Rush Hour Concerts begins 2012 Summer Series

One of Chicago's true "hidden gems," these concerts bring the finest of the city's classical musicians to audiences in the historic St. James Cathedral at 65 E. Huron.

Rush Hour Concerts
Tuesday evenings
St. James Cathedral
65 E. Huron
www.rushhour.org

June 5
Program: Brass Highlights Over Four Centuries
Artists: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet

June 12
Program and Artists: Fifth House Ensemble with participants from the "fresh inc festival"

June 19
Program: Antiphonal Splendor from the Renaissance to Today Artists: Axiom Brass Quintet with Chicago Symphony Orchestra Principal Trumpet Chris Martin
Sponsored in part by the Music Institute of Chicago)

June 26
Program: John Cage: Credo in U.S. and Third Construction, In celebration of the Cage Centennial
Artists: Third Coast Percussion

July 3
Program: Americana: John Steinmetz and John Philip Sousa
Artists: Quintet Attacca, woodwind quintet

July 10
Program and Artists: Männerstimmen Basel, Men's Choir of Basel
(Sponsored in part by the Consulate General of Switzerland in Chicago, Pro Helvetia - Swiss Arts Council, and the Swiss Benevolent Society of Chicago)

July 17
Program: Felix Mendelssohn: Octet in E-Flat Major, Op. 20
Artists: Euclid Quartet and Lincoln String Quartet
(Sponsored in part by the Consulate General of Germany in Chicago)

July 24
100th Anniversary Garland of Poetry Magazine Selections
Artist: Kuang-Hao Huang, piano
(Sponsored in part by the Poetry Foundation)

July 31
Program: Lyric Shorts: Don Pasquale
Artists: Members of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago
(Sponsored by Tom and Julie Hurvis)

\August 7
Program: Music of Enrique Granados, Joaquin Turin and Jesus de Monasterio
Artists: Francisco Fullana, violin; Maire O'Brien, soprano; Mark Riggleman, piano
(Sponsored in part by the Consulate General of Spain in Chicago)

August 14
Program: Thomas Adès: String Quartet "Arcadiana"
Artists: Spektral String Quartet
(Sponsored in part by the British Consulate General in Chicago)

August 21
Program: Music of Mozart and Schubert
Artists: Avalon String Quartet
(Sponsored in part by the Consulate General of Austria in Chicago)

August 28
Program: Lyric Shorts: Hansel and Gretel
Artists: Members of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago
(Sponsored by Tom and Julie Hurvis)
Lead Sponsor of the Rush Hour Concerts 2012 Summer Series is Comcast and Exclusive Print Sponsor is Time Out Chicago.

Rush Hour Concerts - Making Music Accessible
Rush Hour Concerts' mission is to provide the broadest access to great live music throughout Chicago - admission-free - in ways which are relevant to contemporary lifestyles, aesthetically nourishing, and foster a sense of community. Rush Hour Concerts is committed to free music programming for communities of all types and is rooted in the core belief that no matter what one's age, ability or background, anyone can participate in music-making.

Rush Hour's Summer Series continues to bring traditional chamber music to a new audience (with 30% of its weekly attendees under the age of 40) and new classical music to seasoned cognoscenti. The weekly summer concerts include a variety of access points to help demystify the concert experience and build common ground, allowing individual audience members to become engaged listeners, acquire a sense of ownership in the series, and gain understanding of their vital role in a live concert.

Make Music Chicago
The Summer Series is only one of Rush Hour Concerts' programs designed to make live music accessible. Rush Hour Concerts also presents the second annual Make Music Chicago, a completely free, one-day music festival on the first day of summer, Thursday, June 21. Make Music Chicago celebrates the ability of everyone to make music as people of all ages, musical genres and ability levels (from amateurs to marquee artists) all gather throughout the day in Chicago's public spaces to engage in music-making. Performance sites include Daley Plaza, Millennium Park, both Apple stores (Michigan Avenue and North Avenue), Macy's State Street, John Hancock Center, Museum Campus, Northerly Island and over 25 Chicago Park District sites, among many others. This year Make Music Chicago expands both in scale and geographically, reaching north, south and west beyond the city proper. New neighborhoods hosting Make Music Chicago events include the north shore communities from Evanston up to Lake Bluff, as well as Chinatown, Pilsen, Logan Square, Humboldt Park, Hyde Park and Austin. A complete list of performance sites can be found at www.makemusicchicago.com/sites

Make Music Chicago begins during the morning rush hour and closes with an evening Grand Finale at St. James Cathedral Commons (65 E. Huron Street in River North) from 6 to 9 PM, featuring singers from the Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago, instrumentalists from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, musicians from Third Coast Percussion with the Davis Square Park Community Band, and a massive public performance of Robert Johnson's popular blues standard, "Sweet Home Chicago." To learn more about Rush Hour Concerts visit www.rushhour.org http://www.rushhour.org and to learn more about Make Music Chicago visit www.makemusicchicago.com.