With the ever-popular Lollapalooza finished, the Ravinia Festival has started again in Illinois’ Highland Park.
This year Ravinia will have popular artists and orchestras, scheduled June 6 to September 10. Attending this year are Carrie Underwood, John Legend, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Buddy Guy, and around 50 other artists who will be making their debut.
The Ravinia president, Jeffrey P. Haydon, gave a statement of how they hope the festival will give a well-deserved spotlight to many female artists this season.
From shining a spotlight on women composers across multiple genres to bringing the best in pop, rock, jazz, and classical to our varied stages, Ravinia’s summer offerings reflect the wide-ranging musical tastes of Chicago and beyond.
Ravinia Line Up
As a Chicago tradition, Ravinia is a popularized not-for-profit music festival. Located within Highland Park, the event promotes itself as an annual summer residency for many acclaimed musical programs. Common for supporting classical music, Ravinia houses the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Steans Music Institute, and the Reach Teach Play music education program.
The park houses three venues, including an indoor music box, a pavilion, and the main Martin Theater. Ravinia also includes a surrounding lawn area where visitors can picnic while watching displays on the large video screen available for select sections.
More popular appearances at the festival include:
- From July 21 – 23, a multi-series of orchestra performances focusing on women in classical music will make its appearance, “Breaking Barriers.”
- Fourteenth Latin Grammy Winner Natalia Lafourcade on July 22.
- Composer and jazz orchestra leader Maria Schneider
- A semi-staged Mozart opera “The Magic Flute,” featuring Kathyrn Lewek, Tiffany Choe, Janai Brugger, Ashley Dixon, Taylor Raven, and many more.
- John Legend.
- Charlie Puth.
- Santana.
- Brandi Carlile.
The festival will also screen “Encanto” on August 27 and “Jurassic Park” on August 29. There will also be unique dance programs on June 15 and June 17 by the Ruth Page Civic Ballet & Friends. The Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project: “Metamorphosis” will also take place on September 7.
The Festival unfortunately has received a lower attendance in the past due to the pandemic. The exclusive tickets for entertainment, dining, and music are still attractive enough to draw back a massive attendance. Since 1904, while sporting a very different look Ravinia still attracted over 600,000 attendees every year.
Past Festival Worker, Check Forgery
In recent news of the festival, it’s not just music making headlines. In August 2023, a woman was charged for secretly pocketing over $100,000 from behind the scenes of the Ravina Festival.
While working for the festival, thirty-nine-year-old Michelle Bringham stole the money during her position as accounting coordinator for the Highland Park nonprofit. Pocketing money, Bringham cashed checks to fake vendors in order to steal money.
Now Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced the charges along with a possibility of up to 35 years in prison. Bringham could possibly be charged with three felony deception and forgery charges. In a statement after the announcement, Raoul thanked the authorities,
It is unacceptable for an employee to abuse their position as a fiscal officer to forge checks and steal from a nonprofit organization – I want to thank the FBI for its work investigating this case. My office is committed to collaborating with law enforcement partners to hold individuals who commit theft and forgery accountable.
Written by Brielle R. Buford
Sources:
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Ms. Lauryn Hill, Carrie Underwood, John Legend, Brandi Carlile among Ravinia’s 2023 lineup
ABC 7: Glenview accountant accused of stealing over $100K from Ravinia Festival by writing fake checks
CBS News: Former employee charged with stealing over $100K from Ravinia Festival Association
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Michael Lehet‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Meredith Bell‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
