Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
not just any kids' choir: In the past, the choir performed with Bobby McFerrin
at the Chicago Theatre. Founded in 1956, the choir trains nearly 3,000 young
singers a year. The choir runs 61 in-school choruses in 40 Chicago elementary
schools and five after-school Neighborhood Choirs. The showpiece is the 125-voice
Concert Choir, which includes Treble and Chamber ensembles, Madrigals, and a
Show Choir.
Office: Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington, 5th floor.
&
312/849-8300.
www.ccchoir.org. Tickets $27-$47.
Chicago Music Mart at DePaul Center
All ages.
Spark the interest of the
budding musician in your family at the “Mart,” where instrument stores
abound, and kids are welcome to test out the instruments. At lunchtime, “Tunes
at Noon” presents free concerts on weekdays, indoors in winter and outdoors in
summer, featuring high school bands, choral groups, or young performers play-
ing everything from classical to jazz.
333 S. State St.
&
312/362-6700.
Subway/El: Red
Line to Jackson.
Chicago Opera Theater
Ages 8 & up.
As the “other” opera company in
town, Chicago Opera Theater doesn't get all the big names, but it does make
opera accessible to a wider audience with an emphasis on American composers
and performers who sing in English. It also helps that tickets are less expensive
and more plentiful than those for the Lyric Opera. The opera has a wonderful
educational outreach program that features one opera per season (a short one,
usually!) that is performed by and for children. Call well in advance for tickets
to the next performance, as they always sell out. Back in 2002 the opera made a
splash with its performance of
Brundibár,
a 30-minute opera first performed in
1942 at the Jewish boys' orphanage in Prague for which it was written. By the
time of the premiere, the composer, conductor, and director had all been sent to
Terezin, a Nazi concentration camp. The opera is a story of good triumphing
over evil, and each performance was followed by a discussion with performers.
The production was designed by famed author and artist Maurice Sendak. No
matter what the bill, the talent and production values are top-notch.
205 E. Ran-
dolph Dr.
&
312/704-8414.
www.chicagooperatheater.org. Tickets $30-$97 adults, children half
price. Subway/El: Red Line to Washington/State.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Ages 6 & up.
The CSO does a nice job of
outreach to young ones with the Kraft Family Matinee series, which exposes kids
to the storytelling of music through classics. In the past, performances have
included “special guests” such as Woofgang and Meowzart, who appear at per-
formances of
Stomp Your Foot!,
and Underground Railway Theater puppeteers at
performances of
The Firebird.
The series runs on select Saturdays at 11am and
12:30pm. Concerts are performed by members of the Chicago Symphony
Orchestra and guest artists. Another kid favorite is the annual Halloween con-
cert for ages 5 to 17. Kids are invited to wear costumes to the concert. High-
lights include seeing Grainger Hall transformed into a haunted house, and
participating in face painting and storytelling—and orchestra members dress in
costumes, too.
Another option for kids is the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, which
performs at Orchestra Hall (
&
312/939-2207;
www.cyso.org). Founded in
1946, the orchestra is comprised of a senior-level group of 105 top high school
musicians in the Chicagoland area. Recognized as one of the nation's best youth
orchestras, the CYSO performs in November and May.
If your children are over age 12, they are welcome to attend a regular per-
formance of the CSO, currently led by music director Daniel Barenboim (who
