Grant Park Music Festival 2017: Book 3

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WELCOME
Dear Friends,
Welcome to summer in Chicago at the Grant
Park Music Festival!
Artistic Director and Principal Conductor
Carlos Kalmar, Chorus Director Christopher
Bell and I are thrilled to be presenting another
season of free concerts at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Again this year,
the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus will be performing a mix of
beloved classics like Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, along with works
that are rarely performed in Chicago. You’ll also hear the music
of John Williams, a night of mariachi, a tribute to the sounds of
Broadway and a world premiere commission, as part of the Festival’s
commitment to new works.
We’re so proud of Festival Connect, our community engagement
and education initiative that continues to expand each year. We offer
free lectures each night, led by music experts one hour before each
concert in the Family Fun Tent. Informal talks also take place in the
Seating Bowl at lunchtime, when Festival docents share insights about
upcoming concerts during the breaks in the orchestra rehearsals.
We hope you’ll join us when the orchestra, chorus and our Project
Inclusion String and Vocal Quartets head out to the parks as part of Mayor
Emanuel’s Night Out in the Parks program. Again this year, we expect
packed houses at our concerts at the South Shore Cultural Center,
Columbus Park Refectory, and each of the neighborhood parks.
Our concerts would not be possible without the generous support of
our long-standing partners—the Chicago Park District and the Chicago
Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. A heartfelt thanks
to our members, along with the many foundations, corporate and
individual donors, whose contributed support help to make our
concerts free and accessible for all.
Enjoy tonight’s concert. We hope to see you all season long.
Warm regards,
Paul Winberg
President and CEO
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