Upcoming Events:
Music at the Fort: Quintet ZaRiah
Featuring Winners of the 2026 National Fischoff Chamber Music Competition
This concert in the Music at the Fort Series features Quintet ZaRiah, the Grand Prize Senior Division Winners of the 2026 National Fischoff Chamber Music Competition. The wind quintet includes Ben Smith, Jamison Hillian, Katelyn Poetker, AJ Neuburt, and Oved Rico. Learn more about the award-winning ensemble below.
Music at the Fort is a concert series presented by Midwest Young Artists Conservatory featuring MYAC’s faculty, alumni, student competition winners, and guest artists.
Concerts within this series are free and open to the public, but we encourage you to reserve your seats in advance. The concerts are held on Sundays at 6PM at MYAC Center, 878 Lyster Rd, Highwood, IL.
More about Quintet Zariah: A world-class emerging ensemble, ZaRiah is a collaboration of multifaceted artists who are guided by their various backgrounds and cultures. ZaRiah is the Grand Prize winner of the 2026 Fischoff National Chamber Music competition, an honor that has not been won by a wind quintet in nearly three decades.
Known for their dynamic interaction and audience engagement, ZaRiah is the 2026 Artist-in-Residence with the Friends of Chamber Music Kansas City and First Prize Winner of the 2025 Frances Walton Chamber Music Competition. They have embarked on multiple tours across the U.S, and have featured performances on Classical KING-FM’s Northwest Focus Live as well as NPR’s Live Sessions. In 2025, ZaRiah was in residence at the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival and presented numerous concerts featuring a diverse selection of repertoire. This past summer, ZaRiah has received the honor of being named 2026 Shouse Institute Artists at the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival.
With three out of the five members being first-generation college students and three members being from the rural south, the group is dedicated to increasing music accessibility in underserved communities.
Chamber Music Soirées
Chamber Music Soirees
These soiree-recitals presented by MYAC make up the annual series of concerts given as part of our renowned chamber music program. Each recital comprises masterpieces of chamber music, demonstrating and challenging the collaborative facility and individual expression of each of our students.
Tickets are free, but please reserve your seats in advance. Each recital lasts no more than an hour. There are two performances: one at 4:30, one at 5:30, both at the MYAC Center.
Chamber Music Soirées
Chamber Music Soirées
These soiree-recitals presented by MYAC make up the annual series of concerts given as part of our renowned chamber music program. Each recital comprises masterpieces of chamber music, demonstrating and challenging the collaborative facility and individual expression of each of our students.
Tickets are free, but please reserve your seats in advance. Each recital lasts no more than an hour. There are two performances: one at 4:30, one at 5:30, both at the MYAC Center.
Fall Concerts
Fall Concerts at Pick-Staiger Hall, Northwestern University
MYAC's Fall Concerts feature all of our large ensembles. Thus all three concerts will include performances by our orchestras, choral ensembles and jazz big bands.
Tickets will be available on this page soon.
1:30PM: Cadet, Maestros, Concertino Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble
2:30PM: Jazz Orchestra, Voices Rising, Philharmonia, Concert Orchestra
6:30PM: VocalPoint, Concert Jazz Band, Symphony Orchestra
Chamber Music Soirées
Chamber Music Soirees
These soiree-recitals presented by MYAC make up the annual series of concerts given as part of our renowned chamber music program. Each recital comprises masterpieces of chamber music, demonstrating and challenging the collaborative facility and individual expression of each of our students.
Tickets are free, but please reserve your seats in advance. Each recital lasts no more than an hour. There are two performances: one at 4:30, one at 5:30, both at the MYAC Center.
Music at the Fort: Concerto Competition Winners
Music at the Fort featuring Select Winners of the O’Malley Foundation National Concerto Competition
Join MYAC for an special installation of Music at the Fort featuring select winners of the 2026 O’Malley Foundation National Concerto Competition. Winners will be announced when the competition ends on December 30, 2026.
Learn more about the O’Malley Foundation National Concerto Competition here. More information to come.
Music at the Fort is a concert series presented by Midwest Young Artists Conservatory featuring MYAC’s faculty, alumni, student competition winners, and guest artists.
Concerts within this series are free and open to the public, but we encourage you to reserve your seats in advance. The concerts are held on Sundays at 6PM at MYAC Center, 878 Lyster Rd, Highwood, IL.
Music at the Fort: Chicago Chamber Competition Winners
Music at the Fort featuring Chicago National Chamber Competition Winners
Join MYAC for an special installation of Music at the Fort featuring winners of the 2027 Chicago National Chamber Music Competition. Winners will be announced when the competition ends on February 14, 2027.
Learn more about the 2027 Chicago National Chamber Music Competition here.
Music at the Fort is a concert series presented by Midwest Young Artists Conservatory featuring MYAC’s faculty, alumni, student competition winners, and guest artists.
Concerts within this series are free and open to the public, but we encourage you to reserve your seats in advance. The concerts are held on Sundays at 6PM at MYAC Center, 878 Lyster Rd, Highwood, IL.
