UIC presents jazz, classical concerts during evenings, lunchtime
All are invited to enjoy free or low-cost concerts presented this spring by the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Evening Concerts
Evening concerts are held on campus and at venues throughout the Chicago area. Unless otherwise noted, admission is pay-what-you-can; we recommend $10 ($5 for students & seniors). UIC students are admitted free with ID.
Rufus Reid highlights both the UIC Jazz Festival and Tuesdays-at-One.
Feb. 17, 7 p.m.
Rufus Reid and the UIC Jazz Ensemble
Student Center East
750 S. Halsted St.
Admission: $10 ($5, students and seniors)
Grammy-nominated bassist Rufus Reid joins the UIC Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Andy Baker for an evening of jazz, celebrating the culmination of the annual UIC High School Jazz Festival. With a genius for improvisation and one of the richest tones in jazz today, Reid is a premiere bassist on the international scene. Chicago Tribune jazz critic Howard Reich has praised his “phrases so delicately drawn and subtly nuanced as to suggest the work of a soft-spoken vocalist singing to an audience of one.”
March 2, 7:30 p.m.
Landscapes
UIC University Band
UIC Theatre
1044 W. Harrison St.
UIC’s largest ensemble plays Variations on a Korean Folk Song by John Barnes Chance, Prelude In The Dorian Mode by Percy Grainger, City Tress by Michael Markowski, A Moorside Suite by Gustav Holst, and Coil by Steven Bryant.
March 4, 7:30 p.m.
For Those Who Think They Can
UIC Wind Ensemble
UIC Theatre
1044 W. Harrison St.
The UIC Wind Ensemble plays Lollapallooza by John Adams, New England Triptych by William Schuman, Adagio by Samuel Barber, Luminosity by Joseph Schwantner (world premiere) and Tarantella by John Corigliano.
March 8, 7 p.m.
Jazz at Jaks
UIC Jazz Combos
Jaks Tap (also see April 19)
901 W. Jackson Blvd.
Make a date with UIC’s stellar Jazz Combos at this friendly neighborhood hotspot.
March 18, 7:30 p.m.
An Evening of Chamber Music: A Last Look at Winter
UIC Orchestra and Choirs
Notre Dame Church
1334 W Flournoy St.
Bid a fond farewell (or good riddance!) to winter. Randall Thompson’s Frostiana: Seven Country Songs is at the center of this eclectic program featuring the UIC Chamber Choir, University Choir, Women’s Chorus and Orchestra.
April 4, 8 p.m.
UIC at the Jazz Showcase
UIC Jazz Ensemble and Vocal Ensemble Workshop
Jazz Showcase
806 S. Plymouth Court
Join us at Chicago’s oldest jazz club and the home of the best of Chicago’s jazz scene since 1947. The UIC Jazz Ensemble is the flagship of UIC’s growing jazz program, with two big bands and three combos studying under Chicago’s leading jazz musicians. Recent highlights include the ensemble’s debut at the Chicago Jazz Festival last season, with prolific recording artist Cheryl Wilson.
April 17, 3 p.m.
Carmina Burana
UIC Orchestra
Wentz Concert Hall
171 E. Chicago Ave, Naperville, Ill.
Join us for Carl Orff’s splendid secular cantata for orchestra, choirs and vocal soloists. The orchestra will join the West Suburban Youth Orchestra, Bolingbrook High School Choir, Plainfield East High School Choir, Plainfield North High School Choir, and the Young Naperville Singers Boys Choir.
April 18, 8 p.m.
Layers
UIC Percussion Ensemble
Rehearsal Hall L060
1040 W. Harrison St.
The UIC Percussion ensemble explores percussive melodies through the music of Glassock, Westlake, Daughtrey and more.
April 19, 8 p.m.
Jazz at Jaks
UIC Jazz Combos
Jaks Tap
901 W. Jackson Blvd.
April 21, 7:30 p.m.
UIC Electric Guitar Ensemble and Vocal Jazz Workshop
Recital Hall L285
1044 W. Harrison St.
Our two newest jazz groups offer a great musical evening. Noted vocalist Cheryl Wilson leads the Vocal Jazz Workshop, while new faculty member Felton Offard directs the Electric Guitar Ensemble.
