The Festival String and Vocal Fellowship is a unique training opportunity for emerging artists aimed at guiding young professionals toward successful careers in music.
Each year outstanding young musicians are hand-selected by the Festival to rehearse and perform within the ranks of
the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus, and receive one-on-one mentoring from seasoned professionals. Performing in parks and community centers around the city, the Festival fellows serve as an integral part of the Festival's summer lineup. They provide daily musical demonstrations within the Classical Campers program, participate as members of the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus, perform throughout the city via the Chicago Park District's Night Out in the Parks program, and gain valuable experience in public speaking, ensemble work, and the management of a busy music career.
The Festival Fellowship began as an extension of the Project Inclusion program established by maestro Paul Freeman, founder of Chicago Sinfonietta. The Grant Park Music Festival forged a partnership with Sinfonietta in 2013 to launch its own program, now known as the Festival's String and Vocal Fellowship program.
Auditions are held annually in February and more information can be found here in early December.
Please consider supporting our Festival Fellowship program with a gift to the Festival.
[It] was such a lovely way to experience the city and to feel as though our music was having a real impact on the different communities in Chicago. — Rita Andrade, 2016 String Fellow