CHICAGO TRIBUNE
“Melissa White has lost count of how many times she’s performed with the Chicago Sinfonietta. Founder Paul Freeman took her under his wing when she was a precocious preteen violinist, her mom driving her all the way from Lansing, Michigan, to the Music Institute of Chicago for lessons.
“It’s like coming back with family to perform,” White says of the Sinfonietta.
Except there’s a twist. White will perform the concerto in a dress specially designed for the occasion by local artist Carley Brandeaux. Like a splitting chrysalis — or like the star-crossed Butterfly Lovers who transform into butterflies at the folktale’s end — the garment changes shape as the concerto goes on.” FULL ARTICLE
VIOLIN CHANNEL
Violinist Melissa White Combines Fashion and Live Performance “White will wear a custom dress by artist Carley Brandeaux, marking the first time in the industry that a garment was designed specifically as part of a violin soloist’s performance.” FULL ARTICLE
CHICAGO CLASSICAL REVIEW
“The Chicago Sinfonietta traversed the globe in their final concert of the season, titled “Limitless Horizon,” Monday night at Symphony Center. The innovative program, designed to showcase diversity in both music and representation, featured two world premieres, a flamenco dance troupe, and a transforming concert dress…Chen brought out the different colors in the orchestra effectively and kept the ensemble in balance with the soloist throughout, while White’s elegant playing was warmly expressive and lyrical without being overwrought. Her high range was especially glittering, and her duets with principal cellist Ann Griffin were a highlight.” FULL REVIEW
CS JOINS CULTURAL ADVISORY COUNCIL
President and CEO Blake-Anthony Johnson has been appointed to serve on the Cultural Advisory Council of the Chicago City Council. One of four new appointments, joining him are Edra Soto, Kaoru Watanabe, and Debra Yepa-Pappan. READ MORE
ON BOARD 2022
Sinfonietta President and CEO Blake-Anthony Johnson spoke on ways we can all make an impact on important social and environmental issues at Chicago Booth’s Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation for its annual in-person On Board Chicago Conference this past April 29th. Valerie Jarrett, President of the Barack Obama Foundation, and former Civic Chair of our own Annual Ball, served as the keynote speaker.
THE BREVARD PROJECT JULY 11-16, 2022
Presented by Brevard Music Center, in partnership with Bard College, the Blair School of Music, Chicago Sinfonietta, the South Dakota Symphony, the University of Michigan School of Music, and Project Director Joseph Horowitz, The Brevard Project is a collaborative, forward-thinking, intensive six-day seminar / think tank focusing on orchestral programming for professionals and influencers in the orchestral field. The central goals of The Brevard Project are to reevaluate the artistic mission of the American orchestra and to share the skills needed to curate a more inclusive American orchestral repertoire. LEARN MORE
MEI-ANN AROUND THE WORLD
Chicago Sinfonietta’s Music Director continues to spread her unique conducting style all over the globe. In addition to her work with Chicago Sinfonietta, this past April and early May she returned to conduct at Styriarte in Graz, Austria, where she is Chief Conductor, returned to Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, led SSOUNDFLIX – the inaugural Recreation Youth Orchestra, the Norwegian Radio Orchestra and made her debut with the Rialto Theater in Tacoma, Washington.
PROJECT INCLUSION FREEMAN FELLOWS
Freeman Fellow Taichi Fukumura had two recent guest conducting debuts – one with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and the other with Orquesta de Camara de Bellas Artes in Mexico City. He also conducted the world premiere of Michelle Isaac’s ‘Moshe’s Dream in our season closing concert, led the New World Symphony Side-by-Side concert, and led the Taiwan NSO at the Philharmonic National Concert Hall.