Fanfare Happy Hour – 6/29

Fanfare, Rush Hour’s auxiliary board of young professionals, is hosting its second Happy Hour of the season after the June 29th concert with the Fifth House Ensemble!

Fanfare members Joseph Gonzalez and Char Prescott enjoy a glass of wine.

The Fanfare Happy Hour is an opportunity for young professionals to connect over refreshments during a post-concert reception in the St. James Cafe (entrance on Huron) starting at 6:30 p.m.  Refreshments will be served!

Suggested donation $5.

For more information go to our Facebook event page.

5/18 – Fourth Annual Fanfare Tasting

Fanfare, Rush Hour’s auxiliary board of young professionals, hosted its fourth annual season preview fundraiser on Tuesday, May 18, 2010.  The proceeds from this event went towards helping keep Rush Hour Concerts free and open to all.

The Fanfare Board of Rush Hour Concerts at St. James Cathedral is helping to change the way live classical music is experienced and is dedicated to expanding the series’ outreach to new audiences.

Attendees enjoyed wine and delicious appetizers in the St. James Café before heading into the Cathedral for an intimate, “up close and personal” performance by Fifth House Ensemble.  The Tasting was an opportunity for live-music lovers to meet, mingle and get a “taste” of Rush Hour’s 11th season which opened on June 1, 2010.

Outgoing Fanfare Board President Reba Cafarelli (left) and Ashley Lapin, current Treasurer, greet guests arriving at the Tasting event.

Mark Raymo (left) and Paul Hogan (right) of Delaware Place Bank chat with Artistic & Executive Director Deborah Sobol.

(Pictured from left to right) Fifth House Ensemble members Adam Marks, piano; Crystal Hall, oboe; and Karl Rzasa, basson performed a trio by Andre Previn.

Fanfare Board President Andrew Schmidt addresses guests at the Tasting event.

Guests take in speeches from Fanfare leaders.

The next Fanfare event will take place on Tuesday, June 29, 2010 after the concert.

Fanfare for Rush Hour’s Next Decade

Join us for the exciting launch of Rush Hour’s second decade and the celebration of the grassroots movement that has brought it this far!

Fanfare, Rush Hour’s group of culturally curious young professionals, is hosting its third annual Rush Hour Tasting on Sunday, May 3 at the Ravenswood factory studio space of the electrifying ensemble Third Coast Percussion.

Mingle with the artists and socialize with other young professionals over wine and delectable hors d’oeuvres at 5:30 p.m.

Then, at 6:00, get a sneak preview of Third Coast Percussion’s summer Rush Hour appearance. TCP will perform the world premiere of ensemble member David Skidmore’s Fanfare, composed in honor of Rush Hour’s 10th anniversary. Modern masterworks by John Cage and other contemporary composers will follow, interspersed with insightful conversation with the artists.

After the 30-minute concert, explore the plethora of percussion instruments, chat with the musicians, and learn how you can get more involved with Fanfare before you head off into the early spring evening.

Here’s what a few past attendees have had to say about the Tasting:

“This was one of the coolest concerts I’ve been to in a long time.”

“Pure pleasure–remarkable!”

“Experiencing a concert like this in person is really intense and satisfying.”

“I wouldn’t say I’ve ever been a huge classical music fan – but in the same right I was pretty much blown away by the talent and emotion displayed by these human beings and their instruments. This event may have changed my mind.”

Admission is FREE when you join Fanfare by making a contribution of $20 or more to Rush Hour. Click here to make your gift, and we’ll contact you with further details about the event.

As an added bonus, your contribution will be DOUBLED through a challenge grant opportunity with a major Chicago foundation–acting now gives your gift twice the impact.

Whether you’re a longtime Rush Hour fan or are new to the city, don’t miss this event unlike any other. Come see what all the energy is about!

Do You Have the Time?

If so, Rush Hour’s Fanfare Board wants you to get involved!

Whether you have an hour each Tuesday or an hour each month, Fanfare offers a range of ways to volunteer your time and talents year-round. Join other young professionals helping to produce the free summer concert series!

Learn more at a March 12 recruitment event (look for upcoming details here on rushhour.org) or email us at fanfare@rushhour.org.