Are you haunted by FOMO? We can cure your Fear of Missing Out. Join the Chicago Friends of Apollo’s Fire, and receive special invitations to delightful Soirées, house-concerts, receptions, and more!
Launched only three years ago, the Chicago Friends of AF have grown to over 100 under the dynamic leadership of Judy Bundra.
How do you become a Friend? It’s easy! Make a donation of $100 or more, and you’re in. Not only are you supporting the musicians, but also… the special invitations start coming your way.
This summer, the Friends enjoyed two delightful Soirées – intimate house-concerts with refreshments and a chance to mingle with the musicians and with your fellow arts-lovers.
On June 30, we packed 75 people into the large and gracious home of Doug Miller and Ellen Burke in Evanston. Doug and Ellen provided an amazing buffet of hors d’oeuvres and treats, while violinist Emi Tanabe and three other Chicago-based musicians of AF treated us to a stunning concert. See video below.
Our July 1 Soirée in downtown Chicago was attended by an astonishing 170 people. We were hosted by Elisa and Jonathan Ross in the beautiful atrium of Lake Point Tower at Navy Pier. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, here’s the sketch of the concert, drawn by an artist in the audience.
On August 15, many of the Friends gathered on the fabled lawn of RAVINIA before AF’s concert, “Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Rediscovered.” With Prosecco in hand, we enjoyed meetings Friends new and old.
A small gift: Have you picked up your Apollo’s Fire sunburst pin yet? It’s available at the ticketing table at upcoming concerts for members of the Chicago Friends. Pick yours up and wear it at the next concert so we’ll be able to thank you in person.
Don’t Miss Out! – another Soirée is coming in early October.
Become a Friend Now
Donate $100 or more to support Apollo’s Fire’s work in Chicago.
Three ways to donate:
By phone: call AF at 800.314.2535 x 1
By check: send your check to Apollo’s Fire, 3091 Mayfield Rd, Suite 217. Please indicate “AF Chicago” on the check.
Online: click on the button below, then choose “Chicago” from the drop-down menu.
Thank you for your support and for becoming part of AF’s Chicago family!
“When my child plays the violin, it speaks to my heart and soul, and reminds me that here in this great county, nothing is impossible.” – Mother of a student in the Side-by-Side program
It’s 11am on September 3. A tall, skinny young man carrying a violin case and a friendly fellow lugging a cello walk into Sauk Elementary School. A 10-yr-old child runs up to them and gives them a hug. “Hey Mr. Dylan, I missed you this summer!” “Hi Mr. Chad, that’s a cool new cello case!”
Soon the classroom is full of children excitedly unpacking their string instruments.
“Oh Mr. Dylan, look, I need a new E string!”
“Mr. Chad will you help me tune my cello?”
“Mr. Dylan, are we going to listen to Beethoven’s 5th today? That’s my favorite.”
These are the children of our SIDE BY SIDE String Program – a partnership between Matteson School District 162 and Apollo’s Fire. The program is starting its 4th year, now including over 70 students at 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and the renowned Southland College Prep Charter High School. And it’s a kind of miracle.
Have you ever been to Matteson?
“We are a proudly diverse community,” says Dr. Blondean Davis, the award-winning CEO and Superintendent of Matteson School District 162. “A hard-working community. The support from the parents is tremendous. And they are thrilled that their children can play in a string program. When our SIDE BY SIDE string students perform at our Winter and Spring concerts each year, the auditorium erupts in cheers and wild applause.”
Dr. Davis knows what she’s talking about. A nationally recognized educational leader, she was inducted into the Illinois Black Hall of Fame in 2022. She has been changing the lives of Illinois students for 5 decades. She is the founder of Southland College Prep Charter High School, the only charter high school to earn the state’s highest designation of “exemplary.” The school has a 100% college acceptance rate, and several of its alums are now at Ivy League schools – on full scholarships.
Dr. Davis wanted a string program. So, Apollo’s Fire gave her one. The SIDE BY SIDE program, designed by Jeannette Sorrell, is modeled on the famous youth orchestra of orphan girls led by composer Antonio Vivaldi in the 18th century. Apollo’s Fire teaching artists play side-by-side with the students, so the teachers and students become a kind of musical family. The repertoire, chosen by Jeannette and the teaching artists, is mainly baroque pieces and traditional/historical folk melodies from various world cultures, including African American spirituals.
