Birch Creek Music Performance Center
Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative
Birch Creek Music Performance Center is an elite summer music academy located in the heart of Door County Wisconsin. Students, ages 13-19, attend from up to 15 states and from other countries. Our faculty are professional musicians, many of whom teach and perform at some of the most prestigious music schools in the country. Together, our students and faculty present over 30 concerts in the historic Dutton Barn and over 30 outreach concerts during our academy season. We offer four, two-week sessions in Percussion & Steel Band, Symphony and two sessions of Big Band Jazz.
In the short-term, the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative (CMPI) aims to build a robust Chicago-area training pathway for talented student musicians from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.
Over the long-term, the goal of CMPI is to increase diversity in America’s professional, musical landscape, and particularly in its orchestras, promoting equity, vibrancy, and sustainability within those organizations and the extraordinary art form they celebrate.
Music Institute of Chicago
The Community Music School at MIC is one of the nation’s largest and finest community music schools. No matter your age or level of experience, MIC can help you learn music. Led by a world-class faculty, MIC provides music education to people of all ages and abilities across inner-city sites, satellite locations in Chicago, Downers Grove, and Lincolnshire, and campuses in Evanston (2), Winnetka, and Lake Forest.
Elgin Youth Symphony
In addition to being in a large ensemble, each EYSO student has the opportunity to participate in a chamber ensemble. This essential part of a young musicians development helps to teach skills that improve both soloist and ensemble playing. Playing chamber music sharpens skills and provides invaluable musicianship training. The Honors Chamber Institute Honors Ensembles offer an unparalleled opportunity for advanced musicians to play chamber music at the highest level and work with some of the finest artist-educators and chamber music coaches in the nation. As premier ensembles and ambassadors of the EYSO, they maintain an active and high-profile performing schedule.