Monday, July 18, 2011
'Dreamgirls' star showcases Chicago roots at Ravinia debut.
Jennifer Hudson returned to her hometown of Chicago last weekend for a two-night stint at Ravinia. This was Hudson's first time performing at the outdoor venue. Hudson was catapulted to stardom with her 2006 Oscar winning performance in Dreamgirls, but when she came home to Chicago and Ravinia it was clear she never forgot her roots or those who helped her along the way. Check out the photos above, then click here to read our review of the show.
42.15489
-87.779669
Ravinia Festival
200 Ravinia Park Rd, Highland Park, IL
/articles/ravinia-recap-jennifer-hudson
1787638
/locations/4888017
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Award-winning singer/songwriter serenades a crowd at the Wilmette Public Library.
Folk artist and songwriter Joe Crookston introduced Wilmette residents to his skillfully woven tapestry of tunes Friday. Playing a free concert for all ages at the Wilmette Public Library, Crookston was previewing material that he would share with a larger audience Saturday night as the guest of 98.7 FM WFMT’s live Folkstage program. The talented troubadour, a native of rural Ohio, is traveling the country as he promotes his new album, Darkling and the Bluebird Jubilee, which was released on March 21. Crookston played several songs from the album, which is his sixth full-length release. Crookston also played songs from 2004’s Fall Down as the Rain and the 2008 release, Able, Baker, Charlie and Dog. Crookston’s handsome, velvety baritone …
42.074768
-87.708902
Wilmette Public Library
1242 Wilmette Ave, Wilmette, IL
/articles/joe-crookston-folk-troubadour
284050
/locations/3809249
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Check out a local, 8th grade violist, vocalist and composer.
“My entire iPod is classical music," said Solena Rizzato, an eight-grade student at Marie Murphy Junior High School. When a blue-haired opera attendee speaks such words, one may not flinch. When uttered by a junior high student, however, eyebrows surely raise in response. But Rizzato is not your typical teen. “In fourth grade, my teachers, Nancy Magill and Eugenia Meltzer, really inspired me and challenged me to play viola." Rizzato said, "It was actually supposed to be a punishment because I was a second chair violin and I kept begging to be first chair." The 'punishment' has become a promise; Rizzato currently plays viola in the Marie Murphy Senior Strings Orchestra under the baton of Mary Rudzinski. Today, in addition to being a singer…
Monday, February 7, 2011
Wilmette Junior High School's annual Battle of the Bands showcases talented young musicians
A blizzard and sub-zero temperatures couldn't keep local junior high students from performing for their peers at Wilmette Junior High School's 2011 Battle of the Bands Friday night. The annual event, sponsored by Wilmette Youth Connection and KISS 103.5 FM, went off without a hitch despite the region's distressing weather conditions. The competition highlighted five local acts, made up of students in grades 5 through 8. The students played cover songs from the 1960s through present day, covering styles from funk and heavy metal. Some blossoming artists even played original compositions. Four bands played during the event: Triple A, Silent, Irish Pub and Speed of Sound, while a solo guitarist and singer, Jordan Xidas, rounded out the …
42.074436
-87.742063
620 Locust Rd, Wilmette, IL
/articles/photo-gallery-kiss-fm-co-hosts-students-battle-of-the-bands
/locations/3310707
Sunday, January 2, 2011
With bandmates stranded in NYC, Adam Kromelow dazzles in solo recital.
It took more than an East Coast winter storm to stop Adam Kromelow's year-end jazz tribute to Thelonious Monk. While three members of the jazz group, Collective Language, were mired in New York's mess, Wilmette native and jazz pianist, Kromelow, played a special solo recital at the Wilmette Public Library, on Thursday. "Just be glad it wasn't the bassist or something [who made it]" Kromelow joked from the stage of the library's auditorium. Collective Language, which also includes percussionist Gregg Bendian, bassist Peter Brendler and Chicago native, Jon Irabagon on saxophone, had been planning a full concert celebrating the work of Monk, a jazz icon. Once it became apparent that the band would be stuck in New York City, Kromelow jumped at…
42.074768
-87.708902
Wilmette Public Library
1242 Wilmette Ave, Wilmette, IL
/articles/local-jazz-whiz-delivers-solo-tribute-to-thelonious
284050
/locations/2925350
Friday, December 10, 2010
Wilmette also welcomes home Adam Kromelow for holiday performance at library.
A Wilmette native, with big jazz credentials will be returning to the concert-stage of his hometown this holiday season, in addition to several Chicago Symphony Orchestra performances. Adam Kromelow began taking piano lessons while enrolled at Harper Elementary School, and it wasn't long before this rising star began to prove his mettle. "My classical piano teacher [Patti Horn] was very encouraging," Kromelow told Patch. "I was listening to a lot of rock music and I would figure these songs out on piano and apply that knowledge to classical pieces, changing the groove or adding improvisations." But his style would evolve in a big way in his junior high and high school years as he began taking jazz piano lessons and listening to the music …
David Zacher
10:00 am on Monday, July 18, 2011
I heard she was almost an hour late and only performed for 45 minutes. For what they are charging to sit on the lawn at Ravinia and packing to many people in this park , if this is true it isn't acceptable more ›