Chicago native Anthony McGill made it to the top of his profession in a hurry. He graduated from the elite Curtis Institute of Music at age 20, immediately won a position with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and four years later became the principal clarinet of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Now 30, McGill is one of the most sought-after classical clarinetists. more ›

In the lobby following a recent Chicago Symphony Orchestra concert, I ran into a couple intrepid friends who attended the show despite being entirely unfamiliar with classical music. Their opinion of the performance was cautious and mixed; they wished there was some sort of church crying room where they could've taken in the concert, had a few drinks, and asked me questions about what was happening on stage. The CSO is fantastic, both as an ensemble and as a night-on-the-town outing, and everyone should check them out at least once, but they had a point: The classical music concert-going experience is staid and not without an air of exclusivity. It's no mystery why the genre is seen as inaccessible. more ›

Two new-music groups that normally perform chamber music programs that tend toward the avant garde and experimental are taking the edge off by going back in time this weekend, with concerts featuring music that's, relatively-speaking, downright ancient. more ›

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra released its schedule yesterday of all classical, jazz, and world music concerts happening at Symphony Center during the 2010-2011 season, as well as the general plans for Riccardo Muti's first season as the CSO's tenth music director. more ›

Here at Chicagoist, our motto's always been "When it's right, it's right." This then raises the question: Why wait until the middle of the cold, dark night? That's the thinking of two Chicagoist faves, Anaphora and Third Coast Percussion, each of whom has scheduled some afternoon delight for this Sunday's day o' love. more ›

On Monday and Thursday of next week, Fifth House Ensemble will present "The Great Exodus of the Tamed," the second act of their musical graphic novel Black Violet. The story is set during London's last plague outbreak in 1665, with Fifth House performing live music to accompany projected panels by Chicago-based artist Ezra Clayton Daniels. more ›

With last weekend's Lyric Opera season opener, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's first concert and gala coming up this weekend (tickets are still available for both, by the way), the 2009-2010 classical season has hit the ground running. If there was any doubt about it, check out these great chamber music offerings over the weekend (and Monday) as the concert music year gets in full swing. more ›