Rush Hour in the Chicago Tribune

“At a time when every classical presenter is proclaiming itself user-friendly, the Rush Hour Concerts series is
putting its music where its mouth is.”

Click here to read classical music critic John von Rhein’s entire article about Rush Hour from Thursday, May 21′s Chicago Tribune.

Rush Hour Concerts Day in Chicago

We’re pleased to announce that Mayor Richard M. Daley has declared Tuesday, June 2 to be “Rush Hour Concerts Day in Chicago.” Click on the image at left to read the full text of the proclamation.

Please join us on June 2 to celebrate the kickoff of Rush Hour’s 10th anniversary season with Mozart’s famous “Gran Partita” woodwind serenade, performed by renowned artists from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera Orchestra, and the Chicago Chamber Musicians.

Rush Hour @ 10: The Story of Rush Hour

In a moment of daydreaming the other day, the image of a birthday party came across my mind. It was a family event, celebrating the birthday of a younger member who had reached the ripe old age of 10. (We all remember that excitement, when, at last, we arrive in the “2 digit” years.) Family members of different backgrounds and generations surround the “birthday child” wishing him/her well, full of pride, joy, and expectations for a long and healthy life. Songs are sung, laughs are laughed, cake is eaten, memories of preceding years are shared, and future milestones are anticipated.

Now that I think about it, this was probably a “projection” daydream, as I eagerly await the launch of Rush Hour’s 10th concert season in a few weeks! The parallels are striking to me: Rush Hour is moving out of the single digits. It is surrounded at the birthday celebration by a large and diverse group of well-wishers, all of whom have had some stake in Rush Hour’s ability to arrive at this auspicious age of 10!

First comes our artist roster–each member responsible for bringing truly great music to life each week for three summer months of the last 10 years, sharing their art and themselves in weekly conversation with our audiences. Then, there’s the talented author of our weekly program notes, placing each concert in context for the veteran concertgoer and first-timer alike. Next, our board of directors, guiding the growth of Rush Hour, creating its infrastructure and stability, followed by our advisory committee of artists and community leaders, generously making themselves available as Rush Hour grows. The group continues: Chicago community foundations who have invested in us from the beginning…our indefatigable staff, working tirelessly year round to produce Rush Hour in the way our audiences have come to know and love. And of course, our audience members, whose engaged listening continues to play a vital role in the weekly “live concert experience,” and whose generous support keeps Rush Hour free and open to all, year in and year out.

Each person in this celebratory group shares a few particular characteristics: each values great music and the role it plays in human lives of any age. And each lives out a personal understanding of the maxim, “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” This is the story of Rush Hour.

Thank you to all of its parts! Let the celebration begin on June 2 with the music of Mozart (his serenade for thirteen winds, made famous by the movie, “Amadeus”).

I look forward to greeting each of you all summer long!

- Deborah Sobol
Artistic Director

4 Easy Ways to Make a Difference

No matter your age, time availability, or income level, you can be a supporter of Rush Hour:

Attend
Social and professional networking in a casual setting
- Come by yourself or bring friends to summer concerts
- Meet new people at Fanfare post-concert happy hours & special events
- Share your feedback on our website

Promote
Spread the word about the Rush Hour experience
- Join our Facebook group or fan page
- Distribute brochures to your friends, family and colleagues
- Add a tagline link to your email

Donate
Any contribution makes an impact
- Join either the Board of Directors OR Under-40 fundraising challenge (read more here)
- Get a matching gift from your company
- Encourage your friends to contribute

Volunteer
Behind-the-scenes access to a Chicago cultural institution
- Assist at weekly summer concerts
- Share your special talents and skills with the organization
- Help plan special Fanfare events

For more information about participation in any of these areas, please contact me at 773.338.9480 or julie AT rushhour.org.

- Julie Hutchison
Managing Director

Support the Vision of Rush Hour

Carl Sandburg said, “Nothing happens unless first we dream.”

In 2000, Artistic Director and Founder Deborah Sobol imagined a series that would meet your needs and wishes as a cultural community–a place to enjoy great music that is free and welcoming to everyone. Many of you have embraced that vision, and thanks to your past gifts and support, Rush Hour has now reached this milestone season.

During the 2008 season, Rush Hour was touted to a nationwide audience of 9.2 million viewers on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams in its feature series, “What Works.” For ten years now, Rush Hour’s musical and aesthetic nourishment every Tuesday has worked beautifully for Chicago. We expect thousands of audience members to join us again this year.

