Following an all-American program conducted by James Gaffigan — featuring the Apostolic Church of God Sanctuary Choir — AAN members and friends are invited to Grainger Ballroom for a 10th anniversary celebration. Add a touch of silver to your evening look and join us for wine, appetizers and a special musical tribute as we share stories and toast a decade of incredible leadership.

AAN members and friends at IMPACT on March 15.

Use your AAN member ticket benefit to enjoy an upcoming concert!

As a member of the AAN, you have access to specially priced tickets for $40 or less to select concerts using promo code AAN. Learn more at cso.org/aan.

Upcoming eligible concerts:

• Apr. 30-May 3 | Canellakis, Tao & Tchaikovsky 5
• May 7-9 | DiDonato Performs Neruda Songs
• May 9 | Mother Goose & the Cabinet of Wonder

Upcoming featured AAN concert:

• June 4-6 | Alsop Conducts Adams, Copland & Marsalis

April 17-18
Lyric Opera House
20 N. Wacker Dr. 

A remarkable new story told in blues, funk and gospel.

Lyric presents a striking world-premiere opera commissioned from Chicago’s first Poet Laureate, the celebrated interdisciplinary artist avery r. young.

safronia journeys into the heart of the Great Migration, where generations of hope, upheaval, joy and loss converge. Told through the eyes of a family yearning to connect to their roots, this Afro-surrealist story blends memory and myth to reveal a rich, deeply human portrait of a family shaped by movement, resilience and the search for home. It is a remarkable new story told in blues, funk and gospel music. As a special offer, use promo code CSOAAN to save 15%. 

Chicago Jazz Philharmonic (CJP) presents Sketches of Spain: Revisited, an orchestral reimagining of the iconic 1960 original by Miles Davis and Gil Evans. For this reinterpretation of the 1960 classic recording, CJP artistic director and composer Orbert Davis created two additional compositions, incorporating traditional African and Middle Eastern instruments and making modifications to the ensemble orchestration. This intimate yet powerful concert will transport audiences to a different world.

In addition to discussing Miles Davis’ life, legacy, Chicago connections and global impact, panelists will unpack the history and music of Sketches of Spain, including Miles’ artistic partnership with Gil Evans.

Panel:

• Orbert Davis, Emmy Award-winning trumpeter and composer, and artistic director, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic
• Mark Ruffin, award-winning journalist and program director, Sirius XM, Real Jazz
• Vince Wilburn, drummer, bandleader of M.E.B., Miles Davis’ nephew and co-manager of the Miles Davis Estate

Moderator:

• Karen Chilton, 2026 Library of Congress Jazz Scholar and critically acclaimed author, Hazel Scott: The Pioneering Journey of a Jazz Pianist from Café Society to Hollywood to HUAC

April 21
Nichols Concert Hall at the Music Institute of Chicago in Evanston
1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston

Civitas Ensemble will be joined by CSO Principal Clarinet Stephen Williamson for this concert, which includes Brahms’ Clarinet Trio in A Minor, Op. 114 and Rabl’s Clarinet Quartet, Op. 1, and features the Midwest Premiere of Quartet for a New Tomorrow, written by composer James Stephenson and co-commissioned by Civitas Ensemble.

Make sure to stick around after the concert to chat with the performers and composer at the reception!