International Chamber Artists

09/14/2026

ICA’s phenomenal musicians are looking forward to the first concert in our 21st season, “Visions of A New Tomorrow”! We can’t wait to see you at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, at The Church of the Holy Spirit, 400 E. Westminster, Lake Forest, for this marvelous program.

We’re delighted to welcome guest artist Timothy Higgins, named Chicago Symphony Orchestra's principal trombone in 2025. Higgins, a Northwestern alumnus, previously served as principal trombone for the San Francisco Symphony.
Renowned as a performer, composer, arranger and educator, Higgins brings his artistry to an added bass trombone part in Ingolf Dahl’s Music for Brass Instruments, a compelling blend of Baroque and jazz. ICA will also showcase Higgins’ Brass Quintet No. 2, premiered by the San Francisco Symphony in 2023.

The program also includes the virtuosic, jazzy clarinet and double bass duet “Benny’s Gig” by Morton Gould. ICA Composer-in-Residence James M. Stephenson’s lush “Quartet for A New Tomorrow” features four movements that explore what it means to have hope. The finale of Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Organ” Symphony No. 3 – in a special arrangement featuring a brass quintet – offers a triumphant conclusion.

This concert is FREE! A $20 suggested donation per person supports ICA's mission – we want to help forge chamber music's future by sharing the joy of music with everyone in our community. For an incomparable view of our world-class musicians, reserve a front-row seat for just $50 – visit ICAmusic.org to learn more!

09/05/2026

International Chamber Artists is back with an exhilarating new concert series! Join us as we celebrate composers on the cutting edge of chamber music, both past and present, in “Visions of A New Tomorrow" – our 21st season!

We offer FREE general admission to most concerts, which are held at the beautiful Church of the Holy Spirit, 400 E. Westminster in Lake Forest. A $20 suggested donation per person helps sustain the future of chamber music in our community. For a truly unique perspective of our world-class performers, reserve a front-row seat to select concerts for just $50!

Visit ICAmusic.org to learn more about the season and reserve your front-row seats! Be a part of chamber music’s bright future – find the seat that works best for you, invite your friends, and enjoy the music all season long!

07/02/2026

Soundtrack your semiquincentennial celebrations with ICA! "Sounds of Appalachian Spring" is now streaming on YouTube! Recorded June 28 at our annual benefit, this fabulous all-American program capped our Emerald Season.

We're so grateful for our ICA Musical Family's generosity. You make it possible for the Stream Team to capture our performances for audiences near and far. Revisit your favorite ICA musical moments, or catch up on concerts that you missed!

To support ICA's musical mission of sharing the joy of chamber music with everyone, head to ICAmusic.org/donate – your donations truly keep the music playing! See you next season!

The International Chamber Artists present: SOUNDS Of APPALACHIAN S...

06/27/2026

Don’t miss the final performance in ICA’s Emerald Season! Join our world-class musicians as they bring Copland’s vibrant masterwork to life during our “Sounds of Appalachian Spring” encore concert.

We’ll see you for this FREE concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 29, at St. Gregory the Great Church, 5545 N. Paulina, Chicago. A suggested donation of $20 per person helps sustain ICA’s musical mission of sharing the joy of chamber music – your support helps keep the music playing in our community! For more information about ICA, visit ICAmusic.org.

Program:
George Gershwin – "An American in Paris" for Brass Quintet (10’)
Scott Joplin – "Maple Leaf Rag" for Brass Quintet (3’)
James M. Stephenson, ICA Composer-in-Residence – “Hubble” from Celestial Suite for Brass Quintet (3’)
Libby Larsen – "Four on the Floor" for Violin, Cello, Bass, & Piano (6’)
Aaron Copland – "Appalachian Spring," Ballet for 13 instruments (35’)

06/23/2026

ICA’s musicians are excited to return to St. Gregory the Great Church for an all-American evening of music! Enjoy a dazzling concert featuring Gershwin, Joplin, and Copland – along with exciting contemporary musical voices – as we bring “Sounds of Appalachian Spring” to this marvelous venue for a special encore performance.

Join us at 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 29, at the church, 5545 N. Paulina, Chicago. This free concert is open to everyone! A $20 suggested donation supports ICA’s mission of making incredible music available to everyone in our community. For more information about our nonprofit, visit ICAmusic.org.

06/10/2026

Eighteen amazing performers are excited to share “Sounds of Appalachian Spring” with you! This all-American showcase features Gershwin, Joplin, and – of course – Aaron Copland’s masterpiece, “Appalachian Spring.”

