(UPDATED) Corinne Costell, Naomi Brigell, Karlos Piñero-Mercado, & Ryan Alexander Perform in Ear Taxi Festival 2025
By Afton MarkayThe Ear Taxi Festival’s “The Composer’s Voice,” has announced that it will return to Chicago in fall 2025.
This article only features classical voice events.
The chamber vocal ensemble, Bella Voce opens the 2025 Festival with the oratorio, “Lost Objects.” The work by Bang on a Can combines choir, electronics, and modern themes. Hannah De Priest, Ryan Belongie, and Luke Lemmeier headline the showcase.
Performance Date: October 3, 2025
Soprano Corinne Costell performs with Constellation Men’s Ensemble and pianist Shannon McGinnis in a program of works by members of the Chicago Composers Consortium.
Performance Date: October 4, 2025
Soprano Katherine Peterson, mezzo-soprano Quinn Middleman, tenors Karlos Piñero-Mercado and Jordy Vargas, and baritone Chiemerie Obianom and the Quintet Attacca present works by Damien Geter, John Dorhauer, Marybeth Kurnat, Alex Taylor, Shane Cook, Gillian Rae Perry, and Carl Schimmel.
Performance Date: October 4, 2025
The La Caccina and Holocene ensembles perform music written by the Crossing Borders Music Young Composers Project.
Performance Date: October 5, 2025
Soprano Leila Bowie McClenahan and pianist Alyssa Arrigo present “Living Sounds: A Celebration of Chicago Composers.”
Performance Date: October 8, 2025
Sopranos Laura Strickling, Michelle Areyzaga, and Hayley Fox, with mezzo-sopranos Naomi Brigell and Grace Ryan perform with the Kaia String Quartet in a concert of works by Rosśa Crean, Lee Kesselman, Ty Bloomfield, Justin Weiss, and Graham Meyer.
Performance Date: October 10, 2025
The William Ferris Chorale and Ensemble 20+ give the Midwest premiere of Christopher Tins “The Lost Birds.” Chris Windle and Michael Lewanski direct.
Performance Date: October 11, 2025
Nathalie Colas serves as soprano soloist with the Fonema Consort in the program, “Stare at the Sun.”
Performance Date: October 12, 2025
Soprano Sabrina Langlois and mezzo-soprano Joanne Evans perform with pianist Brent Funderburk in a concert of works by Blair Boyd, Andrei Skorobogatykh, Liza Sobel Crane, Eric Malmquist, Bradley Robin, Asher Sizemore, and Paul Novak.
Performance Date: October 12, 2025
Sopranos Angela De Venuto and Emily Venturella, mezzo-soprano Christina Bernardoni, tenor Julian Otis, and baritone Ryan Alexander perform in a composer showcase with Lakeshore Rush.
Performance Date: October 16, 2025
Chicago Fringe Opera will present one-act chamber operas by composers Regina Harris Baiocchi, Jasmine Barnes, and Kate Soper. George Cederquist directs.
Performance Date: October 17, 2025
The Apollo Chorus of Chicago and Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra will give the Midwest premiere of Damien Geter’s “An African American Requiem.” Soloists include soprano Tiana Sorenson, mezzo-soprano Leah Dexter, tenor Cameo Humes, and bass Khary Laurent. Stephen Alltop directs and Scott Speck conducts.
Performance Date: October 18, 2025
The 6Degrees Composers’ “Vox femina – The Woman’s Voice” concert features soprano Andrea Morris, mezzo-soprano Felicia Patton, tenor Eric Trévon McCarter, contralto Jeanel Le Blanc, and baritone Anthony Jones, baritone, among others.
Performance Date: October 24, 2025
The Bienen Contemporary/Early Vocal Ensemble performs works by Stacy Garrop, Rebecca Clarke, Steven Stucky, C.H.H. Parry, Dowland, and Gibbons. Andrew Megill directs.
Performance Date: October 24, 2025
Baritone Ryan De Ryke and pianist Daniel Schlosberg present a concert of works by Doug Lofstrom.
Performance Date: October 24, 2025
The cosmia opera collective present “moth songs ii: thresholds.”
Performance Date: October 26, 2025
Soprano Kristina Bachrach performs with the Chicago Bagatelles Project.
Performance Date: October 28, 2025
The Northwestern University Chorale gives a concert titled, “The Arithmetic of Pain” featuring works by Judith Weir, Caroline Shaw, Heinrich Schütz, and others. A.J. Keller directs.
Performance Date: November 1, 2025
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*Updated Oct. 8, 2025