April 25, 7:30 p.m.
Finale Concert
UIC Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Workshop
UIC Theatre
1044 W. Harrison St.
Our busy jazz program highlights graduating seniors with a performance of jazz standards by both of our big bands in the theatre mainstage.
April 26, 7:30 p.m.
UIC Wind Ensemble and University Band
Logan Center for the Performing Arts
915 E. 60th St.
The Wind Ensemble will play Mothership by recent CSO composer-in-residence Mason Bates, John Mackey’s Harvest (with UIC faculty member Andy Baker as trombone soloist) and Kingfishers Catch Fire, and Eric Whitacre’s Lux Aurumque. The University Band will play Harold Bennet’s Military Escort March, Samuel Hazo’s Diamond Fanfare, Bach’s Come Sweet Death and Clifton Williams’ Symphonic Dance No. 3, Fiesta. The Lincoln Park High School Band will open the concert under the direction of Chad Smith.
April 27, 7:30 p.m.
Concerto Competition Winner
UIC Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble and Mariachi Fuego
UIC Theatre
1044 W. Harrison St.
This concert features the winner of our annual concerto competition, performing with full orchestra under the direction of Javier Jose Mendoza.
April 28, 7:30 p.m.
Choral Masterworks
UIC Symphonic Choir with the Janus Ensemble
St. Francis of Assisi
813 W. Roosevelt Road
Haydn’s Requiem in C Minor is paired with Gjielo’s Song of the Universal and more for a grand performance with the Janus Ensemble, with Martin Davids as concertmaster, under the direction of UIC’s Michael J. Anderson and Andrew Lewis.
UIC’s Zvonomir Tot and Kelly Sills, seen here at the Jazz Showcase, will perform in Tuesdays-at-One on March 15.
Tuesdays-at-One
All Tuesdays-at-One concerts take place from 1 to 1:50 p.m. in the Education, Theatre, Music and Social Work Building, 1040 W. Harrison St. Paid parking for visitors is available at 501 S. Morgan St.
Feb. 16
Rufus Reid and the UIC Jazz Faculty
Recital Hall L285
Grammy-nominated bassist Rufus Reid joins UIC’s faculty of prominent jazz musicians for a free lunchtime performance.
March 1
UIC Jazz Workshop
Recital Hall L285
Under the direction of faculty member Chris Madsen, the Jazz Workshop performs a set of timeless jazz standards.
March 8
Glenn Kotche
Recital Hall L285
The eclectic influences of energetic, versatile percussionist and composer Glenn Kotche are spotlighted in a solo performance. “I could never find another drummer who was Glenn Kotche,” said Wilco drummer Jim O’Rourke in 2013, “because there isn’t.”
March 15
Zvonimir Tot and Kelly Sill
Recital Hall 285
Guitarist Zvonimir Tot and bassist Kelly Sill present music from their new album, “Standards Live at the Jazz Showcase.”
March 29
Circle Ensemble Piano Trio
Rehearsal Hall L060
UIC’s faculty trio performs Schubert’s Trio No 1 in B flat, Pp.99 and Joaquin Turina’s Trio No 1. In D Major Op.35, featuring Jennifer Cappelli on violin, Paula Kosower on cello, and Ivana Bukvich on piano.
April 12
Student Chamber Music
Recital Hall L285
Music majors perform a selection of chamber music, ranging from violin sonatas and violin-guitar duos to clarinet and saxophone ensembles.
April 19
Choro de Lá Pra Cá
Recital Hall L285
Choro de Lá pra Cá comprises U.S. flutist Julie Koidin and Brazilian musicians Diogo Guanabar (mandolin, cavaquinho and guitar), and Caio Padilha (guitar, rabeca, and vocals). Each comes from a different musical background that adds its own perspective: Koidin’s classical training, Guanabar’s history with choro and interest in jazz, and Padilha’s affinity for folkloric music and background in theater.
April 26
“In C”
Rehearsal Hall L060
Ensemble-in-residence Latitude 49 is joined by UIC faculty and students to perform Terry Riley’s pioneering minimalist masterpiece In C.
