Chicago Classical Music (CCM) is an online community for classical music enthusiasts. Membership is free and open to anyone with an interest in classical music.
Founded by nine classical music organizations, CCM launched in March 2006 as a six-month pilot program under the auspices of the Arts & Business Council of Chicago, with start-up funding in part from The Boeing Company. Promotional assistance is generously provided by The Silverman Group.
CCM currently has 14 member organizations and remains dedicated to interacting with people who share our interest and passion for classical music. We encourage your participation!
Here's a list of frequently asked questions:
Who's behind Chicago Classical Music?
What can I do here?
Do I need to login?
What should I discuss in the forums?
How do I swap or find tickets?
How do I submit my own articles or reviews?
How do I learn about upcoming events and performances?
How do I participate in online chats?
Can my organization add items to the calendar/become a sponsor group?
What's a blog?
What's RSS?
How do I sign up for Chicago Classical Music RSS feeds?
What is the privacy policy?
Whom do I contact for further assistance, or if I have a suggestion?
Who's behind Chicago Classical Music?
Nine of the region's most engaging orchestras, choruses and chamber music groups, plus a recording foundation and one radio station, oversee Chicago Classical Music and contribute to the daily blog:
Chicago a cappella
Chicago a cappella has become known as one of the area's most accomplished and innovative classical vocal ensembles. Spanning a repertoire from Gregorian chant to the Beatles, the group has performed over 100 concerts in the Chicago area as well as tour appearances in 11 states and in Mexico since their debut concerts in 1993. The ensemble has released six CDs, which have received rave reviews nationally. Each singer brings to the stage both the consummate artistry of a talented choral musician and the sparkling personality of an accomplished solo artist. Chicago a cappella performs a series of four unique concert programs each season, with performances in Chicago, Evanston and Oak Park, and Naperville.
Cedille Records
Cedille Records is the label of The Chicago Classical Recording Foundation, a publicly-supported, not-for-profit organization devoted to promoting the finest musicians, ensembles, and composers in the Chicago area through the production of audiophile-quality recordings on the Cedille Records label.The recordings and their promotion are designed to stimulate interest in these performers and composers and bring their artistry to a wider audience. Cedille (pronounced "say-DEE") is also dedicated to promoting interest in neglected areas of the classical repertory by presenting masterpieces that have been overlooked by other recording companies. As of June 2006, Cedille's catalog contained 90 original recordings featuring superb Chicago artists and uncommon classical repertory.
The Chicago Chamber Musicians
Lauded as "the city's flagship chamber music organization" (Chicago Tribune), The Chicago Chamber Musicians has built a reputation as a national leader in providing the highest quality programs in artistic development, concert performance and education. With its resident ensemble comprising piano, string, wind and brass artists, CCM annually reaches thousands of individuals through an extraordinary range of programs that include: a critically-acclaimed subscription series; the award-winning Composer Perspectives series of contemporary chamber music; annual Family Concerts; radio broadcasts and touring engagements; plus extensive outreach and education in the Chicago community.
Chicago Opera Theater
Chicago Opera Theater’s mission is to provide first class productions of small to middle scale opera repertoire in the Chicago area, develop young artists, expand and diversify its audience, be one of the best mid-sized opera companies in the country and be an integral part of Chicago’s cultural landscape. Founded in 1974 by Alan Stone, Chicago Opera Theater has since carved a significant place for itself in the operatic life of Chicago and reached an audience of hundreds of thousands through its main stage performances, outreach, education and young artists programs. Under Brian Dickie's leadership, COT has evolved as an opera company that is young, fresh, and colorful - an image well suited to its surroundings at the new Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park.
Chicago Philharmonic
Proud of its heritage as the former Symphony II, founded in 1991, the Chicago Philharmonic orchestra carries on the tradition and mission, now entering its 17th consecutive season (2006-07) at N.U.'s Pick-Staiger Hall, in Evanston. This is the same orchestra that repeatedly won accolades from music critics and audiences, and was named by the Illinois Council of Orchestras as "Orchestra of the Year" for 2001 - 02.
Chicago Sinfonietta
The Chicago Sinfonietta is Chicago's premier mid-sized professional orchestra dedicated to Musical Excellence through Diversity. Through its performances and community programs, the Sinfonietta fosters the talents of emerging and established soloists, composers and musicians of color as it creates new, more inclusive audiences for symphonic music.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1891, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is consistently hailed as one of the greatest orchestras in the world. In collaboration with the best conductors and guest artists from around the globe, the CSO performs well over 100 concerts each year at its downtown home, Symphony Center and at the Ravinia Festival on Chicago’s North Shore, where it is in residence each summer. The CSO’s comprehensive education and community programs engage more than 75,000 Chicago-area residents annually. Music lovers outside of Chicago enjoy the sounds of the CSO through best-selling recordings and frequent sold-out tour performances in the United States and abroad. Recordings by the CSO have been awarded 58 Grammy Awards, more than any other orchestra in the world.
