Grant Park Music Fest: a symphony under the stars.

Founded in 1934 as a way to uplift spirits of Chicagoans during the Great Depression, The Grant Park Music Festival continues the tradition this summer, celebrating its 75th season with special programming.

Originally known as The Grant Park Symphony, the festival is one of the few  free outdoor programs maintaining its own symphony orchestra and chorus. From its humble beginnings on the grassy lakefront lawn of Grant Park, the orchestra and its 162-member chorus now perform at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.

Designed by world renowned architect Frank Gehry, the pavilion offers a state-of-the-art sound system beneath Gehry’s swirling stainless steel structure with the city skyline as its backdrop.

An evening with the symphony is one of the highlights of summer in Chicago. Patrons can choose pavilion or lawn seating — perfect for picnicking under the stars. In celebration of its gala 75th season from June through Aug. 15,  special programming includes guest conductors and musicians as well as a commemorative concert of the symphony’s original 1935 debut with works by Wagner, Liszt and Strauss.

The Grant Park Symphony hopes to launch a new 4th of July tradition with an Independence Day concert. Starting at 1:30 p.m., the orchestra performs traditional and patriotic favorites along with an expansive American canon.

This Grant Park series offers music lovers the opportunity to bask in their favorite pastime with perfect seating and no concert-hall admission prices. Concerts are held on Wednesday and Friday at 6:30 p.m. and on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

The Jay Pritzker Pavilion is located between Michigan and Columbus Avenues at Washington Street. For more information and schedules, call the Grant Park Music Festival, 312 742 7638 or click here. 

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