In Tuesday’s (10/19) Chicago Tribune, Ted Gregory writes, “ ‘Even prisons’ were the words, and they were spoken by Riccardo Muti in his first Chicago news conference after being named music director of the 119-year-old classical music institution. The maestro outlined his plans for expanding the orchestra’s community involvement to such areas as schools, hospitals, ‘even prisons.’ What transpired is believed to be the only partnership of its kind in the United States, a work in progress that brings together musicians from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, a music theater workshop focused on ‘at-risk’ youths and the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice. … Converting Muti’s vision to reality became the responsibility of Cayenne Harris, CSO director of learning and access initiatives, and others in the orchestra association’s education and community outreach program. At a planning session months ago, someone mentioned a National Public Radio story on a musical performance by incarcerated girls and produced by Music Theatre Workshop. … The collaboration will lead to ‘Mom in the Moon,’ a musical production written and performed by the Warrenville [correctional center] residents, based on their life stories and coordinated by Storycatchers. CSO musicians also will participate in the performances, set to begin Nov. 9 at the Warrenville center.”
Posted October 20, 2010
