Not only did live music return to the park after a dark and quiet 2020 season, so did Ravinia’s Reach Teach Play (RTP) education program participants. Although RTP instructors and students kept music alive with virtual programming throughout the pandemic, students were not able to perform or meet in person for over a year, but this season brought with it numerous joyful reunions and inspiring moments.
The spring gave the first glimpses of an amazing 2021 season when students returned to the park making music in person together for the first time in many months. Shortly after the Chicago Symphony Orchestra arrived, Sistema Ravinia orchestra students also came to the park and had the opportunity to work with Maestro Jonathan Rush and felt how professional musicianship is in their reach. Later in July, the Ravinia Jazz Scholars played to an audience at the Carousel before Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra took the Pavilion stage that night. Then, in September, Sistema Ravinia orchestra students returned and helped celebrate the fifth annual Fiesta Ravinia.
KidsLawn was back this summer—a family-friendly space on the North Lawn that’s the perfect place to let the kids run and play between interactive, large-scale percussion instruments on which they can make their own kind of music. On select dates, KidsLawn featured a “strings petting zoo,” arts and craft kits, and performance activities.
Throughout the summer, RTP community members were able to enjoy live music for free through the Opportunity Lawn Pass Program, including performances by Brian McKnight, Laurie Berkner, and The Roots. In addition, some community members and students in RTP programs had the opportunity to meet and learn from more featured artists, such as Julia Bullock, Apollo’s Fire, Anthony McGill, and Black Violin. RTP educators and instructors also had the opportunity to learn at Ravinia’s annual Professional Development Institute for elementary school teachers. Participants in the institute took part in interactive music workshops to learn various teaching methods to incorporate music into their classroom curriculum.
“CPS should be honored that Ravinia partners with our district. Our kiddos need this. Teachers need this program,” said Sara Ortiz, a kindergarten teacher at Henderson Academy, after her experience in the Professional Development Institute.
Without a doubt, RTP educators and artists worked harder than ever in 2020 to assure that our students had access to music education throughout that challenging year and beyond. In honor of these educators, Ravinia invited teachers and principals to the annual Gala Benefit Evening hosted by Ravinia’s Women’s Board, where nearly $750,000 was raised to support the festival and its RTP education programs. Ravinia’s annual Music Matters fundraiser also honored classroom teachers and raised more than $600,000 in support of Ravinia’s music education programs.
Ravinia’s 2021 season brought a full and healthy return of live music, but even though the inspiring sounds of the stages and audiences have ended for the year, we are looking forward to another great summer and are thrilled to be able to continue working with our RTP students, educators, and families until then.