Meet Haley, a viola student. [See video below, where Haley plays a stunning Bach duet with her teacher, the amazing Eric Gratz.] Despite huge challenges from the outside world, Haley was the valedictorian of her class at Southland. Now she is at Yale, on full scholarship. She loves playing Mozart in the university orchestra. But you will probably see her one day as an anchor person on the TV news. (That’s Jeannette’s prediction.)
You may recall our other high school students, who have appeared three times in “Prelude Performances” at Apollo’s Fire concerts in Chicago and Evanston. Last year, when they opened for the AF concert at the Art Institute, their professionalism was mentioned by the critic of Chicago Classical Review in his glowing review of the concert. But what the critic didn’t know was that two of the students practiced their instruments backstage straight through the dinner break before the concert.
“It was a crowded backstage scene,” says Jeannette. “There were Subway sandwiches everywhere. But Tyson and Shawn couldn’t be bothered with sandwiches. They had more important things to do – practicing a 17th-century fiddle tune called Bellamira.”
Our program also takes inspiration from the El Sistema method – the music-education program that has transformed the lives of hundreds of underprivileged children in Venezuela. Gustavo Dudamel, the renowned conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, got his start in El Sistema. He has said, “music saved my life…like food, like health care, like education, music must be a right for every citizen.”
The Apollo’s Fire team of Teaching Artists, hand-picked by Jeannette, are in Matteson 4-5 days per week. Eric Gratz, the team’s Senior Teaching Artist in Residence at Southland College Prep, is one of the finest young violinists in the United States. In 2013, at the age of 22, Gratz became the youngest Concertmaster in North America, accepting the post with the San Antonio Symphony.
When Eric arrived at Southland in spring of 2022, he quickly inspired and transformed the students. They listened to Eric play, and wanted to play like him. Now they bring passion and commitment to music such as Vivaldi’s Winter Concerto, a sinfonia by the esteemed Black composer Florence Price, a Japanese fantasia, and African American spirituals.
“When I recruited Eric to be our Senior Teaching Artist in Residence, I feared he might only stay for a year,” said Jeannette. “He’s a concert violinist with a national career. But he’s now been with us 2.5 years. That tells you how special these students are. And how special Dr. Davis’ leadership is.”
This string program costs over $100,000 per year. How is Matteson 162 paying for it? “With difficulty,” says Dr. Davis. “We are used to pulling off miracles. Not a penny is wasted. But how can this program continue after this year? I ask myself this every night. We urgently need donations from the arts-loving community.”
If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the SIDE BY SIDE program, please click the DONATE button below, and choose “Side by Side Strings/Matteson” from the drop-down menu on the PayPal screen. 100% of your donation will go to this program.
Thank you for believing in us. We can’t wait for you to hear our students this year!
Apollo’s Fire is thrilled to bring world-class concerts to your doorstep in an expanding array of venues in Greater Chicago. This season we have three beautiful new concert venues – two in downtown Chicago and one in Winnetka. In addition, our free Family Concerts will take place downtown at the Chicago Children’s Museum and in Hyde Park at the University of Chicago’s Logan Center.
Downtown, join us at St. James Cathedral and the Murphy Auditorium of the Driehaus Museum – both in the Cathedral District of the Magnificent Mile neighborhood. In addition to architectural beauty and acoustical excellence, they both boast several paid parking garages nearby and a wide range of restaurants within easy walking distance.
St. James Episcopal Cathedral is a serene oasis downtown. With its front doors on North Wabash, just around the corner from its official address of 65 East Huron, St. James is well known in Chicago as the home of the long-running summer Rush Hour Concert Series heard on WFMT. With ringing acoustics and seating for 400, the sanctuary’s vaulted ceiling provides an inspiring concert venue for our period-instrument music. St. James will be the site of our Brandenburg Concertos program in October, our dramatic version of Handel’s Messiah in December, and Bach’s magnificent B Minor Mass in April.
