Grant Park Music Festival Announces 2017 Season

Chicago's Grant Park Music Festival Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Carlos Kalmar today announced a rich array of programming for the Festival's 2017 season, including a world premiere commission by the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, Aaron Jay Kernis. Kalmar will lead the Grant Park Orchestra, along with Chorus Director Christopher Bell and the Grant Park Chorus, in a ten-week season, taking place from June 14-August 19 at Millennium Park's Jay Pritzker Pavilion and other venues throughout the city.

All concerts are free and most will take place on Wednesday and Friday evenings at 6:30 p.m., and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. (a complete schedule can be found at gpmf.org).

The Grant Park Music Festival is presented by the Grant Park Orchestral Association with key support from the Chicago Park District and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. BMO Harris Bank is proud to be the season sponsor of the Festival for the fourth year.

SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS

· The world premiere by the Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer Aaron Jay Kernis of a new horn concerto written for Grant Park Orchestra Principal Horn, Jonathan Boen (co-commissioned by the Grant Park Music Festival and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic). In conjunction with the premiere, Mr. Kernis will hold a composer residency in Chicago, with artistic development activities for young artists, and educational programs for the general public. (August 11 and 12; Carlos Kalmar conducts).

· Masterworks including Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto with guest artist Vadim Gluzman; Ralph Vaughan Williams' A Sea Symphony; Aram Khachaturian's Piano Concerto; Stravinsky's complete ballet score from The Firebird; Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1 with pianist Stephen Hough; Strauss' powerful Symphonia domestica, led by guest conductor Simone Young in her Festival debut; Haydn's Symphony No. 104; Tchaikovsky's Manfred; Brahms' Schicksalslied; and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, Choral.

· The Canadian Brass join the Orchestra in celebration of Canada's sesquicentennial for an evening of symphonic suites, blues and the Beatles, all with a Canadian flair. (July 1; Lucas Waldin conducts).

· The Festival premiere of Missa Latina (2006), a monumental choral work by Puerto Rican-American composer Roberto Sierra that mixes traditional Latin and contemporary classical, with the jazz dance rhythms of the Caribbean. (June 28 and 30; Miguel Harth-Bedoya conducts).

· The Midwest premieres of Kareem Roustom's Ramal, Frank Martin's 1944 oratorio In terra pax, David Schiff's 2006 orchestral work Infernal, and the U.S. premiere of Matthew Hindson's Headbanger.

· The Festival debuts of internationally acclaimed classical guitarist Pablo Sáinz Villegas, performing Joaquin Rodrigo's concerto Fantasía para un gentilhombre (1996); soprano Susanna Phillips in Copland's Eight Poems of Emily Dickinson, oboist François Leleux in Richard Strauss' Oboe Concerto, rising Dutch cellist Harriet Krijgh in Haydn's Cello Concerto in C Major; and pianist Conrad Tao. The season will also feature the debuts of guest conductors Fawzi Haimor, Brett Mitchell, Ted Sperling, Lucas Waldin and Simone Young.

· Return engagements by violinist Vadim Gluzman opening the season with Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto; piano virtuoso Stephen Hough performing Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1; Mariachi Cobre, one of America's best-known mariachi bands; conductors Miguel Harth-Bedoya conducting Roberto Sierra's Missa Latina and Thomas Wilkins at the podium for Star Wars and More: The Music of John Williams.

· Renowned vocalists to include Russell Braun, bass; Janai Brugger, soprano; Colleen Daly, soprano; Sara Jakubiak, soprano; Allyson McHardy, mezzo-soprano; Daniel Okulitch, bass; Susanna Phillips, soprano; David John Pike, baritone; David Pomeroy, tenor; Jessica Rivera, soprano; Lauren Segal, mezzo-soprano; Brendan Tuohy, tenor; James Westman, baritone; along with Broadway stars Laura Osnes and Santino Fontana.

FESTIVAL CONNECT: MUSIC EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE

The Grant Park Music Festival expands its commitment to Festival Connect, its comprehensive initiative aimed to increase music education and engagement opportunities for audiences of all ages. Working with the Chicago Park District and Mayor Emanuel's Night Out in the Parks program, Festival Connect will continue to focus on the neighborhoods with performances by the Grant Park Orchestra, the Grant Park Chorus, Project Inclusion and the Apprentice Chorale.

· PROJECT INCLUSION: In 2017, the Festival expands its successful Project Inclusion professional development program, which guides young musicians from diverse backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in the symphonic and symphonic choral field towards successful careers in music, with a goal of increasing diversity among orchestral ensembles. Project Inclusion is a partnership with the Chicago Sinfonietta.

§ New this year, the Festival will select four classical vocalists through a nation-wide audition to experience life as a professional choral musician. The Project Inclusion Vocal Fellows will work with Chorus Director Christopher Bell, rehearse and perform with the Grant Park Chorus, receive mentoring from artistic leadership, guest artists and Chorus members, and perform with the Project Inclusion String Fellows in Night Out in the Parks programs.

§ The Project Inclusion Orchestra Fellows program continues with four string players who, after a rigorous audition process, will rehearse and perform with the Grant Park Orchestra, perform as a chamber ensemble, receive mentoring from Carlos Kalmar and other members of the orchestra, and serve as teaching artists for the Festival's Classical Campers program.

· APPRENTICE CHORALE: The Festival's Apprentice Chorale, led by Christopher Bell, provides advanced training and performance opportunities for pre-professional vocal students, offering them the opportunity to perform alongside the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus at the Pritzker Pavilion, and at locations throughout the city with the Project Inclusion ensemble. The Apprentice Chorale is a collaboration with DePaul University, the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and the University of Illinois at Chicago.

