Rush Hour Concerts at St. James Cathedral
A series of free Summer concerts, every Tuesday at 5:45 p.m.

GO TO THE RUSH HOUR CONCERTS WEBSITE

Who We Are
Known as “Great Music for Busy Lives,” Rush Hour Concerts at St. James Cathedral (“RH”) was created to help listeners with active lifestyles access great classical music in a format that fits their demanding schedules.  Founded in 2000 by concert pianist Deborah Sobol, RH presents free, innovative, one-hour concert events performed by Chicago’s finest musicians each Tuesday evening throughout the summer.  RH strives to build community, connecting audience members of all backgrounds through the shared experience of generous hospitality and cultural enrichment.   

Mission & Philosophy Statement
To promote the experience of classical music in a welcoming, widely accessible, relevant, and culturally rich environment by presenting weekly, free, world-class concert events throughout the summer in Chicago. 

We believe that classical music events should:

• be accessible to all audiences
• be relevant to contemporary lifestyles
• provide regular access to aesthetic nourishment
• foster a sense of community  

Motivation
RH was created in response to the friction between the demands of contemporary lifestyles and the important role the arts play in quality of life.  The modern concertgoer often cannot afford the time and expense of the nineteenth-century concert formats of many of our larger musical organizations, yet regular exposure to the arts— in this case, classical music — provides vital nourishment to the human spirit.

A central feature of RH’s importance is its role in augmenting the relatively small amount of free regular classical musical offerings (particularly chamber music) in the city during the summer months.  The Chicago Symphony Orchestra moves to the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, which is not free; while Grant Park offers concerts in the evening, they are of an orchestral scope and are primarily outdoors.  RH’s pioneering lifestyle-friendly event format fills a void in the Chicago musical landscape.

RH’s unique concert format addresses three equally important aspects of a modern concertgoer’s needs:  time, refreshment, and cultural enrichment.  Every Tuesday from June through August at 5:15 p.m., the public is welcomed by a reception of light refreshments.  A 30-minute concert at 5:45 p.m. follows, performed by members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Chamber Musicians, and other eminent artists. St. James Cathedral’s central location 2 blocks from North Michigan Avenue and proximity to public transportation make RH easily accessible to downtown residents, workers, and visitors alike.