Chicago’s Grant Park Music Festival held its annual fundraiser “the Advocate for the Awards Benefit” on Oct. 24, 2025 at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park.

The event has generated close to $1 million in support of the organization’s 10-week season of free concerts at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. The event featured Giancarlo Guerrero, the new Artistic Director and Principal conductor as well as soprano Janai Brugger, pianist Clayton Stephenson, Craig Terry, and others. Lisa Tesarik and Jenny Willcox were the event co-chairs.

“Thank you to all who gave so generously, and to our outstanding co-chairs Lisa Tesarik and Jenny Willcox,” said Grant Park Music Festival President and CEO Paul Winberg in an official press release. “The benefit’s fundraising success is a testament to the importance of the Festival and its role in Chicago.”

The event honored Founding Board members Eileen Friestad and Julian Oettinger.

“It’s us on stage that have to be thankful to you and to applaud every single one of you for everything you do, big or small, because it does have an immediate impact not only on the Festival itself but the quality of life in Chicago,” said Guerrero per an official press release.