Continue reading for more information about these events, or click on a photo to access RSVP forms or ticket links!

February 2025 featured more opportunities for OC members to connect and enjoy outstanding performances in Orchestra Hall through the Civic Orchestra of Chicago concert and preconcert happy hour on February 10, as well as the first Concert Highlight of the 2025 calendar year on February 27. 

February 19 marked the return of the annual Member Salon. Hosted in collaboration with the Lyric Young Professionals (LYP), 16 OC and LYP members performed for a packed Grainger Ballroom. This marks the largest LYP and OC Member Salon participation in the history of this event! The night opened with performances centered around classic repertoire. After intermission, the recital continued with more modern pieces and even some original compositions! For more information on the program and performers, view the virtual program and program notes.

Member Salon attendees enjoyed a happy hour at The Exchange and refreshments in Grainger Ballroom while connecting with their fellow LYP and OC members. Thank you to all who attended and created a supportive environment for the performers! We hope to continue this tradition in the coming seasons.

Do you remember the first time that a CSO concert gave you the chills? Or how you found a group of people who share your passion for music through your Overture Council membership? Do you have big ideas to help the Overture Council grow and expand its reach? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, we want to hear from you!

We are excited to announce that nominations are now open for the following Executive Committee positions:

• Internal Relations Chair
• Membership Chair
• Member at Large
• Social Media Chair
• Soundpost Chair

How to nominate:

All Overture Council members are welcome to nominate themselves or other members for any of these Executive Committee positions. Please submit all nominations via email to OvertureCouncil@cso.org. Please include a brief blurb about the individual you are nominating or why you are interested in joining the Executive Committee. Interviews with the Nominating Committee will be scheduled for May and early June. All interviews will be conducted via Zoom.

OC Ticket Offers

Overture Council members have access to specially priced tickets for $40 or less to select concerts throughout the season. Here are the steps to take advantage of this perk.  

Don’t forget Overture Council members have access to specially priced tickets for $40 or less to select concerts throughout the season. Here are the steps to take advantage of this perk.  

• Step 1: Visit the calendar listing for performances that have the OC ticket offer available. (OC tickets usually become available 1-4 weeks ahead of the concert date with newly eligible concerts typically added on Thursday afternoons.)
• Step 2: Choose your preferred concert. All seats available with this special offer will appear on the seat map. Select your seats and add to your order.
• Step 3: Proceed through the checkout process. Tickets will be delivered by email so you can add them to your mobile wallet, unless you select another delivery method.
• Step 4: Attend the concert!

Civic Concert & CSO Volunteer Meet-up
Prieto Conducts Shostakovich 7
Sunday, April 6

Preconcert Happy Hour: starting at 5:30 p.m.

Before each Civic performance, members meet up to socialize and network near Symphony Center. Join us at the Palmer House lobby bar for an informal happy hour. This gathering is also part of one of the CSO’s Volunteer Meet-up Days. Don't miss this opportunity to mingle with members of all the CSO’s volunteer and donor organizations! 

*Food and drinks are not provided.

Concert: 7:00 p.m.

The CSOA holds a block of 20 tickets for Overture Council members at all Civic Orchestra performances held at Symphony Center. Civic Orchestra performances are free for OC members to attend but require a reservation. Our OC block guarantees you a seat and allows you to sit near fellow members! Tickets are first-come, first-served. 

An Evening at the Ballet
with the AAN, the League and Generation J
Friday, April 11

There’s nothing quite like the magic that happens when the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and The Joffrey Ballet share the stage — and this spring is no exception!

To celebrate this special collaboration, we’re thrilled to invite you to an exciting evening of events surrounding the performance on Friday, April 11. We’ve put together a packed schedule just for you — see below for all the details!

Event Schedule

5:30 PM — Preconcert Performance: Through His Spirit
Grainger Ballroom

Join the African American Network and the League for the preconcert performance of Through His Spirit, a chamber opera by Renée Baker, which celebrates the musical legacy of Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson in a showcase of talent and virtuosity by musicians from the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and Chicago Modern Orchestra Project.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the event starts at 6:00 p.m. in Grainger Ballroom. Please note that while this event is free, a ticket must be reserved for admittance.

7:30 PM — Concert: CSO x The Joffrey Ballet

8:00 PM — Intermission Toast
Grainger Ballroom

9:30 PM — Postconcert Gathering with Generation J
Industry Ales (230 S. Wabash Ave.)
*Food and drinks are not provided

As an added perk, OC members can access specially priced tickets for this performance. Save 30% when you use promo code YPTICKETS at checkout. Make sure you’re signed into your OC-linked account, enter the promo code before selecting your seats, and watch your savings apply once your seats are added to your order.

OC Luxe Exclusive: Backstage Tour
Wednesday, April 16

Ever been curious what mysteries Symphony Center holds? Save the date of Wednesday, April 16 for our OC Luxe backstage tour! This special tour will include: 

• An opportunity to stand on Armour Stage
• A ride on the piano lift
• Stories of the rich history of Orchestra Hall and the CSO
• A rare peek into the musicians’ rehearsal spaces

We will also finish the tour with a champagne toast on stage as we take in the breathtaking view of the hall from a musician’s point of view! 

This event is exclusive to members on the Luxe tier of the Overture Council. If you would like to partake in the backstage tour, join OC Luxe.

Fun fact: The CSO originally performed at the Auditorium Theatre, before moving into the Chicago Symphony Center in 1904. The first CSO performance in Orchestra Hall was December 14, 1904. Learn more about the history of Orchestra Hall here.

Space is limited for this event. Please RSVP by clicking the button above or sending an email to forssanderj@cso.org.

Overture Council Exclusive:
Postconcert Reception with Klaus Mäkelä
Friday, April 25, 2025

As part of our 15th anniversary celebrations, we’re thrilled to invite you to a truly special evening on Friday, April 25. After the performance of Mäkelä Conducts Mahler 3, OC members will have the rare opportunity to attend an exclusive postconcert reception with Klaus Mäkelä, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Zell Music Director Designate.

This marks the Overture Council’s first introduction to Mäkelä, a dynamic 29-year-old conductor who is set to make history as the youngest music director of the CSO. It’s an unforgettable chance to connect with the future of the CSO in an intimate setting — don’t miss it!

Secure your concert tickets today and RSVP to be part of this celebratory evening. As a bonus, OC members can access specially priced tickets to this performance. Use promo code 15YEARS to save 30%. Enter the promo code before selecting your seats, and your pricing will be adjusted after the seats have been added to your order and you've logged in to your account. 

This event is exclusively for Overture Council members and one guest. You must have an active membership for the 2024/25 Season to participate. 

Event Schedule

5:30 p.m. — Happy Hour at The Exchange
(224 S. Michigan Ave.)
*Food and drink not provided

7:30 p.m. — Mäkelä Conducts Mahler 3

9:00 p.m. — Reception

Looking to take your membership to the max? Join a committee!
Most committee business takes place on Slack, so be sure to check there for up-to-date committee happenings.

Communication: Ben Bauer
Social Media: Allison LeClere
Member at Large: Abigail Saunders
Next Joint Meeting: Monday, April 7 at 6:00 p.m.
Virtual: Join on Teams

Core Member Activities: Suet Lee
External Relations: Geetha Somayajula
Membership: Dan Bohlmann
Next joint meeting: Wednesday, April 9 at 6:00 p.m.
Hybrid: 220 S. Michigan Ave. or join on Teams

Stay up to date on all Overture Council events and happenings by visiting our social media pages or following the complete season calendar. Have an idea for our next Clef Notes? Submit it here!