If you haven’t yet reserved your tickets for our June 28 annual benefit – featuring a delectable dinner and an all-American concert – it’s not too late! The reservation deadline has been extended to Sunday, June 14.

🎟 Visit https://www.icamusic.org/june-2026-benefit for more details and to secure your seats. Your support will help sustain the future of ICA for years to come!

“Sounds of Appalachian Spring” features ICA Artistic Director Patrick Godon, piano; Sarah Carrillo and Mike Brozick, trumpet; Oto Carrillo, horn; Tom Stark, trombone; Sean Whitaker, tuba; Sang Mee Lee, Azusa Tashiro, Polina Borisova, and Kiju Joh, violin; Claudia Lasareff-Mironoff and Jay Pike, viola; Paula Kosower and Melissa Bach, cello; Jeremy Attanaseo, bass; Yukie Ota, flute; Jennifer Woodrum, clarinet; and Edin Agamenoni, bassoon.

On the program:
George Gershwin – "An American in Paris" for Brass Quintet (10’)
Scott Joplin – "Maple Leaf Rag" for Brass Quintet (3')
James M. Stephenson, ICA Composer-in-Residence – “Hubble” from Celestial Suite for Brass Quintet (3’)
Libby Larsen – "Four on the Floor" for Violin, Cello, Bass, & Piano (6')
Aaron Copland – "Appalachian Spring," Ballet for 13 instruments (35')

06/04/2026

There’s nothing like a piano fresh from the Steinway factory! Come hear this incredible instrument shine during ICA’s annual benefit from 6-9 p.m. Sunday, June 28, at Lake Forest Place.

A thoughtful gift to the residents of Lake Forest Place from a generous donor, this Steinway B Spirio was hand-picked by ICA Artistic Director and pianist Patrick Godon. Instruments truly take on a life of their own – and this one shimmers with potential!

Enjoy ICA's expert artistry as we create new musical memories during a night of dinner, drinks, and beautiful music. Reserve your tickets today by visiting icamusic.org/donate.

Ticket information:
VIP: $250 per person, includes reserved seating at the concert, special recognition in the program, and MORE!
At the door: $200 each
Table for 8: $1,600

05/28/2026

Don't miss the final concert in ICA's "Semiquincentennial Celebration of Sound" season! Join us for "Sounds of Appalachian Spring," our annual benefit concert, from 6-9 p.m. Sunday, June 28, at Lake Forest Place.

Enjoy a delectable buffet, drinks, desserts, and an all-American program that showcases both iconic masterworks and contemporary musical voices. Join your fellow music lovers for this extraordinary evening and help sustain ICA – reserve your tickets at ICAmusic.org/donate today!

🎺 On the program:

The ICA Brass Quintet will perform lively arrangements of George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” and Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag.” ICA Composer-in-Residence James M. Stephenson’s “Hubble,” from his “Celestial Suite,” pays tribute to both the famed astronomer and a musician of the same name, with a trombone cadenza providing a “Big Bang.”

ICA Artistic Director Patrick Godon will bring Lake Forest Place’s incredible new Steinway B Spirio piano to life with American composer Libby Larsen’s “Four on the Floor.” The composer describes this boogie-woogie-inspired piece, which also features violin, cello, and bass, as a “celebration of American music and American musicians.”

Aaron Copland’s renowned “Appalachian Spring,” featuring the original orchestration of 13 musicians, will close out the evening. This Pulitzer Prize-winning piece, originally commissioned for Martha Graham’s dance company, depicts a frontier love story. Copland channeled Graham’s “prim and restrained, simple yet strong” nature and the Shaker hymn “Simple Gifts” to create one of the most acclaimed works in the American canon.

🎟 All tickets include dinner, drinks, and the concert. General admission is $200. For $250, upgrade to a VIP ticket and enjoy a reserved seat at the concert, special recognition in the program, and more! A package for eight guests, which includes a reserved dinner table and concert seats, is available for $1,600. Head to ICAmusic.org/donate to secure your seats by June 7!

04/17/2026

🔊 Sound up! Thanks to WFMT for this radio spot previewing Sunday's concert!

We hope to see you at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 19, at The Church of the Holy Spirit for this soul-stirring performance. This FREE concert is open to everyone – a $20 suggested donation helps our nonprofit continue to make the beauty of music available to our entire community!

For more information – or to reserve a front-row seat for $50 – visit ICAmusic.org.