J'nai Bridges

Looking back at CAIC's 2014-15 season

The Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago closed out its 2014-15 season this month, and with it, my second season shooting for them.  Through terrific recital programming, a series of master classes, and expert coachings, CAIC has added a vibrant art-song presence to Chicago's music scene, and I've been happy to see its audience grow at each event. Congratulations to my friends at CAIC on another wonderful season - I was happy to see it all, once again, through the camera.

All photos Β© Copyright 2015 by Elliot Mandel. All rights reserved. 

CAIC's Winter Lieder Lounge

Back for another wonderful Lieder Lounge with my friends at the Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago.  From the Dixon-Stein instrument shop, CAIC hosted this salon recital featuring mezzo-soprano J'nai Bridges, pianist Maureen Zoltek, and violist Frank Babbitt in music by Brahms, Ravel, de Falla, and Britten.  

A gallery of singers.

I love photographing singers - it's the perfect combination of drama and music.  

Chamber music and whiskey shots: a recap of June

June was filled with music.  So. Much. Music.  Spektral Quartet rocked The Hideout so hard, the boys needed whiskey shots.  Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago closed out its season with French art songs performed by Juliet Petrus and Matthew Gemmill at PianoForte Foundation.  Some highlights from the Rush Hour Concerts season include the Handel-Halvorsen Passacaglia performed by violinist Liba Schacht and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's principal cellist John Sharp, and a beautiful concert by the trio of John Macfarlane, Brant Taylor, and Winston Choi.  Alice Teyssier and the International Contemporary Ensemble blew away a packed Constellation with Daniel Dehaan's "Trompe l'Corps."  And soprano J'nai Bridges hit some serious high notes during Make Music Chicago.  Click through the gallery below for a selection.