Grant Park Orchestral Association

The festival proudly nurtures the next generation of classical talent, supports community efforts that expand access to quality music education for chicago's young people, and provides free community programs in neighborhoods throughout chicago for audiences of all ages. The festival fellowships are paid summer residencies for pre-professional string musicians and vocal artists from historically under-represented backgrounds. Since its inception, more than 60 young artists have completed the rigorous fellowship program and have gone on to perform with such prestigious ensembles as the milwaukee, minnesota, chicago, and detroit symphony orchestras; lyric opera orchestra; and music of the baroque. In addition, nine former vocal fellows are members of the grant park chorus, and ten string fellowship alumni have earned positions within the grant park orchestra, either as substitutes or in tenured positions. As part of its 90th anniversary celebration, more than 30 alumni - representing every year of the program's existence - returned to chicago to join guest conductor and former string fellow kyle dickson (now assistant conductor of memphis symphony) for a first-ever fellows reunion concert, held at south shore cultural center and reprised at the pritzker pavilion.now in its sixth year, the festival's popular visiting masters series hosts free and open master classes for grant park fellows and local music students, offering once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to work with international soloists. Interested audiences also enjoy a rare behind-the-scenes look at a musician's development process. In 2024, the festival presented five master classes, led by anne akiko meyers, johannes moser, susan platts, terrence wilson, and nathalie joachim. The festival's signature children's program, classical campers, saw a 20% increase in participation in 2024, engaging more than 1,600 campers and counselors from 28 chicago park district (cpd) summer programs. The program provided groups with a half day of hands-on learning activities led by teaching artists and the opportunity to attend an orchestra rehearsal and meet festival musicians.the festival's partnership with the chicago park district - night out in the parks - continued in 2024, bringing symphonic, choral, and chamber performances directly into chicago neighborhoods, reducing geographic barriers to the concertgoing experience. Nearly 1,400 residents attended these events in 2024, which comprised a cappella chorus programs at south shore cultural center and columbus park refectory; a special performance by visiting children's choir gumpoldskirchner spatzen at south shore cultural center; the fellows reunion concert at south shore cultural center; and concerts by the fellows string quartet in jefferson, olympia, marquette, and lake shore parks. More than 3,100 festival-goers of all ages enjoyed free pre-concert events including discussions with featured guest artists, moderated by composer/educator seth boustead and other guest hosts; musical petting zoos; "learn to conduct" sessions with the fellows string quartet; festive face painting; a star wars diy costume shop; and a broadway musical comedy revue.open rehearsals feature trained volunteer docents conducting informal talks prior to the rehearsal and during intermission, providing insights into the program's works and composers. An estimated 30,000 people attended 50 rehearsals, with an average 600 audience members at each event.