North Shore Jazz & Classical Music Festival (Fun Fest)
MYAC's North Shore Jazz & Classical Music Festival aka "Fun Fest" is an annual tradition of celebration with the local community. This FREE COMMUNITY EVENT is open to the public with live music, games, food and fun! More information will be available soon.
Guests will enjoy performances by Jazz Combos, Jazz Bands, Orchestras, Choral Ensembles, and Chamber Music Groups!
MYAC Center is located at 878 Lyster Rd, Highwood, IL. The event is rain or shine! Bring a lawn chair to enjoy these outdoor performances!
Spring Orchestra Concerts
MYAC's Spring Orchestra Concerts include 6 of our orchestras across three events. More information to come, including the times of each concert and musical programming.
The event will take place at Pick-Staiger Hall at Northwestern University.
1st Concert: Reading, Cadet and Concertino Orchestras.
2nd Concert: Philharmonia and Concert Orchestras.
3rd Concert: Symphony Orchestra.
Spring Jazz Concert
Join us on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 1PM and again at 5PM for a day of choral and jazz music with MYAC!
The first concert features our Choral Ensembles at 1-3PM.
The second concert features our Jazz Ensembles performing 5-7PM.
These concerts will be held at the Ravinia's Bennett Gordon Hall, 201 St Johns Ave, Highland Park, IL 60035.
Spring Choral Concert
Join us on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 1PM and again at 5PM for a day of choral and jazz music with MYAC!
The first concert features our Choral Ensembles at 1-3PM.
The second concert features our Jazz Ensembles performing 5-7PM.
These concerts will be held at the Ravinia's Bennett Gordon Hall, 201 St Johns Ave, Highland Park, IL 60035.
Jazz Combo Concert
Join us on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 5PM for an evening of jazz with MYAC's Jazz Combo ensembles! Jazz combos are designed for students who want to learn the art of improvisation and solo expression. Combos are directed by Drew Hansen, Brent Griffin Jr. and Emily Kuhn.
This concert is free and open to the public, but we encourage you to reserve your seat in advance. The event will be held at the MYAC Center, 878 Lyster Road, Highwood, IL.
Chamber Music Soirées
Join us for our Chamber Music Soirée series! MYAC students will be performing for attendees on April 18, 2026 at 4:30, 5:30, and 6:30 PM at the MYAC Center.
Tickets are free, but please reserve your seats:
Come and listen to beautiful chamber music performed by all levels of our chamber music ensembles. The Chamber Music Soirées offer the opportunity to get up close and personal with our young musicians as they perform magnificent, small ensemble works.
Each recital is no more than an hour.
Music at the Fort Featuring Winners from the Chicago Chamber Music Competition
Join us for our Music at the Fort series! This special installment will feature winners from February’s Chicago Chamber Music Competition.
This concert is free and open to the public, and will be held at the MYAC Center, 878 Lyster Road, Highwood, IL.
Chamber Music Soirées
Join us for our Chamber Music Soirée series! MYAC students will be performing for attendees on March 7, 2026 at 5:30 & 6:30 PM at the MYAC Center.
Tickets are free, but please reserve your seats:
Come and listen to beautiful chamber music performed by all levels of our chamber music ensembles. The Chamber Music Soirées offer the opportunity to get up close and personal with our young musicians as they perform magnificent, small ensemble works.
Each recital is no more than an hour.
Jazz Big Band Concert
Join us on March 1, 2026 at 4PM, MYAC Center, for an evening of Big Band Jazz by MYAC's Jazz Orchestra and Concert Jazz Band!
This concert is free and open to the public, but we encourage you to reserve your seat in advance and make a donation.
The event is sponsored by WDCB.
Chicago Double Bass Fest
The Chicago Bass Festival is an all day experience put on, for, and by Chicago area bassists of all ages, experience levels, and backgrounds! Participants will have the opportunity to play in master classes, perform in technique classes, play in a bass ensemble, and celebrate all things bass! All participants will also get a bass festival t-shirt and lunch.
Chamber Music Soirées
Join us for our Chamber Music Soirée series! MYAC students will be performing for attendees on February 21 at 5:30 & 6:30 PM at the MYAC Center.
Tickets are free, but please reserve your seats:
Come and listen to beautiful chamber music performed by all levels of our chamber music ensembles. The Chamber Music Soirées offer the opportunity to get up close and personal with our young musicians as they perform magnificent, small ensemble works.
Each recital is no more than an hour.
Young Love - Choral & Orchestral Concert
MYAC's Choral & Orchestral Winter Concerts feature nine of our ensembles across three events. The performances will take place at Pick-Staiger Hall at Northwestern University. More information coming soon.
Tickets available here:
For the Love of Music - Choral & Orchestral Concerts
MYAC's For the Love of Music concerts feature six of our ensembles across two performances at Pick-Staiger Hall at Northwestern University.
Tickets available here:
Chicago National Chamber Music Competition
At the annual National Chicago Chamber Music Competition students compete in person for scholarships, cash awards and performance opportunities. It takes place at MYAC Center in Highwood, IL.
