And The Impact on American Music

 

 

Renée Fleming and Chicago Voices Concert Supporting Sponsor J. Thomas Hurvis.

 

 

By Megan McKinney

 

 

It was an evening of celebrating Chicago’s role in a wide range of American music, which includes the blues of Howling Wolf, Mahalia Jackson’s  gospel music, the operatic voice of Mary Garden and memorable offerings of  such local legends as Nat King Cole and Steve Goodman.

Gathered onstage at the Civic Opera during the three hour Chicago Voices Concert  were, among others,  current legends  Renée Fleming, Shemekia Copeland, John Prine, Jessie Mueller, Kurt Elling, Matthew Polenzani and Michelle Williams.

It was a powerful  centerpiece to  an evening that began with a range of Chicago food and drink as varied as the music and continued with a lively after party.

 

Chicago Voices co-chairs Eric and Kim Smith and Nancy and Scott Santi.

Roger and Sandy Deromedi on the Red Carpet.

Brent and Katie Gledhill.

Alexandra and John Nichols flanking Tim Jessell and Renée Fleming.

Anthony Freud, Anne Reyes, Caryn and King Harris.

Lester and Renee Crown.

Carolyn Huebner and Judith Pierpont.

Christina and Rod Gidwitz.

 David and Sheila Ormesher.Judy Stevens and Jane Pigott.

Mimi and Todd Mitchell.

Alison McNally, Liz Ryan, Elizabeth Cole, Andrea Garber and Eileen Murphy.

Sponsors dining in the American Airlines boxes..

The After Party

Photo Credit:

Amy Boyle

Robert Kusel

Dan Rest

Jaclyn Simpson