Fulcrum Point New Music Project
Fulcrum Point New Music Project is where popular culture collides with classical music and sparks fly. And it's where where the brash energy and innovation of today’s popular and world cultures propel classical music forward to create new directions for sound, music, composition, and performance. Audiences and critics alike rave about this “barrier-busting” new music ensemble.
Grant Park Music Festival
Acclaimed by critics and beloved by audiences, the Grant Park Music Festival is the nation’s only remaining free, outdoor summer classical music series. Founded by the Chicago Park District in 1935 and co-presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs since 2001, the Grant Park Music Festival will present 32 concerts between June and August 2006. Most Grant Park Music Festival performances are held in the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, located between Michigan and Columbus Avenues, at Washington Street.
Light Opera Works
Light Opera Works is a resident professional not-for-profit music theater in Evanston, Illinois, founded in 1980. The company's mission is to produce musical theater from a variety of world traditions. In its 26 seasons, Light Opera Works has presented 83 Mainstage productions at the 1,000-seat Cahn Auditorium and on it's 250 seat Second Stage. The company produces operettas from around the world, and classic American, as well as new works. In addition, Light Opera Works offers innovative productions of crossover works. The company produces operettas, classic American Musicals, contemporary pieces and harder to define cross-over works of music theater.
Music of the Baroque
Sixty of the Chicago area's finest professional musicians make up the chorus and orchestra of Music of the Baroque. Many have played and sung for years with the ensemble. The opportunity to perform early repertoire at a very high artistic level with fellow fine musicians keeps ensemble members coming back concert after concert. Currently presenting its 35th concert season, Music of the Baroque will perform 16 concerts of seven different programs at Harris Theater in Millennium Park and neighborhood churches. Acclaimed conductor Jane Glover was named Music Director in September 2002; Nicholas Kraemer is the ensemble’s Principal Guest Conductor.
Ravinia Festival
Founded in 1904, the non-profit Ravinia Festival is the oldest outdoor music festival in North America and is lauded for presenting world-class music. The festival attracts about 600,000 listeners to more than 120 events that span all genres from classical music to jazz to music theater over each three-month summer season. The Festival's outreach and education efforts provide relevant programs in schools, communities and at the Festival. We educate, expand cultural options, and encourage involvement from audiences who would not otherwise experience the infinite variety of music offered at Ravinia.
Rembrandt Chamber Players
Founded in the fall of 1990, the Rembrandt Chamber Players (RCP) is composed of seven of the finest musicians in the Chicago area including members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Music of the Baroque. The ensemble successfully maintains an unusually wide repertoire, performing Baroque music in a historically informed manor to 21st century compositions with eclectic instrumentations. RCP has, since its inception, actively commissioned twelve works by renowned composers from the Chicago area and beyond.To perpetuate chamber music as a living art form, Rembrandt Chamber Players encourages young artists and new composers.
WFMT
WFMT made its debut on Chicago's airwaves in December of 1951, and has since remained dedicated to presenting the best classical music and fine arts programming to the widest possible audience, devoting enormous resources to live and taped presentations by performing artists. The station’s reach extends well beyond Chicago's borders via the WFMT Radio Network and its Beethoven and Jazz Satellite Networks, over which the station broadcasts major symphony concerts, grand opera, drama, mainstream jazz, and folk music to over 650 outlets in the U.S. and around the world. Whether heard locally, nationally, or internationally though cable and syndicated programming, WFMT is a cultural resource that continues to become more vibrant every day.
What can I do here?
• All users can post in the forums, where in addition to discussing performances, reviews and arts issues, readers can swap tickets, sell instruments, and meet up with other concert-goers and musicians.
• Read and comment on the daily blog written by staff members of CCM's sponsor organizations. Take part in conversations about performances and arts issues, and discuss what goes on behind the scenes at Chicago-area classical music organizations. Post your comments or respond to comments from other readers simply by clicking on the comments link at the end of each post.
• Check the calendar for upcoming Chicago-area performances and events.
* To take advantage of more features, create a FREE personal account. Membership benefits include:
• Add a public profile page with contact information, the name of your music group/organization, and classical music "favorites." View all member profiles here.
• Submit your own reviews, articles and essays. Want to review a local performance or discuss the future of classical music? Sign up and make your voice heard!
• Take part in online chats with other members and with special guests, including visiting conductors and performers like Yo-Yo Ma and Thomas Hampson.
• Edit or update your own forum posts and add a personalized signature to all comments or posts.
Sign up now to become a CCM member. It only takes a moment to register, and it's free! Once you register, you'll receive an automatic password via e-mail. Login with your new password, and click "my account" to change password settings and create your personal profile. Update your profile and user preferences at any time, and manage subscriptions to e-mail newsletters from any or all of CCM's participating organizations.
Do I need to login?
If you're a registered member, you will need to login to access the member only features described above.
Once you're logged in, the "create content" link will reveal more options, such as submitting articles and images.
What should I discuss in the forums?
The forums are open to:
• Publicize upcoming concerts and events in the Chicagoland area.
• Discuss music, including performances, listening suggestions, media reviews and arts issues.
• Connect with other users for ticket swaps, rideshares, selling/trading instruments, playing music.