On that same block of Wabash is the Driehaus Museum – the well-known, sumptuously restored Gilded Age mansion and art gallery. But less well known is the tall, columned temple is that sits right next to the Driehaus Museum on East Erie Street. This imposing building, the Murphy Auditorium, was recently acquired by the Driehaus Museum and has been renovated into a stunning venue with beautiful acoustics for baroque music. From the bronze front doors produced by Tiffany Studios, to the rich wood paneling throughout, to the large stained glass windows and the excellent sight lines, this intimate 400-seat venue seems to be perfect for our ensemble.
Join us at the Driehaus on February 14 for a special Valentine’s Day concert (and date night!). Concert tickets include Prosecco and sweet treats that can be enjoyed before, after, and even during the concert! [MORE INFO]
Our North Shore series expands to Winnetka this year, with a performance of Handel’s Messiah at the beautiful Saints Faith, Hope & Charity Church. Enjoy the heavenly acoustics!
“Jeannette Sorrell proves that scholarship and fun aren’t mutually exclusive.” –THE CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER
For over 20 years, Apollo’s Fire has introduced children to the joys of baroque, classical, and traditional folk music of distant lands – through our free Family Concerts and free in-school workshops. We are now thrilled to bring some of this programming to Chicago.
Bring your kids and grandkids to FIDDLE FIESTA! – Music from Spain and Beyond. Concertmaster Alan Choo, harpist-soprano Anna O’Connell, and cellist René Schiffer join with two of our Chicago-based musicians: Young Artist Fellow Hanna Bingham (violin) and percussionist Brandon Bott. These delightful Family Concerts are interactive programs for “ages 6 to 96.”
FIDDLE FIESTA performances:
Saturday, October 5, 2:00pm – Logan Center for the Arts, Univ. of Chicago, HYDE PARK
Sunday, October 6, 1:00pm – CHICAGO Children’s Museum on Navy Pier
WARNING: Audience members might learn to sing a fugue theme, dance the Menuet, or play a ground bass at the harpsichord! AF Family Concerts spark learners of all ages with an abundance of impromptu quizzes and prizes, along with opportunities to talk with the musicians and try playing the instruments. For over 20 years, Apollo’s Fire has performed popular Family Concerts in family-friendly venues, including local museums and libraries. AF’s famous “Instrument Petting Zoo” ends each program when the audience swarms the stage to try the instruments. Delightfully noisy!
On October 4, 7 and 8, Apollo’s Fire brings its delightful SCHOOL WORKSHOPS to eight public schools in Greater Chicago and the south-side suburb of Matteson. Last year in Ohio, Apollo’s Fire musicians touched the lives of over 3,000 students.
“It was wonderful for the students to see music from other cultures. Our current unit focuses on immigration and traditions from other cultures, so the tie-in to our instruction right now is perfect!” – Teacher, Bath Elementary, Ohio
We also did our first Chicago workshop last March, at St. Procopius Dual Language School.
“Today was a musical journey like no other… It was an absolute honor to host such a prestigious ensemble. Thank you, Apollo’s Fire, for sharing your talent and passion with us.” – Teacher, St Procopius School, Chicago
We’ve been constantly inspired by meeting so many enthusiastic young musicians and music-lovers. We can’t wait to see lots of young Chicagoans in October!
Each issue of FIREworks! features a profile of members of our generous Chicago community. We are grateful for your support – thank you!
“Smitten” – how Jim and Rita Sheinin fell in love with Apollo’s Fire
Jim and Rita Sheinin are beloved members of our Apollo’s Fire Chicago family. As founding supporters of AF in Chicago, they have been instrumental in making the first three years a resounding success – both by providing generous financial support and “spreading the fire” in the community. They have hosted several house concerts and introduced many friends and acquaintances to Apollo’s Fire.
Jim is a retired endocrinologist, a lifelong music lover, and a founding member of AF’s Chicago Board of Directors. He previously served on the Junior Governing Board of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Board of the Chicago Chamber Musicians, and he has been a Governing Member of the CSO for the last 11 years. He has co-coordinated music study groups at the Northwestern Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, including such subjects as Chamber Music Masterpieces for Larger Ensembles, Jewish Composers for the Last 100 Years, What Makes Mozart Great?, Stephen Sondheim, Gustav Mahler and Cole Porter.
