On July 1, the Chicago Philharmonic had the extraordinary honor of presenting American Mavericks, the very first orchestral performance in the Elie Wiesel Auditorium at the Obama Presidential Center.
Led by Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Scott Speck, the concert kicked off a year of the Philharmonic’s America250 programming and celebrated artistic “mavericks” including Michael Tilson Thomas, Aaron Copland, Florence Price, Jessie Montgomery, John Williams, and more, showcasing the extraordinary talent found across the country and here in Chicago.
“The arts are an absolutely essential part of the human experience. They sum up the human experience and they people hope, and they give people a sense of all belonging together in this beautiful city and in this beautiful country. And that’s what we hope this American Mavericks celebration will do for Chicago and for us.”
—Artistic Director & Principal Conductor Scott Speck on American Mavericks
250 guests wore their finest black tie attire to commemorate the occasion, traveling from across the city, state, and country to attend. A pre-concert cocktail reception gave guests and musicians an opportunity to connect before the concert began. Photos by Todd Rosenberg can be seen below:
Celebrating the Mavericks Among Us
In an intimate 250-seat setting, the Philharmonic showcased a remarkable breadth of American artistry. Soprano Melissa Joseph made a luminous Chicago Philharmonic debut in Michael Tilson Thomas’ Poems of Emily Dickinson. Returning collaborators included Artist in Residence Njioma Grevious performing Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto; Kishi Bashi sharing original works and a cover of the Talking Heads’ This Must Be the Place; and Darry J. Williams delivering soulful renditions of Sam Cooke’s A Change is Gonna Come, Otis Redding’s Try a Little Tenderness, and Ray Charles’ iconic version of America the Beautiful.
The orchestra’s own virtuosity was on full display, from John Williams’ The People’s House to Copland’s Appalachian Spring. A highlight of the evening came when Jessie Montgomery rose to her feet for a standing ovation after hearing her Voodoo Dolls performed as a string quartet by Concertmaster Eleanor Bartsch, Jeff Yang, Rose Armbrust Griffin, and Jean Hatmaker.
The evening also celebrated the Chicago Philharmonic’s recent recognition as the Illinois Council of Orchestras’ 2026 Orchestra of the Year. ICO Board Director Tim Corpus presented the award to Scott Speck and Executive Director Terell Johnson during the event.
American Mavericks Program
Aaron Copland Excerpt from Appalachian Spring
Florence Price Adoration
Jessie Montgomery Voodoo Dolls
Michael Tilson Thomas Poems of Emily Dickinson
VI. Nature Studies
VII. Take All Away From Me
John Williams The People’s House from Lincoln
Samuel Barber Violin Concerto, Op. 14
I. Allegro
Kishi Bashi Summer of ’42
Kishi Bashi I am the Antichrist to You
Kishi Bashi This Must Be the Place
Kishi Bashi Violin Tsunami
William Grant Still Out of the Silence
Sam Cooke A Change is Gonna Come
arr. Michael Moricz
Campbell, R. Connely & H. Woods Try a Little Tenderness
arr. Michael Moricz
Ward & K. Bates America the Beautiful
American Mavericks: Partners and Community
The Philharmonic proudly partnered with the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative, welcoming three outstanding young musicians – Kaylee Johnson (flute), Jazmyn Irons (flute), and Jan Vargas Nedvetsky (cello) – who performed at the pre-concert reception and attended the concert. Their participation reflects a growing collaboration between CMPI and the Philharmonic, including a 2026 masterclass led by Artist in Residence Njioma Grevious.
Rehearsals for American Mavericks were hosted at The Land School in Greater Grand Crossing. The Land School is a reimagined cultural campus created by Rebuild Foundation and artist Theaster Gates, transforming the former St. Laurence Elementary School into a hub for land stewardship, artistic practice, and community learning. Rooted in Gates’ urban-planning ethos, the space now hosts intergenerational creative work, experimentation, and archival engagement. After a seven‑year, $12 million restoration that preserved the building’s historic character, the once‑vacant school now operates as a living site for artists, thinkers, and organizations committed to culture as a public service.
As violinist and Board Director Lori Ashikawa said of The Land School and the Obama Presidential Center:
“I think it’s really significant that we’re here on the south side. It showcases the whole city of Chicago and it shows how we’re so much more than just the downtown area where we often perform.”
America250: A Year of Celebrating American Artistry
American Mavericks kicks off a year of American programming for the Chicago Philharmonic. Our popular Side by Side with the Chicago Philharmonic series featured many of the same pieces, as well as those by Carlos Simon, John Philip Sousa, and W.C. Handy – and several participants joined us to celebrate the American Mavericks concert!
Later this fall, we will continue to celebrate American composers Danny Elfman and John Williams with Edward Scissorhands in Concert and Home Alone: 2 in Concert. Other highlights include a tribute to American poet and activist Andrea Gibson in Love Letter from the Afterlife, and a tribute to the great American cartoonist Charles M. Schultz with the musical theater A Charlie Brown Christmas.
To learn more about our upcoming concerts, visit chicagophilharmonic.org/all-upcoming-events/
Thank You!
American Mavericks was made possible by a huge community of supporters. We are so grateful to everyone who attended, to our generous volunteers, to our incredible musicians, and to our hosts at The Land School and at the Obama Presidential Center – we couldn’t have done it without you!
The Chicago Philharmonic Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. The Chicago Philharmonic tax identification number is 36-3616076. To donate over the phone or for questions, please call (312) 957-0000.