Jazz in January - Big Band Concert
MYAC will host 2 concerts for “Jazz in January” series. The first is a Jazz Combo concert on January 24th, 2026 at MYAC Center in Highwood. The second is at Ravinia on January 25. The guest artist in residence is bassist and vocalist Katie Ernst. Tickets are available here:
The event is sponsored by WDCB.
Jazz in January - Combo Concert
MYAC will host 2 concerts for “Jazz in January” series. The first is a Jazz Combo concert on January 24th, 2026 at MYAC Center in Highwood. The second is at Ravinia on January 25. The guest artist in residence is bassist and vocalist Katie Ernst. The event is sponsored by WDCB.
Chamber Music Soirées
Join us for our Chamber Music Soirée series! MYAC students will be performing for attendees on January 24, 2026 at 5:30 & 6:30 PM at the MYAC Center.
Tickets are free, but please reserve your seats:
Come and listen to beautiful chamber music performed by all levels of our chamber music ensembles. The Chamber Music Soirées offer the opportunity to get up close and personal with our young musicians as they perform magnificent, small ensemble works.
Each recital is no more than an hour.
Music at the Fort Featuring O’Malley Concerto Competition Winners
Join us for our Music at the Fort series! This special installment will feature winners from December's O'Malley Concerto Competition.
This concert is free and open to the public, and will be held at the MYAC Center, 878 Lyster Road, Highwood, IL.
O’Malley National Concerto Competition
The O’Malley National Concerto Competition is an annual event where students compete in person for tuition scholarships, cash awards & performance opportunities at MYAC Center in Highwood, IL.
Alumni Concert
Join us for an unforgettable celebration at our Annual Alumni Concert, welcoming MYAC graduates from the past 33 years! This year’s event promises to be extra special as talented alumni from our Jazz, Choral, and Orchestra programs come together for a one-of-a-kind musical experience.
Lake Geneva Holiday Sing-a-Long
Celebrate the season with Midwest Young Artists Conservatory in Lake Geneva! You're invited to an all-ages sing-a-long with members of our Choral and Orchestra ensembles. There are two 1-hour concerts at 2PM and 4PM on Sunday December 21.
The event is held at the Riviera Ballroom, 812 Wrigley Dr, Lake Geneva, WI 53147.
Space is limited, so we encourage you to reserve your seats in advance!
Music at the Fort with Lang Lang Scholars
MYAC is hosting a special holiday performance in our Music at the Fort series. The world-renowned pianist Lang-Lang has been a long-time friend of MYAC, and we have been honored to collaborate with the Lang-Lang scholars–an international collection of extraordinary young pianists–for more than a decade. Together, their pianists and our string players will present a chamber music concert at the MYAC Center in Highwood, IL on December 20, 5:30 - 6:30 pm and at the hospital on December 21. The program will feature Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor, along with some music for the holidays.
Holiday Concerts
Midwest Young Artists Conservatory warmly invites you and your family to an enchanting holiday concert featuring our talented Choral and Orchestra Programs. Join us at Bennett-Gordon Hall on the Ravinia campus in Highland Park for a heartwarming performance filled with holiday spirit and joyous music, brought to life by passionate young musicians.
Chamber Music Soirées
Join us for our Chamber Music Soirée series! Come and listen to beautiful chamber music performed by all levels of our chamber music ensembles. The Chamber Music Soirées offer the opportunity to get up close and personal with our young musicians as they perform magnificent, small ensemble works.
MYAC students will be performing for attendees on December 13, 2025 at 4:30, 5:30 & 6:30 PM at the MYAC Center.
Tickets are free, but please reserve your seats:
Each recital is no more than an hour.
Northbrook Court Holiday Performance
Join the Symphony Orchestra from Midwest Young Artists Conservatory for a special holiday pop up performance at the Northbrook Court Mall! The event takes place on Saturday December 13 at 3PM. Cheers to the season!
Music at the Fort featuring MYAC Faculty & Staff
Music at the Fort Featuring our talented MYAC faculty & staff
Reserve your seat here:
Chamber Music Soirées
Join us for our Chamber Music Soirée series! MYAC students will be performing for attendees on November 15, 2025 at 5:30 & 6:30 PM at the MYAC Center.
Tickets are free, but please reserve your seats:
Come and listen to beautiful chamber music performed by all levels of our chamber music ensembles. The Chamber Music Soirées offer the opportunity to get up close and personal with our young musicians as they perform magnificent, small ensemble works.
Each recital is no more than an hour.
Jazz Combo Concert
Join us on Sunday, November 2, 2025 at 4PM for an afternoon of jazz with MYAC's Jazz Combo ensembles! Jazz combos are designed for students who want to learn the art of improvisation and solo expression. Combos are directed by Drew Hansen, Brent Griffin Jr. and Emily Kuhn.
The event will be held at the 28 Mile Distilling Company at 454 Sheridan Road in Highwood.
Double Reed Festival
The Chicago Double Reed Festival is an all day experience put on for and by Chicago area bassoonists and oboists. This festival is for all ages, experience levels, and backgrounds!