Jim and Rita have attended hundreds of concerts, including some of the finest orchestras of Europe. They have been subscribers to the Chicago Symphony for over 50 years and have attended numerous chamber concerts, recitals, operas and ballets as well.
Rita has also been involved with the CSO, serving on the Women’s Board and as a docent. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has brought programs to the senior residence where she and Jim live, using music to provide cognitive stimulation, particularly for those with memory loss.
We asked Jim and Rita to tell us what they love about Apollo’s Fire and why.
–
How did you come across Apollo’s Fire and what caught your attention?
Jim: “I made presentations in study groups on Renaissance and Baroque Spain and Italy. Through that, I first encountered Apollo’s Fire on YouTube and CDs. When I heard that they were going to be giving a program at Northwestern in March 2020 (this was O Jerusalem!), I attended. And I was smitten.”
What is distinctive and special about Apollo’s Fire?
Rita: “It all starts with Jeannette… She is the heartbeat and creative center of AF. She creates programs reflecting the Baroque and other periods in their cultural/historical context in addition to known classics. AF plays with enthusiasm and, yes, passion.”
Jim: “AF has garnered national and international acclaim, not only as performers of major works from the Baroque and Classical repertoire, but also as creators and performers of unique multicultural programs. Their musicianship is remarkable and their exuberance is infectious. They are a joy to watch as well as to hear.”
What do you think Apollo’s Fire can add to the already thriving Chicago area music scene?
Rita: “They offer a new and fresh take on old but wonderful music, especially in crossover programs.”
Jim: “There is simply nothing like AF in the Chicago area. We look forward to AF further expanding its Chicago area presence.”
Apollo’s Fire’s principal violinist Emi Tanabe is a familiar and much-loved face in both our baroque and crossover programs. Born in Japan and now based in Chicago, Emi is a master of many styles, from klezmer to classical. She performs regularly with a variety of ensembles in the area, including Celtic, jazz, and rock groups, in addition to period-instrument orchestras like Apollo’s Fire. Her fluency in many styles has made her an in-demand artist, noted for her “brilliant improvisations” (The Boston Musical Intelligencer) and her energy, which beams from the stage. She’s enthusiastically helping us bring the “fire” to her hometown of Chicago.
We recently sat down with Emi to learn a little more about her. Enjoy these 5 responses to 5 questions!
–
Question: How long have you been playing the violin? How long have you been playing with Apollo’s Fire and what initially drew you to this group?
Emi: I have been playing the violin for 40 years and I have been with Apollo’s Fire for 20 years. I studied Baroque violin with Apollo’s Fire’s former concertmaster, Cynthia Roberts. She recommended me to Jeannette to play with one of the Apollo’s Fire projects when she needed an extra violin – and that’s when it started!
Question: What has been one of your most memorable Apollo’s Fire performances, and why does it stand out to you?
Emi: That would be our performance at Carnegie Hall in 2022, because it had been my dream to perform there since I was a little girl. Also, at that particular performance, I felt that we, the musicians, became one with the audience, the space, and the sounds we created.
I often feel blessed to play with Apollo’s Fire since we have such amazing teamwork. At this concert, I felt that even more strongly – we created something magical.
Question: What challenges do you face when interpreting and performing Baroque music, and how do you overcome them?
Emi: Before I started to play with a Baroque ensemble, I focused on the individual notes of a melody, and since I’m a violinist, I mostly play melodies. But with a Baroque ensemble, so much importance is put on the phrasings and vertical aspects of the music, like the chords and the depth of the music. That really changed my view of music and my concept of intonation. It’s still a challenge, but I enjoy broadening my horizons in music so much.
Question: When you’re not playing music, what are some of your favorite ways to spend your time?
Emi: I am a hot yoga addict! I also love swimming, exploring great food, going to Jazz Jam session (I know; it’s still music!) to play and meet people with various musical backgrounds.
Question: Looking ahead, are there any upcoming projects or performances with Apollo’s Fire that you are particularly excited about?
Emi: It is hard to say which ones I am MOST excited about. But I love the variety of our music: from Bach to Purcell to Irish fiddling. For every project, I need to have a different mind set. It can be challenging, but I love the challenge!