I look forward to Tuesday nights above all others. Those are rehearsal nights at Lakeview Orchestra, the community ensemble I joined shortly after graduating from college in 2018. Lakeview introduced me to some of my very closest friends and allows me to keep a foot in the genre which made me fall in love with classical music: symphonic repertoire.

Lakeview is one of about a dozen community orchestras operating in the metro area. (I met a few others through this article I wrote for the Tribune a couple years back.) But it's not easy running what is essentially a labor of love for its members. Venue costs are steep, and have only gotten steeper since the pandemic. The arts, as I'm sure you know, have taken a special pummeling in recent years.

Lakeview is not immune to these challenges. But in a city of world-class professional orchestras, why support a community ensemble?

Four good reasons, right here:

1. We emphasize the "community" in "community orchestra" by partnering with like-minded artists and organizations.  Lakeview has linked up with local community choruses like the Chicago Chamber Choir and Vox3 for choral–orchestral works, and last season, Lakeview members performed on instruments belonging to Holocaust victims as part of a co-presentation with the international organization Violins of Hope. We've also collaborated with local visual artists: Sarah and Joseph Belknap produced original video works for our 2018 performance of Holst's Planets, and before that, former Lakeview violinist/violist Meredith Leich created new paintings to accompany our performances of Pictures at an Exhibition.  
2. We prioritize access for both our audiences and artists.  The very most you'll ever spend on a Lakeview ticket is $32, including fees; prices only drop from there, with significant discounts for seniors and students. After two recent Lakeview performances, I spoke to attendees who told me they'd just experienced their very first symphony concert, encouraged by our attainable prices and non-downtown venue. Plus, as I've noted in these fundraisers before, Lakeview is unusual among community orchestras for not requiring membership dues. The vast majority of our members give, but the spring drive helps ensure that our orchestra remains barrier-free for talented players in the Chicagoland area.
3. You can hear some of the city's best orchestral players take a rare solo spotlight.  In recent seasons, Lakeview has collaborated with musicians from the Chicago Symphony (trumpeter Tage Larsen, bassoonist Miles Maner, violinist Gabriela Lara) and Lyric Opera Orchestra (violinist Heather Wittels). One such feature is coming up soon: Cleveland Orchestra principal second violinist Stephen Rose and CSO cellist Brant Taylor will play Brahms's Double Concerto on our June 9 concert.
4. On the other end of things: Community orchestras often give young, fast-rising artists their very first platform.  Previous winners of Lakeview's concerto competition have gone on to win international competitions (go Joshua Brown!). Yet another phenomenally talented young artist joins us for this month's concert: Jan Vargas Nedvetsky, a recent Sphinx Competition finalist. And a few concert cycles ago, Lakeview was guest-conducted by the very talented Ezra Calvino, who currently serves as assistant conductor for the Sistema Ravinia program. You can say you heard them when...

Through Lakeview, I'm able to explore the repertoire I love with people I love. It's an experience I don't take for granted, and one that is only possible through the support of generous donors and patrons like you. Please consider making a tax-deductible gift today.

—Hannah Edgar

Lakeview Orchestra, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is dedicated to enriching the cultural landscape of Chicago, making orchestral music accessible to all by providing affordable and high-quality performances to our community.

Over eleven seasons, the Lakeview Orchestra has established itself as “Chicago's premier non-professional orchestra” (Chicago Classical Review), serving as a hub of musical excellence and community engagement. Our annual five-concert season at the historic Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture has consistently garnered critical acclaim and enthusiastic audience response. And, we have persevered through challenges from startup to sustainability, including weathering the devastating impact of the pandemic shutdown, and emerged stronger than ever.

The 2023-24 season is a pivotal juncture in our organizational maturity. This season, philanthropic support is impacting these three pillars:

• New guest conductor program. In the 2023-24 season, through a competitive process, we inaugurated our guest conductor program. We retained two professional conductors to lead the orchestra in concerts they have programmed in partnership with the orchestra’s artistic director. 

• Expanding our visibility. We are working to increase our presence in the community, attracting new patrons and supporters. Your generosity supports enhancing our marketing efforts, reaching a broader audience, and promoting our programs more effectively.

• Professionalizing our operations. We are committed to elevating our operations to the highest standards. This season we have hired a new general manager with decades of experience in non-profit arts management.

   

Join the Campaign
Your generosity not only sustains our organization but also nurtures the artistic talents of our members, providing them with a platform for beautiful music-making. Your contribution ensures that our musicians have the resources they need to flourish creatively, fostering a collaborative environment where they can share their gifts with the world. Joining our campaign enriches the lives of both our musicians and our audiences, fostering a vibrant ecosystem where artistic excellence thrives.

Donations to the orchestra are 100% tax-deductible and will directly fund the Orchestra’s operations.