“Chicago’s Grant Park Music Festival has principal conductor Carlos Kalmar for just another two years, according to an announcement Tuesday,” writes Doug George in Wednesday’s (6/23) Chicago Tribune. “Kalmar’s contract as the Festival’s artistic director and principal conductor has been extended through 2024, after which he will conclude his tenure. The 2024 summer season will be his 25th season leading the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus … as well as the Festival’s 90th anniversary season. Following the season, Kalmar will be conductor laureate and will return periodically to conduct the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus beginning in 2026…. Kalmar was first named principal conductor in 2000, adding the role of artistic director in 2011. The Grant Park Music Festival announced [earlier] that it would be returning to its performance home at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park on July 2 with an ‘Independence Day Salute’ … at full capacity.” Kalmar said in a statement, “Making music with the Grant Park Music Festival has been a great joy for me.… I am so grateful for the extraordinary artistic partnership I have had with the Festival, and will always love this orchestra and chorus, along with the audiences of Chicago.”
Change font size
