREE
The Chorale collaborates with Music Institute students and faculty on different works for choir with the following: cello, recorders, flute, soprano, duo piano for four hands, and organ.
Concert
Sunday, May 31, 3 p.m.
FREE
The program includes Finzi’s Magnificat and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass in a chamber arrangement for piano and woodwinds.
All programming is subject to change. Tickets and updates are available at nicholsconcerthall.org.
Music Institute of Chicago
The Music Institute of Chicago leads people toward a lifelong engagement with music through unparalleled teaching, exceptional performances, and valuable service initiatives that educate, inspire, and build strong, healthy communities. Since its founding in 1931, the Music Institute’s commitment to innovation, access, and excellence has served as an important community resource and helps to ensure music is available to everyone. Each year, the Music Institute provides personalized music instruction to more than 1,500 students, regardless of age, level of experience, or financial means, across Community Music School locations in Chicago, Downers Grove, Evanston, Lake Forest, Wheaton, and Winnetka, as well as online. In addition, the Music Institute brings music education, masterclasses and sectionals for local K–12 ensembles, professional development, and music performance and engagement opportunities to thousands in the Chicago area; offers scholarship opportunities to students in its Community School and its Academy, a nationally recognized pre-conservatory program for gifted high school pianists and string players; and welcomes more than 15,000 visitors annually for performances, master classes, and special events at Nichols Concert Hall.
The Music Institute of Chicago is grateful for the support of these annual institutional supporters: Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Edwardson Family Foundation, John and Pauline Fife, John R. Halligan Charitable Fund, ITW, The Julian Family Foundation, The Kiphart Family Foundation, William Harris Lee & Co., The Negaunee Foundation, Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Family Foundation, Northern Trust, Sargent Family Foundation, Shure, and The Wallace Foundation. The Music Institute also acknowledges the generous support of the Evanston Arts Council, a city agency supported by the City of Evanston; the Farny R. Wurlitzer Fund from the DeKalb County Community Foundation; the Highland Park Community Foundation; the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
For information, visit musicinst.org.