Festa Ravinia Recap

More than 300 people attended the 15th annual Festa Ravinia fundraiser at Macy's on State Street last Saturday night. "Fantasy Aquatic," sponsored by US Bank, drew its inspiration from this season's One Score, One Chicago selection, Zemlinsky's "The Mermaid." Attendees enjoyed a black-tie evening of dinner, music, dancing and live and silent auctions that benefited Ravinia's education and community partnership programs.

Ravinia's Jazz Scholars students were a musical highlight of the evening. Young musicians Michael King (piano), drummer Michael Piolet (drums) and Tim Bennett (saxophone) had the crowd going and their mentor, jazz great Willie Pickens, smiling. As King said, "It's amazing working with a pro."

Jazz Scholars with Willie Pickens

This year's co-chairs for Festa Ravinia were Kara Longo Korte and Erin Leddon. The benefit has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years while promoting the role of music arts in education.

Co-chairs Erin Leddon and Kara Longo Korte

Thanks to all who made this year another success!

Elizabeth Miller Just Added to Kraft Kids Concert Series

Elizabeth Mitchell, our latest addition to the Kraft Kids Concert series, will perform an 11:00 a.m. show in the pavilion on Saturday, August 25. Elizabeth and husband Daniel Littleton have been recording childrens music since the 1998 release of You Are My Flower, named childrens record of the year by the Boston Phoenix. Their most recent recording, You Are My Little Bird, was released by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings and was named the number one critics choice childrens music album of 2006 by Amazon.com.

Fiona Apple Just Added

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Fiona Apple has just been added as a very special guest with Nickel Creek for their "Farewell (For Now) Tour" appearance at Ravinia on August 10. Apple has received critical acclaim since bursting onto the music scene in 1996 with her platinum-selling album Tidal. Tickets are on sale now through the Ravinia website.

And don't forget that May 19, Box Office Opening Day, is right around the corner! Order your tickets in person at the box office window and get a 20% discount off your ticket purchase (not including the August 4 gala).

Make it a date. Make it a tradition. Make it a Ravinia summer.

Get 20% off Tickets on Box Office Opening Day!

Kick off summer on May 19th with Ravinia Festival's Box Office Opening Day! Ticket sales begin at 9:00 a.m. and the box office will stay open until 6:00 p.m. Receive a 20% discount on all tickets (except for the August 4 gala) when you purchase your tickets at Ravinia's box office for one day only! The 2007 season begins with great ticket deals and a live, on-site broadcast from WFMT, Chicago's fine arts station.

As an added bonus, Ravinia will also release a limited number of reserved seats on sold-out concerts for walk-up orders that day.

Phone sales begin May 20. See the full schedule online at http://www.ravinia.org/ and don't miss the opportunity to get tickets before they sell out!

Make it a date. Make it a tradition. Make it a Ravinia summer.