Civic Wind Ensemble Performs at CSO
The Civic Wind Ensemble, part of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, performed at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra last night. The event is part of a series of high-culture performances that attract the city's social and philanthropic leaders.
- Founded in 1919 by CSO's second music director, Frederick Stock, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago is the first training orchestra in the United States to be affiliated with a major symphony orchestra. Its mission is to prepare pre-professional musicians for careers in top-tier orchestras. - Musicians in the Civic Orchestra are mentored by members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and work with world-renowned conductors like CSO Zell Music Director Riccardo Muti and Principal Conductor Ken-David Masur. Famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma also served as a leading mentor for the group for nearly a decade. - The ensemble is a signature program of the Negaunee Music Institute at the CSO, which invests over $5 million annually into community and education programs that reach over 200,000 people. - The recent Wind Ensemble concert was conducted by Gary Hill and featured a program with works by composers ranging from Mozart and Richard Strauss to modern American composers like Joan Tower and John Harbison. - The Civic Orchestra has a distinguished track record of placing its members in professional ensembles; over 160 alumni have won positions with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and many others are employed by major orchestras worldwide. - A select group of members are named Civic Fellows, participating in an intensive leadership program that includes training in artistic planning, music education, and community engagement. For the 2026/27 season, these fellows will receive a $20,000 stipend. - Performances are often free or low-cost to the public, taking place at Symphony Center and in neighborhoods across the city, including an annual concert at the South Shore Cultural Center. - The 2025/26 Civic Orchestra season is notably sponsored by Lori Julian for the Julian Family Foundation, which also provides major funding for the Civic Fellowship program. The broader CSO is supported by nearly 500 "Governing Members," a philanthropic group that provides more than $3 million in annual support.
