The Chicago Sinfonietta hosted their annual ball Saturday, April 18 at the Fairmont Hotel and proved that neither classical music nor extravagant fundraisers are a thing of the past.

The Grand Ballroom at the Fairmont sets the stage for the Sinfonietta players

Classical pieces were performed by the Chicago Sinfonietta SEED Ensembles as guests arrived early in the evening for an introductory cocktail hour. SEED (Student Ensembles with Excellence and Diversity), the Sinfonietta’s mentoring program for young musicians, identifies talented high school musicians and offers them a series of workshops and classes taught by Chicago Sinfonietta teacher-musicians in small ensemble settings. SEED is one of the Sinfonietta’s many Education Outreach Programs benefiting from the funds raised at this year’s ball.

The Grand Ballroom at the Fairmont sets the stage for the Sinfonietta players

The Grand Ballroom was freckled with unique and creative auction items including a set of custom fly-fishing rods, an opportunity to send a professional Chicago Tribune sports photographer to any children’s sports event for personalized, glossy photos and hand-painted violins by Renee Baker, Personnel Manager at the Chicago Sinfonietta. The winner of the Maestro Baton auction had the opportunity to guest-conduct one, short orchestral performance at the Chicago Sinfonietta Ball next year and another lucky bidder had the chance to guest-chef for a day at Moto restaurant, a West Loop eatery known for its innovation and artistry.

Renee Baker stands next to her hand-painted violins up for auction

Co-Chairs, Teri Boyd and Nazneen Razi, introduced the Sinfonietta Honorree, Blue Cross Blue Shield, for their support of and commitment to diversity and the arts. Timuel Black, Chicago historian and community leader, delivered what some might call a firm yet apprehensively optimistic keynote address as he discussed the future of classical music at the Sinfonietta.

Various auction items

While the SEED performances, auction and dinner seemed to have already packed the night with activities galore, the Sinfonietta had even more in store for guests. With two critically acclaimed guest pianists, Conductor Paul Freeman assumed command of the rest of the evening and delivered a stand-out, full performance by members of the Chicago Sinfonietta.

Leon Bates, a traveling American pianist who has played concerts throughout Europe and Africa with such world-renowned ensembles as the Vienna Symphony, the New York Philharmonic and the Orchestra Sinfonica dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, performed a soulful rendition of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Jeremy Jordan, a 20-year-old Chicago native and current student at the Julliard School, first began his career at the age of nine with a televised performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1. With a panoply of awards under his belt as well as numerous piano pieces he has composed, the prodigious, young musician played a very unique Piano Concerto No. 1 by Sergei Prokovieff. Other favorites performed throughout the night included Rossini’s Overture to Barber of Seville and Hungarian Dance No. 5 by Johannes Brahms.

Conductor Paul Freeman addresses the audience after dinner

This was merely a taste of what the Chicago Sinfonietta has in store for it’s 2009-2010 season line-up. Currently the Sinfonietta has partnered with the Shedd Aquarium for the new "Sound/Waves" concert featuring musical pieces by composer Michael Abels inspired by the sounds of lakes, rivers and oceans all set to an aquatic image projection with water lighting for a full under-water-world effect. Pianist Anton Kuerti and guest conductor William Eddins will also perform during this breathtaking performance. Other highlights of the season include a Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. in January when the Northwestern University Chorus joins the Sinfonietta to perform pieces by Gabriel Faure and Beethoven under the baton of guest conductor Kazem Abdullah. Other notable concerts include a Chamber Series with the Joffrey Ballet performed at the new, state-of-the-art Joffrey Tower as well as the visit by the Harlem Quartet, a young and daring all-Black and Latino ensemble, in May.

What else to look for in the Sinfonietta’s future? Try a social networking group called Brio (meaning vigor or vivacity in Italian) for young professionals in Chicago. An exclusive affinity group, Brio provides members with networking and business development opportunities in a cultural and social setting. With most events held before or after various concert events, members also have the opportunity of meeting the renowned musicians of the Sinfonietta.

For more information on the Chicago Sinfonietta and upcoming events, click here

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