Music

South African jazz vocalist (now based in Harlem) Vuyo Sotashe was the first male singer ever to place in the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Vocal competition—and that’s just one of many honors he has collected.

Pianist Isaiah J. Thompson garnered the 2018 Lincoln Center Emerging Artist Award and earned second place in the Thelonious Monk Competition that same year.

Alexa Tarantino was named one of the “Top 5 Alto Saxophonists of 2019” by the JazzTimes Critics’ Poll and nominated as a “Rising Star–Alto Saxophone” by the DownBeat 2020 and 2021 Critics’ Poll.

One of the finest chamber orchestras in the world, the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, is renowned for fresh, brilliant interpretations of musical masterworks. The orchestra will be joined by renowned cellist Gary Hoffman.

Grammy Award-winner (and longtime Hancher friend) Dan Zanes and Haitian-American jazz vocalist Claudia Zanes perform a mix of old and new songs from near and far in a style that has been called “all-ages social music.”

A modern-day song cycle spun from the skin of history for string quartet, chorus, and narrator, At War With Ourselves – 400 Years of You features a text by award-winning poet Nikky Finney inspired by her 2013 poem “The Battle of and for the Black Face Boy.”

Consistently counted among the world’s greatest orchestras, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra thrills audiences at home and in great concert halls around the world. The CSO returns to Hancher for a concert of beloved music by Beethoven, Liadov, and Mussorgsky.

She is known as the “Godmother of Soul” and her hitmaking career has spanned seven decades—and she’s coming to Hancher to help us ring in the holidays.

Cantus has a simple but powerful vision: to give voice to shared human experiences. And what beautiful voices they bring to the task. In this holiday concert, the members of Cantus will wrap you in the joyous sounds of the season.

The bestselling Christmas artist of all time comes to Hancher Auditorium for the first time! Enjoy Mannheim Steamroller’s beloved renditions of your holiday favorites in a concert that is sure to be the perfect kickoff to your family’s holiday season.