African American Network
The CSO African American Network invites you to its 2023/24 Season, celebrating Black composers, conductors and performers across genres including classical, jazz, new music and gospel. This season, the African American Network hosts celebrations, artist meet-and-greets and networking events.
Established in 2016, the African American Network (AAN) has grown to include more than 5,000 members and presents an annual series of curated and hosted programs to create connections and conversation through music.
The mission of the CSOA’s African American Network aims to engage Chicago’s culturally rich African American community through the sharing and exchanging of unforgettable musical experiences while building relationships for generations to come.
The AAN seeks to serve and encourage individuals, families, educators, students, musicians, composers and businesses to discover and experience the timeless beauty of music.
To learn more how you can be involved, contact the African American Network or call 312-294-3000.
Right: Sheila Jones, founder of the AAN
Become a member of the African American Network
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Season of Events
Samara Joy
Friday, October 27
The African American Network invites you to celebrate in style at their season launch event – Joy After Dark: The AAN Afterparty. Immediately following the highly anticipated Samara Joy concert, enjoy cool drinks and velvety desserts in a venue befitting Samara Joy herself: the Grainger Ballroom, a classic venue with a contemporary twist.
Montgomery and the Blacknificent 7
Sunday, December 3
AAN members hosted a pre-concert panel discussion presented by Chicago Humanities with members of the Blacknificent 7, a cohort of cutting-edge contemporary composers, and moderator LaRob K. Rafael. Following the CSO MusicNOW concert, AAN hosted a meet-and-greet with the composers and artists.
AAN Meets McBride
Friday, February 2
Eight-time Grammy Award-winning bassist, bandleader and host of NPR’s Jazz Night in America Christian McBride brought his monumental musical tribute inspired by the words of Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., Muhammad Ali and President Barack Obama. “When the suite soars, it follows the bandleader’s strengths, known for his ebullient precision – his joy in the details – and for savoring the nectar inside swing rhythm” (Downbeat).
After the performance, AAN members held a postconcert meet-and-greet with Christian McBride.
AAN Meets Kanneh Mason
Thursday, February 15
Sheku Kanneh-Mason, hailed by The New Yorker as “a cellist of blazing sensitivity,” made his debut with the CSO performing Elgar’s rhapsodic Cello Concerto and helped celebrate with AAN members after the concert in Grainger Ballroom.
Following the performance, AAN members met in Grainger Ballroom for an artist meet-and-greet with Sheku Kanneh-Mason. In addition, performance artist Kao Ra Zen, born Kenya Fulton, whose artistic practice spans from opera libretto to spoken word, performed in the spirit of Elgar meets new music.
Gateways Festival Orchestra Featuring Take 6
Friday, April 19
Comprised of the finest classical musicians in the country, the all-Black Gateways Festival Orchestra concluded its week-long Chicago residency with a Symphony Center concert featuring Take 6, the award-winning a cappella group Quincy Jones called the “baddest vocal cats on the planet.” The program highlighted works by African American composers including Chicago-native Margaret Bonds, whose Montgomery Variations was inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
AAN members congregated in Buntrock Hall to raise a glass for a postconcert toast alongside members of the Gateways Festival Orchestra and Take 6.
CSO x Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
Thursday, April 25
Join the afterparty with the CSO Latino Alliance to celebrate the iconic collaboration between the CSO and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, led by the legendary Wynton Marsalis and six-time Grammy Award-winning conductor Giancarlo Guerrero.
Following the concert, African American Network and Latino Alliance members joined in Grainger Ballroom for a Q&A with Wynton Marsalis and conductor Giancarlo Guerrero, moderated by Symphony Center Presents Senior Director of Programming James Fahey.
Follow the AAN on Facebook!
Contact the African American Network
Email the African American Network or call 312-294-3045 about getting involved!
African American Network members receive specially priced tickets for $40 or less to many concerts throughout the season!
Step 1: Visit the calendar listing for performances that have the African American Network ticket offer available. (Promo code “AAN” will automatically be activated. African American Network tickets usually become available 1-4 weeks ahead of the concert date with newly eligible concerts typically added on Thursday afternoons.)
Step 2: Choose your preferred concert. All seats available with this special offer will display on the seat map. Select your seats and add to your order.
Step 3: Proceed through the checkout process. Tickets will be delivered by email, unless you select another delivery method. Additional fees may apply for other delivery methods.
Step 4: Attend the concert!
African American Network Board Members
Lisa Adams
Raymond Adams
Breyon Brown
Joyce Carter
Sena Dawes
Susan Carlotta Ellis
Barry Elmore
Wilfred Farquharson
Katherine Hicks
Darryl Holliday
Rosalind Jackson
Cornelius Johnson
Daryl Layson
Abby Mallett
Leah McGregory
Jessie Montgomery
Marian Perkins-Phillips
Lenese Reynolds
Rosemarie Rogers
Howard and Darlene Sandifer
Jaime Sharp
Javante Smith
Tracy Stanciel
Ginger Stanciel
Lauren Stanciel
Ted Tabe
Jordan Thomas
Adam Vida
Barbara Wright-Pryor
AAN Artistic Consultant: Renée Baker
AAN Newsfeed
AAN Event Photos
Montgomery and Blacknificent 7
Samara Joy
Noche de jazz