· GRANT PARK ORCHESTRA AND GRANT PARK CHORUS: Christopher Bell and the Grant Park Orchestra reprise their Independence Day Salute at the South Shore Cultural Center (July 5, 6:30 p.m.). Bell and the Grant Park Chorus bring Rachmaninov's powerful and moving Vespers to the South Shore Cultural Center (July 13, 7 p.m.) and the Columbus Park Refectory (July 18, 7 p.m.). All are a part of Mayor Emanuel's Night Out in the Parks program.

· CLASSICAL CAMPERS: The Festival hosts Classical Campers, its popular half-day music immersion program for children ages 6-12, in collaboration with the Chicago Park District. Throughout the season, over 2,000 students from more than 30 different Chicago neighborhoods will learn about the instruments and sections of the orchestra with Festival educators and Project Inclusion fellows, take part in hands-on musical activities, and conclude their day with a visit to a Festival rehearsal and talkback with Grant Park Orchestra members. Classical Campers often provides children with their first exposure to a live classical music performance.

· PRE-CONCERT LECTURES: The Festival's popular pre-concert lectures series returns with guest lecturers sharing insights about the evening's program. Lectures take place in Millennium Park's Family Fun Tent, on the walkway to the west of the Pavilion, one hour before each concert.

· YOUNG ARTISTS SHOWCASE: Every Friday at 5:30 p.m. before the Grant Park Orchestra takes the stage, audiences are treated to concerts by students from local music schools and summer music programs at the front of the Great Lawn at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

· OPEN LUNCHTIME REHEARSALS: Orchestra and chorus rehearsals take place June 13-August 18, Tuesdays through Fridays typically between 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Audiences are welcome to sit in the Pavilion Seating Bowl during rehearsals and Festival docents will talk about the week's concerts during rehearsal breaks.

· BROADCAST: Several of this summer's concerts will be broadcast on 98.7WFMT, Chicago's classical and fine arts radio station, and also online at wfmt.com/streaming.

MEMBERSHIP AND GROUP SEATING INFORMATION

Memberships to the Grant Park Music Festival 2017 season are available beginning January 5 and include reserved access for every Festival concert, along with exclusive benefits like access to concert receptions and discounts on parking and restaurants. The Festival also offers packages with nine and 13 concerts that include reserved seats with complimentary exchange privileges, as well as Choose Your Own four, eight or 12 concert series packages. Memberships begin at $96.

In addition, every Grant Park Music Festival concert has seats that are free and open to the public. Seats in the Seating Bowl and on the Great Lawn are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Priority access to reserved seats in the Pavilion is available for groups of ten or more. Exclusive seating on the stage of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in the Choral Balcony is available for groups of 50 or more. Group seating begins at $15 per person.

For information about memberships and groups or to learn more about the Grant Park Music Festival, visit gpmf.org or call 312.742.7647. For additional information, visit the Grant Park Music Festival Facebook page or follow the Festival on Twitter @gpmf.

GRANT PARK MUSIC FESTIVAL

Acclaimed by critics and beloved by audiences, the Grant Park Music Festival is the nation's only summer-long outdoor classical music series of its kind, with free seats available for every concert. The Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, located between Michigan and Columbus Avenues at Washington Street, is the official home of the Grant Park Music Festival.

The Grant Park Music Festival is led by Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Carlos Kalmar, along with Grant Park Chorus Director Christopher Bell, Grant Park Orchestral Association President and CEO Paul Winberg, and Board Chair Steve Smith.

The Grant Park Music Festival gratefully acknowledges the generous support from its 2017 sponsors: BMO Harris Bank, Season Sponsor; Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park, Official Hotel; AbelsonTaylor, Presenting Sponsor of American Accents; and ComEd, Concert Sponsor; with additional support from the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation and Walter E. Heller Foundation.

The Grant Park Music Festival is a key partner in Mayor Rahm Emanuel's Night out in the Parks program. Night Out in the Parks is an initiative featuring more than 2,000 cultural activities annually in Chicago Park District locations citywide in support of the City of Chicago's Cultural Plan.

CARLOS KALMAR

Carlos Kalmar has been Principal Conductor of the Grant Park Music Festival since 2000, and in 2011 was named Artistic Director and Principal Conductor. Under Kalmar's leadership, the Festival has become one of the world's preeminent classical music festivals, and he has played a central role in shaping its artistic vision.

In addition to his role at the Grant Park Music Festival, Carlos Kalmar is the Music Director of the Oregon Symphony, a position he has held since 2003. He was the Principal Conductor of the Orquestra Sinfónica de Radio Televisión Española in Madrid and has served in artistic leadership roles for the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, the Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra, the Opera House and Philharmonic Orchestra in Dessau, Germany and the Tonkünstler Orchestra in Vienna, while also traveling the world as a guest conductor appearing with some of the world's most important orchestras. Kalmar has made six recordings with the Grant Park Orchestra.

CHRISTOPHER BELL

Christopher Bell has served as Chorus Director of the Grant Park Chorus since 2001, and led the Chorus through its 50th anniversary in 2012 with a series of special events, including the release of its first ever a cappella recording entitled Songs of Smaller Creatures and other American Choral Works, available on Cedille Records.

In addition to working with the Grant Park Music Festival, Bell is the Chorus Master of the Edinburgh Festival Chorus, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Junior Chorus, and the Belfast Philharmonic Choir. Largely responsible for the formation of the National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCoS) in 1996, he has been its Artistic Director ever since. In 2012, Bell was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow for his contributions to music in Scotland. He is the recipient of the 2013 Michael Korn Founders Award given by Chorus America, established in 1978 to honor an individual with a lifetime of significant contributions to the professional choral art. In 2015, Bell was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.