Ravinia 2021 - Issue 2

FROM THE PRES I DENT AND THE CHA I RMAN JEFFREY P. HAYDON President and CEO Ravinia Festival Association DON CIVGIN Chairman Ravinia Festival Association W el come — there’s a lot of meaning in that one word today. It cannot be overstated how wonderful it is to be sharing that simple greeting with you here at Ravinia, after months of anticipating the return of live performances. There’s a healthy buzz across our acres of open air and gentle surrounding of trees, and that’s not just from the cicadas. We’re all re-emerging this summer to reconnect in a very analog sense with experiences. What Ravinia has offered for over 100 years is a space where people meet up with their many tastes for music, meals, and memory-making. And that moment of alchemy is when you’re sharing the “welcome” back to us and everyone around you. Sharing these moments this summer wouldn’t be possible without months of intense collaboration across the organization and with our partners, neighbors, donors, and advisors, especially continuous guidance from Northwestern Medicine, as well as local and state public health authorities. The health and well-being of audiences, artists, staff, and the community is Ravinia’s top priority as we reopen and put live music at the forefront of Chicagoland’s personal, artistic, and economic recovery. Our protocols for welcoming audiences back to the park are regularly being updated to meet best practices, and we thank you for following these guidelines to ensure that the Ravinia experience is a healthy one all season. We are thrilled to present a broad range of music in more than 70 concerts over 12 weeks. All are welcome to connect with the best examples of orchestral and chamber classical music, as well as jazz, rock, folk, R&B, pop, American Songbook, indie, and country music, over the added comfort of bring-your-own picnics or fine dining, and come away inspired by experiencing it together. The centerpiece of our season continues with the full annual residency of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. We are also ecstatic to welcome Marin Alsop in her first season as Ravinia’s Chief Conductor and Curator. On our stage and around the world, she champions the increased diversity of artists and composers in classical music as well as highlights the rising generation of stars. Altogether, that’s what makes Ravinia a favorite Chicagoland tradition year after year. Thanks to the vital support of our generous individual and corporate donors, we are able to welcome back not only live performances, but also the shared musical moments of our Reach Teach Play education and engagement programs and the Ravinia Steans Music Institute as in-person experiences. The dedication of over 3,000 supporters during our year without ticket revenue enabled us to quickly put resources behind new solutions to continue these programs online over a year ago. You will find each of their names listed in these pages with our deepest gratitude. Ticket sales normally cover about half of our annual operating costs, and for the rest we rely on contributors who believe in our mission to present a spectrum of exceptional music, put music back into under-resourced schools and their communities, elevate the talents of young professional artists, and maintain our beautiful, family-friendly concert environment. Today we also extend our thanks to you. Your ticket is more than entertainment. As ever, it’s a critical part of our ability to fulfill each part of our mission, but this summer it’s also sharing the belief that live music at Ravinia is a healthy part of our return to community. And we whole-heartedly welcome you into ours. 418 Sheridan Road Highland Park, IL 60035 847-266-5000 ravinia.org Jeffrey P. Haydon President and CEO Nick Panfil Associate Director of Communications, Editor Chris Anderson Lead Graphic Designer 340 Anthony Trail, Northbrook, IL 60062 847-770-4620 performancemedia.us Gail McGrath Publisher & President Sheldon Levin Publisher & Director of Finance Account Managers: Rand Brichta ∙ Arnie Hoffman Mike Hedge For advertising information, call 847-770-4621 or email gmcgrath@pmgma.com PMGMA, Inc. is a Woman Owned Business Published by PMGMA, Inc. All contents are copyrighted 2021. All rights reserved. Nothing may be reproduced in any manner, whole or part, without written permission from the publisher. For advertising terms and conditions, visit performancemedia.us MISSION STATEMENT OF THE RAVINIA FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION Ravinia is an internationally renowned, not-for-profit music festival that presents outstanding performances by the world’s greatest artists. Ravinia’s principal objectives are • to present performances of a full range of classical music in its open-air Pavilion and enclosed recital halls, by the world’s greatest composers and musicians, along with a variety of other kinds of light classical, jazz, and popular music; • to maintain a beautiful park that is welcoming to all and attractive to families in which the music experience is enhanced by a beautiful environment and excellent dining opportunities; • to enable gifted young performers to study under great teachers and perform in concert settings; and • to develop broader and more diverse audiences for classical music through education and engagement programs and by maintaining affordable ticket prices. RAVINIA MAGAZINE • JULY 24 – AUGUST 15, 2021 4