Hi, all —

If you've donated to my appeals before, you know I tend to pop off on these fundraising pages, from claiming I play in a Bruce Springsteen cover band to heartfelt appeals about why community ensembles like Lakeview are so important. 

This year feels different. There are so many causes that deserve your attention right now — countless, really. So, instead, I want to talk about one thing and one thing only: the piece Lakeview Orchestra is currently preparing. 

Soviet composer Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975) wrote his Symphony No. 7 while his hometown of Leningrad was under brutal siege by the Nazis. The details from that period are horrifying. People fried makeup into pancakes, nibbled at wallpaper glue, and drank leather soup in order to stave off starvation. In a letter dated February 1942, Shostakovich describes the city as having “no cats or dogs left”; most were forced to eat their beloved pets. À la Station Eleven, power stopped working, cars stopped running — fuel was blockaded, too — and radio stations fell silent. No one remained to staff them.

But the siege itself had been preceded by an ultra-repressive period we now call the Great Terror. Stalin used his position as the Communist Party’s general secretary to install loyalists, helping him ascend to total power after the death of Vladimir Lenin. Whenever an associate grew too powerful or too well-liked, Stalin concocted accusations against them and had them deposed, or worse.  One didn’t need to be a dissident to vanish under Stalin’s regime: He ordered the arrest, imprisonment or murder of countless innocents during what is now known as the Great Terror.  

Why am I mentioning this here, during what is supposed to be a rallying fundraiser? I think you can guess. Researching this symphony as Lakeview's new program book annotator, I was humbled by the parallels between our time and 100 years ago, when Stalin was newly empowered. We, too, live under a regime that thrives in chaos and confusion. Its power, too, hinges entirely on a charismatic leader, surrounded by yes-men whom, I suspect, privately believe little of what he says. (I suspect he himself doesn't, either.) Colleagues, classmates and neighbors — some of the most vulnerable in our society — are being snatched off the street without due process.

Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony feels more urgent than it has in decades. I leave rehearsals completely spent — physically, yes, because the piece is so challenging (and, in many places, loud). But I also leave emotionally wrung out. Like the rest of us, I'm compartmentalizing like crazy just to get through the day. Every Tuesday night, Lakeview makes space for me to look the demons of our age in the eye. And scream through my violin.

To be able to make this music alongside exceptionally talented musicians — some of whom are professionals, some of whom are proud amateurs, like myself — is a privilege I don't take for granted. That privilege relies hugely on your support. Like so many nonprofit arts organizations, Lakeview derives relatively little of its operating expenses through ticket sales. The vast majority of its revenue comes from donor support.

More specifically, your dollars will go towards:

• increasing accessibility for our Chicago community: This season, we’re offering 250 free student tickets to help young audiences and families experience live orchestral music without financial barriers.
• expanding our guest conductor program: We’re welcoming three distinguished guest conductors next season, each bringing fresh perspectives and elevating our artistic programming. 
• enhancing the musician experience: With 88 dedicated musicians, we’re investing in rehearsal space upgrades and new artistic development opportunities to ensure our members continue to refine their talents and deliver exceptional performances.

With your donation, you are supporting us in reaching new artistic heights. The Leningrad is one of the most ambitious pieces Lakeview has ever tackled. As we search for a new music director next season, other monumental, urgent works will follow. Music, I've found, is one of the best ways to speak unspeakable truths about our world, whether brutal or beautiful. Shostakovich knew that all too well.

Lakeview Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization celebrating more than a decade of artistic excellence. This spring, the orchestra has a goal to raise at least $25,000 as part of our Our Symphony, Our Future! campaign, which will allow us to continue bringing classical music to the greater Lakeview community. 

Every dollar raised will go directly to helping us achieve our mission and this year’s priorities that include:

• Increasing Accessibility for the Community – This season, we’re offering 250 free student tickets to help young audiences and families experience the magic of live orchestral music without financial barriers.
• Expanding the Guest Conductor Program – We’re welcoming three distinguished guest conductors, each bringing fresh perspectives and elevating our artistic programming. Their expertise will challenge and inspire both our musicians and our audience.
• Enhancing Member Experience – With 88 dedicated musicians, we’re investing in rehearsal space upgrades and new artistic development opportunities to ensure our members continue to refine their talents and deliver exceptional performances.

Donations to Lakeview Orchestra are 100% tax-deductible. Questions? Contact us at info@lakevieworchestra.org.