Celebrating Black History Month

Honoring Black Artists at the Grant Park Music Festival

As we approach the much-anticipated summer season of the Grant Park Music Festival, we take a moment during Black History Month to spotlight a few of the artists who will be shaping our 2025 programs. 

The Festival has long been a platform for the brilliant talents of people of color. This rich legacy continues to inspire us today, as we stay true to our commitment of celebrating the rich diversity of Black composers and performing artists.

In honor of Black History Month, the Grant Park Music Festival highlights several accomplished composers whose works will be performed this summer—Margaret Bonds, Brian Nabors, Adolphus Hailstork and Henry Dorn—along with Chicago-native soprano Janai Brugger who returns to the Festival this summer.

Margaret Bonds: A Groundbreaking Chicago Composer

Margaret Bonds (1913–1972) was an influential Black composer and pianist, known for her pioneering contributions to classical and choral music. This year, the Festival will perform one of her most significant works, Credo, on July 11 and 12, performed in her hometown for the first time. Composed in 1961, this choral symphony embodies her powerful blend of classical structures with African American spirituals, exploring themes of faith, social justice, and hope. Born in Chicago, the city’s cultural diversity deeply influenced her musical style. She studied at the Chicago Musical College and later at Northwestern University (completing a Master of Music degrees in piano and composition at age 21 despite enduring racist and hostile treatment!) A frequent collaborator with poet Langston Hughes and soprano Leontyne Price, her legacy with the Festival continues to be celebrated.

Janai Brugger: A Hometown Treasure Returns

We’re honored to welcome back one of our favorites, Chicago-native soprano Janai Brugger, who will grace the stage with us on July 11 and 12, performing Margaret Bonds’ Credo. Janai’s journey with the Festival began as a member of the Festival’s program for pre-professional vocalists and later the Grant Park Chorus. She even gave her first solo performance with an orchestra at our Festival—a moment that helped to launch her illustrious career. Today, Janai is regarded as one of the top sopranos in the world, having sung at renowned institutions such as The Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Metropolitan Opera, LA Opera, and Covent Garden. We are excited to witness her continued artistry as we welcome her home to grace our stage once again.

Brian Nabors: A Fresh Voice in Contemporary Music

Composer Brian Nabors will bring his emotionally vibrant work Pulse to the Harris Theatre when the Festival heads indoors on August 1 and 2. A rising star in the world of contemporary classical music, Brian blends jazz, funk, R&B, and gospel influences with modern classical techniques, creating a soundscape that’s uniquely his. This will be the first time his work is featured at the Festival, and we’re especially thrilled as it marks a collaboration with our new Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, Giancarlo Guerrero. Brian and Giancarlo share a long- standing artistic relationship, and Giancarlo is eager to introduce this dynamic composer’s music to our audiences.

Adolphus Hailstork: An Acclaimed Composer who Captures the Energy of a Port City

Adolphus Hailstork, whose An American Port of Call will be performed on June 18, says the work, which was inspired by his home city of Norfolk, Virginia, “captures the strident (and occasionally tender and even mysterious) energy of a busy American port city.” Hailstork is an acclaimed American composer known for his contributions to classical music, blending traditional techniques with contemporary African American influences. His body of work spans orchestral, choral, and chamber music and the pieces often reflect themes of social justice, history, and African American culture. A graduate of Howard University, the Manhattan School of Music, and the University of Michigan, Hailstork has earned recognition as a prominent voice in contemporary classical music.

Henry Dorn: A New Perspective in Modern Classical Music

Henry Dorn, whose Transitions will make its Illinois debut July 2 and 3, is renowned for his energizing rhythm, syntax versatility and passion for creating storytelling music. Transitions, a somber work for orchestra, depicts his mother’s tumultuous battle with lung cancer and her transition from this life. It was premiered by the Minnesota Orchestra in May 2022 and has since been performed by both the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Reviewing the Atlanta performance for EarRelevant, critic Mark Gresham raved that the piece “conveys the raw reality of the illness, eschewing romanticized notions of death for a portrayal of its harsh and relentless nature.”