From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Chicago Sinfonietta is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. The stated mission of the orchestra is to "serve as a national model for inclusiveness and innovation in classical music" and to "help America become a true cultural democracy, in which everyone can share fully in its cultural resources and in which all can contribute to it cultural richness." The group has sometimes billed itself as "The Nation's Most Diverse Orchestra."

The orchestra was founded in 1987 under the guidance of Music Director Paul Freeman. In its first decade, the group made several tours of the United States, Europe, and other overseas destinations. In that time, guest performers included the Vienna Boys Choir, Ben Vereen, and Marian McPartland. In its second decade the group has released three new recordings and performed with guests including Poi Dog Pondering, Howard Levy, Rachel Barton Pine, Orbert Davis, and the Apostolic Church of God Choir.

Music Director Paul Freeman is co-host of the National Public Radio program, The Global Maestro and conducts the Czech National Symphony Orchestra.

In keeping with its "vision of inclusiveness," the orchestra has sought to develop future musicians and audience through an outreach program entitled "Audience Matters." Working with the Chicago Public Schools, this initiative offers music programming and subsidized tickets to the orchestra's performances to students in underserved Chicago neighborhoods.

The orchestra regularly performs in Chicago’s Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center and has been, since its founding in 1987, the orchestra-in-residence at Dominican University. The orchestra also performs with the Joffrey Ballet. Members of the orchestra include Paul Zafer, Renee Baker, Ricardo Castaneda, Matthew Mantell, Emily Lewis Mantell, Robert Everson , Karl E. H. Seigfried, Faye Seeman, Todd Matthews, Phyllis Sanders, Robert Fisher, Becky Coffman, and William Porter.

References

• Official Website
• Chicago Classical Music Website
• Paul Freeman Profile