American Mavericks

AMERICAN MAVERICKS

A Chicago Philharmonic America250 Celebration
Elie Wiesel Auditorium, Obama Presidential Center

This event is sold out. If you have questions, please contact:

📧 america250@chicagophilharmonic.org
📞 (312) 957‑0000

On July 1, the Chicago Philharmonic will present American Mavericks at the Obama Presidential Center’s new Elie Wiesel Auditorium, which opens to the public just days before. This intimate evening is limited to 250 guests and will be among the first events ever held in the new space.

The program, led by Artistic Director Scott Speck, honors several “mavericks” who shape the history and future of American music. Special guests include Kishi Bashi, Njioma Chinyere Grevious, Melissa Joseph, and Darryl J. Williams.

Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Cocktail Reception: 5:30 PM
Concert: 7:00 PM

Attire: Black Tie
Tickets: $500 (limited availability)

Program Highlights

American Mavericks honors the bold voices shaping America’s unique symphonic tradition. The program includes works by:

-Michael Tilson Thomas
-Jessie Montgomery
-John Williams
-Samuel Barber
-Florence Price
-Aaron Copland
-Motown favorites and more

Featured Artists

Led by Artistic Director & Principal Conductor Scott Speck, this concert brings together an extraordinary roster of guest artists, many of whom are longtime collaborators of the Chicago Philharmonic.

Kishi Bashi: Violinist, Singer/Songwriter, and Producer
Kishi Bashi (Kaoru Ishibashi) is a multifaceted violinist, composer, and singer, celebrated for his lush, cinematic sound and genre‑bending artistry. His critically acclaimed works have been featured internationally in film, television, and major concert halls. He made his Chicago Philharmonic debut in 2023 in a sold‑out program centered on Improvisations on EO9066, marking the beginning of a powerful artistic partnership.

Njioma Chinyere Grevious
Njioma Chinyere Grevious is a passionate and versatile solo, chamber, and orchestral violinist, praised for her expressive tone and elegant playing. A graduate of The Juilliard School and winner of the 2024 Avery Fisher Career Grant, she has earned top prizes from the Sphinx Competition, Concert Artists Guild, and YCAT. She has performed at major venues including Carnegie Hall, the Concertgebouw, and the Kennedy Center, and serves as the Chicago Philharmonic’s inaugural Artist in Residence.

Darryl Williams
Darryl Jovan Williams is a singer, songwriter, arranger, and performer whose career began in the churches of South Carolina and grew into a 35‑year international performance career. He has toured globally as a soloist and choir director, performed with artists such as Gladys Knight, and appeared in major theatrical productions including Smokey Joe’s Café and Once On This Island. His acclaimed headliner show The Mind of a Tenor has been featured on stages around the world.

Melissa Joseph
Haitian‑American soprano Melissa Joseph is praised for her vibrant stage presence and earned acclaim for her debut as Musetta in La Bohème at Opera Philadelphia, which The Washington Post called “show‑stopping.” She has performed with Washington National Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra, and is a Steans Music Institute alumna. Her competition achievements include reaching the 2024 Loren L. Zachary National Vocal Competition Grand Finals and receiving awards from the Gerda Lissner and Metropolitan Opera Laffont competitions.

Celebration With Purpose

American Mavericks is the cornerstone of Chicago Philharmonic’s America250 celebration, a season‑long commitment to bringing transformative and accessible symphonic experiences to communities across Chicago. This July 1 debut at the Obama Presidential Center helps underwrite three free Side by Side with the Chicago Philharmonic concerts this summer, welcoming more than 300 community musicians and thousands of listeners into joyful, intergenerational music making.

It also supports large‑scale programs that introduce tens of thousands of new audience members to live orchestral music, including Top Gun: Maverick in Concert on September 26 as part of the Auditorium Philms series, and Home Alone 2 in Concert this December. Your participation in this landmark evening ensures that the Philharmonic can continue offering both world‑class performances and deeply accessible programs that serve Chicagoans across the city.