Chicago

 
Welcome to Chicago. 
 
The Fidelity FutureStage program started in Chicago in 2007. Working together with the Chicago Symphony and Merit School of Music, the program offers symphony experiences and coaching to Chicago-area public schools. 

Students from Chicago Public Schools perform at Orchestra Hall

Fidelity FutureStage, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Office of Arts Education (part of the Chicago Public Schools) conducted a citywide search for public high school musicians and vocalists. The top four acts performed live on stage at Symphony Center on June 7, 2010.  Meet the winners.
 

Members of the CSO visit Chicago Public Schools

Kenwood Academy students were excited to learn more about their instruments from the experts. Musicians with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra visited a music class at Kenwood Academy recently, to help students go from practice to performance worthy pieces. As part of the Fidelity FutureStage program, students receive coaching and advice from fellow musicians, as they learn more about improving their presentation.

Kickoff of the 2010 National Music Program

Students from 16 different schools in 4 cities across the country witnessed the launch of the 2010 Music Program. Four schools from Chicago were selected to participate in the program, including: Jones College Prep, Kenwood Academy High School, Lincoln Park, and Pritzker College Prep. High School

The event was hosted by Actor Dominic Monaghan and featured Actor Jamie Foxx and Actress Joan Cusack in Chicago. Fidelity Investments surprised the 16 schools with a donation of $500,000 worth of new instruments.

Fidelity donates new instruments to students

Students from Hirsch Metro High School were treated to a special day at Symphony Center where they attended a CSO rehearsal, got a backstage tour and were surprised with 22 new instruments. Fidelity Investments has donated nearly $90,000 worth of instruments to Chicago-area schools since 2006.
 
Read the press release.

Kelly High School students perform at Symphony Center

The student chamber ensemble from Kelly High School, under the direction of Merit School of Music faculty members, performed at a Fidelity client event at Symphony Center.

Fidelity donates $100,000 worth of new instruments as part of holiday ecard campaign

Fidelity FutureStage and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra developed a holiday ecard campaign and for every ecard sent Fidelity Investments donated $1 worth of new instruments for students. As a result of this campaign, Fidelity is donating $100,000 worth of new instruments to students in underserved communities across the country, including­ $20,000 worth of instruments to students in Chicago.

 

Read the press release.

Fidelity FutureStage at Symphony Center

Throughout the spring, Chicago Symphony Orchestra patrons had the opportunity to sign Fidelity FutureStage signature walls in support of musical education. For every signature gathered, Fidelity Investments donates another dollar toward new musical instruments for students.

 

Select student ensembles from local Fidelity FutureStage schools also performed pre-concert.

Professional musicians mentor local students

As part of the Fidelity FutureStage program, faculty members from the Merit School of Music visit the schools each week to coach students and teach music composition.

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Chicago-area schools participating in this year's Music Program:

Jones College Prep
Kenwood Academy High
School Lincoln Park High School
Pritzker College Prep
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Fidelity FutureStage salutes its local partners, who help to make this program possible.
 
Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), founded in 1891, is consistently hailed as one of today's leading orchestras. Currently under the direction of two of today's preeminent musicians Principal Conductor Bernard Haitink and Helen Regenstein Conductor Emeritus Pierre Boulez, the CSO performs well over two hundred concerts each year in Chicago and serves as its city's ambassador in frequently sold-out tour performances across the country and around the world.
Merit School of Music provides high-quality music education in metropolitan Chicago. Its goals are to help young people achieve their full musical potential, to remove economic barriers to participation, and to stimulate personal and educational growth through music. Merit links its professional team to more than 84 sites offering weekly instruction at schools and community organizations. Merit has reached approximately 45,000 students in grades K-12 over the past 20 years.
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Key Facts
  • Donated more than 1,000 new instruments
  • Supported music programs in 8 Chicago- area schools
  • More than 3,300 students have benefited from instrument donations
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Press

Public school students receive new instruments and exposure to the world of professional music.
Learn More

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