Now, more than ever, our community needs the calm, inspiration and refreshment that is Rush Hour’s trademark. Our Board of Directors is ardently committed to Rush Hour’s mission of keeping the series free and accessible to all. It has issued a significant challenge grant opportunity in honor of the 10th anniversary–to raise the series’ full budget by June 30. The board has pledged to match $20,000 toward all new and increased gifts that help accomplish this goal–double its challenge match of 2008.

And, if you’re under 40 years of age, our groundbreaking donor challenge has returned again this year, with the Irving Harris Foundation matching $5,000 toward all gifts from donors under 40.

Acting now in either challenge grant opportunity will give your gift twice the impact.

I’m proud of Rush Hour’s unique place on Chicago’s cultural landscape. I hope that you, like me, will make a personal gift to help ensure that thousands of concertgoers can enjoy the Rush Hour experience this summer.

- Megan Balderston
Executive Director

To make a tax-deductible contribution to Rush Hour, please click here to visit rushhour.org/giving

Recommendations from the Artistic Director: May 2009

This month, I’ve chosen an interesting mix of traditional concert venues and a few very different opportunities to hear music making. Spring is clearly in the air!

Rush Hour favorites in recital together–hear one of the few pieces of chamber music Chopin wrote: his Sonata for Cello and Piano!

Brant Taylor, cello
with Kuang-Hao Huang, piano
Tuesday, May 12, 8 p.m.
DePaul University Concert Hall, 800 W. Belden
FREE

Kodaly – Sonata for Unaccompanied Cello, Op. 8
Bach – Sonata in G, BWV 1027
Chopin – Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 65

I am intrigued and impressed with this bold musical event with a social service twist. Sounds like a lot of fun!

Central City Housing Ventures Rent Party
Friday, May 29, 5-8 p.m.
Fourth Presbyterian Church, Michigan Ave. at Chestnut St.
$25 in advance, $35 at the door (Contact Duncan Moore at 773-477-4312 or Duncan.Moore AT sbcglobal.net)
Jazz by the Lucy Smith Trio with libations of beer, wine, and appetizers

This event is helping create a rent lifeline fund to help residents of The Studios, a single-room-occupancy, supported-living apartment house operated by Central City Housing Ventures. Every dollar contributed goes directly toward rent forgiveness for those who have lost their jobs or been furloughed.

Another favorite Rush Hour artist, Bernard Zinck’s programs feature the unusual with the well-known, always a pleasure for the audience!

Masterworks for Violin
Bernard Zinck, violin
Patrick Godon, piano
Sunday, May 10, 3 p.m.
St. James Cathedral, 65 E. Huron St.
$10 requested donation

Szymanowski – Sonata in d minor, Op. 9
Harrison - Grand Duo for Violin and Piano
Fauré – Sonata in A Major, Op. 13

This is what I love about Chicago: musical opportunities popping up in all sorts of venues and circumstances. Read on:

Hidden Talent 2
Friday, May 15, 12:15 p.m.
Harold Washington Library Center, Cindy Pritzker Auditorium – 400 S. State Street
FREE

Six patrons of the HWLC’s 8th Floor Music Practice rooms are moving from “unseen and unheard” to the stage of the Pritzker Auditorium. Peter Beck, trombone; Claudius Edwards, piano; Robert Frenier, tenor voice; Jean Marie Garofolo, coloratura soprano voice; Sara Su Jones, violin; and Dan Windolph, clarinet, will be sharing their talent with the rest of the city.

Fulcrum Point never disappoints in its unique programming. This is a great program, with free tickets!

Fulcrum Point New Music Project
Tuesday, May 19, 7:30 p.m.
Thorne Auditorium at Northwestern University, 375 E. Chicago
RSVP is required to redeem your e-ticket (up to 4 per RSVP) by emailing RSVP5-19 AT fulcrumpoint.org with full contact information before May 15

A rare collaboration featuring Stephen Burns and the Fulcrum Point New Music Project with Hong Kong’s own Chinese Music Virtuosi, plus special appearances by Thodos Dance Chicago and the Bei Dou Kung Fu Troupe. A one-night-only old & new Chinese music concert experience celebrating the “HONG KONG COMES TO CHICAGO 2009″ Festival!

Finally, the closing concert of  the “Music for Peace” festival in Chicago, presented by a combination of students and world-class artists:

Music for Peace Festival – Closing Concert
Saturday, May 16, 7:30 p.m.
St. James Cathedral, 65 E. Huron St.
FREE

Featuring the Peace Chamber Ensemble, the Music for Peace Festival Orchestra, and Van Steuben High School Choir, with soloists Alex Klein, Richard Young, and Deborah Wanderley dos Santos

- Deborah Sobol
Artistic Director