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

2009 SCHEDULE

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.

2009 Schedule

June 2, 2009
Amadeus: Wolfgang Mozart’s Serenade No.10 in B-Flat Major, “Gran Partita”
Judith Kulb, oboe
Judith Zunamon Lewis, oboe
Larry Combs, clarinet
Julie DeRoche, clarinet
Wagner Campos, basset horn
Barbara Drapcho, basset horn
Collin Anderson, bassoon
Lewis Kirk, bassoon
Jeremiah Frederick, horn
Gabrielle Webster, horn
Valerie Whitney, horn
Gail Williams, horn
Peter Lloyd, string bass

June 9, 2009
In the Loop: Music of G.P. Telemann, Sebastian Huydts, Philippe Hurel and J.S. Bach
WIRED – the flute section of the International Chamber Ensemble (ICE)
Claire Chase and Eric Lamb, flutes

June 16, 2009
A Cello Celebration Encore: Cellists of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera and Friends
Whitney Allen, cello
Stephen Balderston, cello
Mark Brandfonbrener, cello
Richard Hirschl, cello
Kenneth Olsen, cello
Patrick Smith, cello
Gary Stucka, cello
Brant Taylor, cello
Maire O’Brien, soprano
Michael Mulcahy, conductor

June 23, 2009
*Sponsored in part by the Poetry Foundation*
Everyday People: Poems of Kevin Coval and Music of George Gershwin & Charles Ives
James Giles, piano
Kevin Coval, poet

June 30, 2009
Brass Transcription: Dmitri Shostakovich String Quartet No. 12, Op. 133
CINCO brass quintet
Mike Sapienza, trumpet
Ryan Barwise, trumpet
Anna Mayne, horn
Brian Risinger, trombone
Jared Bulmer, tuba

July 7, 2009
*Sponsored in part by the Consulate General of Switzerland*
Swiss Originals: Music of Samuel Burckhardt & Stephan Grieder
Sam Burckhardt, tenor saxophone
Stephan Grieder, organ

July 14, 2009
*Sponsored in part by the Consulate General of France*
Elegant French: Music of François Couperin
Garry Clarke, violin
Craig Trompeter, viola da gamba
David Schrader, harpsichord

July 21, 2009
*Sponsored in part by the Consulate General of France and Alliance Française de Chicago*
Spirited French: Francis Poulenc Sextet for piano and winds
Fifth House Ensemble
Melissa Snoza, flute
Crystal Hall, oboe
Jennifer Woodrum, clarinet
Karl Rzasa, bassoon
DeAunn Davis, horn
Adam Marks, piano

July 28, 2009
Another Birthday: Felix Mendelssohn Piano Trio No. 1 in d minor, Op. 49
Guillaume Combet, violin
Paula Kosower, cello
Kuang-Hao Huang, piano

August 4, 2009
Baroquefest: Music of G.B. Platti and G.F. Handel
Eugene Izotov, oboe
Katinka Kleijn, cello
David Schrader, organ

August 11, 2009
*Sponsored in part by the Consulate General of France*
Ravishing French: Maurice Ravel Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano
Trio Voce
Jasmine Lin, violin
Marina Hoover, cello
Patricia Tao, piano

August 18, 2009
*Sponsored in part by the Consulate General of Germany*
Organ 102: Fantasies, Preludes & Fugues of J.S. Bach
Bruce J. Barber II, organ

August 25, 2009
10th Season Finale: Percussion Panache
Third Coast Percussion
Owen Clayton Condon
Robert Dillon
Peter Martin
David Skidmore