A highlight of this past summer with CMPI has been our constant engagement with the Ravinia Summer Festival in Highland Park. Over the summer we have been lucky enough to be invited to two performances that have already been enjoyed, and another two that we are looking forward to.
First, CMPI students heard the virtuoso clarinetist, Anthony McGill, perform the Copland Clarinet Concerto with the CSO back at his home base of Chicago. McGill is an alum of the Merit School of Music, and currently serves as the principal clarinetist of the New York Philharmonic. We asked CMPI Director Adrienne Thompson about her experience: “It was really fun getting to see parents on a date night because their child was at camp, meeting the parents and daughter of one of our CMPI private teachers and seeing other CMPI faculty as they were playing with the CSO. And, of course, the music was absolutely wonderful.”
The second performance was a special event for CMPI families, as Ravinia hosted our community by offering transportation and a meal to all those who attended. The program featured the CSO once again, with soloists performing works for strings this time around. Student Navigator Miguel Aguirre was happy to attend and shared his experience. “The Ravinia concert we attended was an exciting event that featured a violinist and violist. We had a great time getting to know each other while we enjoyed a late lunch and live music for the first time in a long time.” The opportunity to hear live music is not one that is lost on our community!
Later this summer, on August 31, CMPI students will have the opportunity to hear bass-baritone Davóne Tines perform with pianist Adam Nielsen on what is described as, “An exploration of the Mass woven through Western European, African American, and 21st-century traditions.”
Our time with Ravinia this summer comes to a fun conclusion as we host our Kick-Off Picnic out on their lawn! On September 8, the Chicago Sinfonietta will kick off their season on stage with an hour-long program of short works from a diverse array of composers. CMPI families are all invited to join us before the concert on the Ravinia lawn to enjoy company and community under the trees together. The CMPI staff is excited to see all of our families in person, and is eager to have an opportunity to have an evening that shifts back to the type of programming we hope to have very soon. Families are encouraged to bring their own picnic and meet us up north to get this year off to a great start!