Ravinia 2024 Issue 3

PAVILION 11:00 AM& 4:30 PM SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 2024 LAURIE BERKNER Visit the KidsLawn at the north corner of the park (see map inside the back cover) for family fun with interactive, large-scale percussion instruments and more activites, including a performance by LAURA DOHERTY & MICHAEL RIENDEAU LAURIE BERKNER While Laurie Berkner never planned to be a children’s performer, looking back on her career it almost seems inevitable. While growing up in Princeton, NJ, Berkner was always involved in music, whether singing in choirs, playing in bands, or performing in musical theater. In high school and throughout college (at Rutgers Uni- versity), she toured Europe with several choirs and orchestras as a soloist and guitarist. After graduation, Berkner spent several years as a children’s music specialist at New York–area preschool and day care centers before becoming a professional musician in 1992. She maintains a busy touring schedule and has performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the White House, among many venues. Berkner was the first recording artist ever to perform in music videos on Nick Jr. and was a frequent presence on the network’s Jack’s BigMusic Show series. Her music videos now appear regularly on Sprout House and The Laurie Berkner Band’s YouTube channel, and she is often featured on SiriusXM’s Kids Place Live . In 2018, she created a 10-chapter Audible Original Series titled Laurie Berkner’s Song and Story Kitchen . Berkner has released 12 bestselling, award-winning albums: Whaddaya Think of That (1997), Buzz Buzz (1998), Victor Vito (1999), Under a Shady Tree (2002), Rocket- ship Run (2008), The Best of The Laurie Berkner Band (2010), A Laurie Berkner Christmas (2012), Laurie Berkner Lullabies (2014), The Ultimate Laurie Berkner Band Collection (2014), Laurie Berkner’s Favorite Classic Kids’ Songs (2015), Su- perhero (2016), and Laurie Berkner: The Dance Remixes (2017). She has also released seven digi- tal collections of her songs: Laurie Berkner’s Food Songs , Laurie Berkner’s Animal Songs , Laurie Berkner’s Transportation Songs , Laurie Berkner’s Classroom Favorites , Laurie Berkner’s Movement Songs , Laurie Berkner’s Nature Songs , and Love . Berkner recently authored three picture books for Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, each based on one of her beloved songs— We Are the Dinosaurs , Pillowland , and Monster Boo- gie —having previously written two Barnes & Noble Nook Kids e-books. Laurie Berkner first played at Ravinia in 2004, and today is her 13th season at the festival. A MESSAGE FROM BMO BMO is proud to be a longtime supporter of Ravinia and its mission to bring the community together and ensure music is accessible for all. Helping communities thrive by supporting the organizations that sustain them and encouraging employee giving and volunteerism is at the heart of our Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life . In 2023, our social impact included more than $62 million donated to hundreds of charities and non-profit organizations across North America to help drive progress by enabling individuals to thrive and communities to prosper. Our colleagues spent almost 62,000 hours volunteering in the community and contributed more than $23 million in donations through our annual employee giving program. We consider it a privilege to play a part in supporting Ravinia’s summer season. Our continued partnership will help reach a broader and more diverse audience through one of the community’s most anticipated summer events. We look forward to gathering to enjoy the “sounds of summer” and the joy that the festival brings to our community. On behalf of our thousands of employees, BMO joins Ravinia in welcoming you to the 2024 festival season. Tonight’s Gala fundraising event directly supports Ravinia and its nonprofit music education and community engagement programs. Across 12 programs, Ravinia’s Reach Teach Play ® provides the positive impact of live music experiences to over 20,000 students, including the Jazz Scholars, an active ensemble of Chicago Public High School musicians who have auditioned into the Ravinia Jazz Mentor Program. We hope you will consider supporting these vital programs. Please scan this code to join us in bringing life-changing experiences of music to Chicagoland students and families: RAVINIAMAGAZINE • JULY 22 – AUGUST 4, 2024 78