• Inquire about places to eat before a show, travel arrangements and venues.
• Advertise openings for docents and volunteers.
Please read our forum guidelines to learn more about the responsibilities of participation.
How do I swap or find tickets?
If you have tickets to a concert you can't attend, or if you're looking for an extra seat, you can use the forum's classifieds section to connect with other concert-goers.
This is a private exchange between users, and Chicago Classical Music is not responsible for ticket transactions.
How do I submit articles and reviews?
To submit classical music related reviews and articles, you first have to create an account.
Once you register and you're logged in, click "create content," followed by "story." Easy step-by-step directions are included on the submission page. The writers guidelines explain the process in detail.
How do I learn about upcoming events and performances?
Check the calendar for performances presented by Chicago Classical Music's member organizations. Also check the forum for upcoming events and performances submitted by other groups and CCM users.
How do I participate in online chats?
Registered members can chat with other members at any time and participate in scheduled chats with special guest. Just click "chat" under the navigation in the right-side column, followed by "join the chatbox," and start typing.
Can my organization add items to the calendar/become a sponsor group?
Sponsorship is currently limited to the nine organizations listed above, though participation will be re-evaluated at the conclusion of the pilot in August 2006.
Only the sponsor groups can add items to the calendar and post blog entries, but there are many other ways to promote your organization and interact with CCM readers, particularly if you become a member.
Take advantage of the forum's "upcoming performances & events" section to promote concerts and ticket availability. You can also advertise for docents or volunteers, suggest nearby restaurants, facilitate meet-ups and take part in conversations about music and the arts.
We hope you enjoy participating in all that CCM has to offer. Please let us know about your experience and interest in becoming a partner in the site.
What's a blog?
A blog (short for weblog) is an online journal that is frequently updated. Entries are almost always posted in chronological order, with the most recent entry featured at the top of the page. Updating a blog is called "blogging" and a person who writes for a blog is a "blogger." For more on the history and different types of blogs, visit Wikipedia.
Backstage, the CCM group blog, is co-authored by the member groups. All of the writers share a love of classical music and a desire to share their enthusiasm and knowledge with others. Visitors are encouraged to add comments, ask questions and engage in dialogue with authors and other readers.
You can read more about the authors and their music backgrounds on the bloggers' bio page, which also features links to each author's individual blog.
What's RSS?
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a nifty way to distribute and receive content. When you subscribe to a website's RSS feed, new information is sent to you directly.
To get started, you'll need a RSS reader. Depending on your preference, you could sign up for a web-based program or download a separate program to your computer. Click here for a comprehensive list of RSS readers divided by platform (Windows, Mac, Linux/Unix, e-mail, etc.).
For more on what RSS does and how it works, visit Wikipedia. Continue reading below to learn more about CCM's RSS feeds.
How do I sign up for Chicago Classical Music RSS feeds?
Once you're up and running with a RSS reader (see above), you can add Chicago Classical Music RSS feeds to receive the latest blog entries and forum posts. Just look for the orange XML box on this website or select from the list below. Chicago Classical Music currently uses RSS 2.0.
Available RSS Feeds
All content promoted to the homepage | RSS
(includes blog posts, articles, reviews and interviews)
Blogs
Backstage (all blog posts) | RSS
Follow your favorite bloggers through their individual RSS feeds
Adriana Avila | RSS
Brian Dickie | RSS
Charlie Grode | RSS
Jim Hirsch | RSS
Amy Iwano | RSS
Jim Palermo | RSS
Michael Pastreich | RSS
John Ryan | RSS
Forums
Music
Upcoming Performances & Events | RSS
About Last Night | RSS
Listen Up | RSS
General Discussion | RSS
Classifieds
I Have Tickets | RSS
I Need Tickets | RSS
Instruments & Music | RSS
Classic Match
Backstage | RSS
Musicians | RSS
Rideshares & Meet-Ups | RSS
Miscellaneous
Restaurant Suggestions | RSS
What is the privacy policy?
Chicago Classical Music is committed to protecting your privacy. CCM will not disclose, sell or transfer your personal information to a third party.
The user name and e-mail address submitted during the free registration and/or newsletter subscription process will not be used for any purpose other than that for which it was collected: confirming registration details, password retrieval and newsletter distribution. You will not receive e-mail from CCM or its sponsor organizations without your prior approval.
If you choose to provide optional information during registration such as your age and zip code, this confidential data will be used solely by CCM to gauge the general demographics of its users.
Registered users may choose to create online profiles identifying their music affiliations and classical music favorites. CCM does not store this data for any purpose other than facilitating the online community.
CCM does collect some technical, non-personal information, such as IP addresses, the type of browser and operating system used by visitors and data identifying which pages are among the most visited. Aggregated non-personal information is used to assist with evaluating and improving the site's functionality and content.
CCM links to many websites created and maintained by other organizations. These links are provided for our users’ information and convenience. CCM is not responsible for the content or privacy and security policies of outside websites.
Whom do I contact for further assistance, or if I have a suggestion?
Please use the contact form to reach the site administrator. We welcome your comments and suggestions.
