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ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
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Founded in 1935, the Grant Park Music Festival is the nation’s only free,
summer-long outdoor classical music series of its kind. It celebrates its 80th
Season this year.
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Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Carlos Kalmar returns to the Grant
Park Music Festival for his 14th season in 2014; Chorus Director Christopher Bell
begins his 13th summer with the Festival.
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The Grammy® Award-nominated Grant Park Orchestra and the award-
winning Grant Park Chorus feature more than 200 professional musicians who
perform at the Festival for the ten-week season each summer. Throughout the
rest of the year, they can be found playing with major orchestras, teaching at
universities and appearing on concert stages throughout the U.S.
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The Grant Park Music Festival has made its home in the Frank Gehry-
designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion since Millennium Park’s opening in July, 2004.
From 1978—2004, the Festival performed at the Petrillo Band Shell in Grant
Park; prior to that, they could be seen at a temporary band shell at the south
end of Grant Park.
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Today, the Festival offers more than 135 free events each summer, including
32 concerts, 47 open rehearsals, nine pre-concert lectures as well as additional
community engagement events. The Grant Park Music Festival is seen by more
than 260,000 patrons each summer, including Chicagoans and visitors alike.
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The Festival operates today as a unique collaboration among the Grant Park
Orchestral Association, the Chicago Park District, and the Chicago Department
of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. It receives half of its funding from the
Chicago Park District and is responsible for raising the remainder through
corporate, foundation and individual contributions.
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Grant Park Music Festival memberships are still available for the 2014 summer
season and offer access to premium seating at the state-of-the-art Pritzker
Pavilion, restaurant discounts and parking in the Millennium Park Garage for
only $15 per concert. To become a member, stop by the Patron Service Center
located on the walkway to the west of the Pavilion, or visit
or call
312.742.7638.
