Listening to the Music

Almost every night of the quarter there is some kind of public musical performance at Chicago, ranging from a student playing classical guitar at a coffeehouse in Hallowed Grounds to an all-out heart-thumping concert in Mandel Hall.

For a quarterly concert calendar listing all student and professional performances sponsored by the Department of Music, sign up in the Events section of music.uchicago.edu or call 2-8069. For news of other concerts, keep your eyes peeled (see Class Events sidelight, "Tips on keeping up with campus events").

MAB events

Each quarter there are one or two big concerts featuring name bands and comedians (recent acts: Elvis Costello, Jurassic 5, Indigo Girls, Billy Joel, Eminem, Margaret Cho, and  Bob Saget). The Major Activities Board (MAB), which sponsors these events, welcomes suggestions. Its volunteers help with ushering, publicity, and setup.

To volunteer or to make a programming suggestion, call MAB at 2-9729, or go online to http://mab1.uchicago.edu.

Folk Festival

This weekend of folk music and workshops began 45 years ago. Artists give workshops in Ida Noyes and perform in Mandel the first weekend in February.

Performance ensembles

Department of Music
Address: Goodspeed, Room 309
Phone: 2-8484

The Department of Music hosts the Pacifica Quartet, eighth blackbird, and the Newberry Consort as artists-in-residence and sponsors the following performance organizations, which present more than 90 concerts each year:

Membership is open to qualified students, faculty, and staff, as well as community members. Main auditions are held during Orientation Week at the beginning of school year. Through the Department of Music, stipends are available to help defray the cost of private music lessons. Stipends are offered through competitive auditions to students participating in the department's performance ensembles.

For audition information and a quarterly calendar that lists the concerts (many of which are free!), please stop by the Music Department Office, Goodspeed 309, or consult the department's Web site at music.uchicago.edu.

Student-run performance groups

Several student organizations perform on campus. A cappella groups, for example, include Chicago Rhythm and Jews, Men in Drag, and Soul Umoja. Student musicians and bands perform in the C-Shop and Hallowed Grounds.

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