Chicago Philharmonic Heads To Garfield Park Conservatory For Holiday Community Concert

After a summer of record participation, Side by Side with the Chicago Philharmonic will expand to Garfield Park Conservatory on December 3, 2017 for a first-ever holiday community concert. The program, presented as a part of the Chicago Park District's Night Out in the Parks initiative, invites students and community members to play alongside professional Chicago Philharmonic musicians in a series of free, public concerts in Chicago's beautiful parks.

Playing a wide variety of holiday favorites, including Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride, L. Richman's Hanukkah Festival Overture, and excerpts from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite, community members of all ages and backgrounds will join together with professional musicians to create an exceptional concert experience. The concert will conclude with an old-fashioned holiday sing-along with the orchestra.

The holiday concert is an extension of the Chicago Philharmonic's third and largest year of Side by Side with the Chicago Philharmonic. The programs are a continuation of the Chicago Philharmonic's ongoing efforts to connect with wide-ranging audiences and bring classical music opportunities to under-served neighborhoods in the city.

Side by Side with the Chicago Philharmonic | Night Out in the Parks Sunday, December 3 2017 Garfield Park Conservatory 300 N. Central Ave, Chicago IL 60624 Rehearsal 1:00pm Free concert 4:00pm Spots for community musicians will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and registration is required at https://goo.gl/forms/nl34kSrEq4JpdyRD2.

The Chicago Philharmonic Society is a collaboration of over 200 of the highest-level classical musicians performing in the Chicago metropolitan area. Governed under a groundbreaking structure of musician leadership, the Society presents concerts at venues throughout the Chicago area that cover the full spectrum of classical music, from Bach to Britten and beyond. The Society's orchestra, known simply as the Chicago Philharmonic, has been called "one of the country's finest symphonic orchestras" (Chicago Tribune), and its unique chamber music ensembles, which perform as the Chicago Philharmonic Chamber Players, draw from its vast pool of versatile musicians. The Society's outreach programs connect Chicago-area youth to classical music and provide performance opportunities for members of the community. Founded 26 years ago by principal musicians from the Lyric Opera Orchestra, the Chicago Philharmonic currently serves as the official orchestra of the Joffrey Ballet, continues its 21-year association with the Ravinia Festival, and presents symphonic concerts in Chicago's North Shore region and Harris Theater Chicago.

Side by Side with the Chicago Philharmonic is presented as part of the Chicago Park District's Night Out in the Parks series, supported by Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Arts programming in neighborhoods across the city advances the goals of the Chicago Park District and the Chicago Cultural Plan. Now in its fifth year, the 2017 Night Out in the Parks series will host over 1,000 cultural events and programs at more than 250 neighborhood parks throughout the city, making community parks a safe haven and hubs of activity. Projects will vary from traditional performances and concerts, to movies, peace rallies, community workshops, nature based programs, dance pieces, festivals, and more. The Chicago Park District has partnered with more than 100 arts and community organizations to expand and produce this successful initiative.