Welcome from Giancarlo Guerrero

Dear Music Lovers,

I am incredibly excited to share with you the 2025 season of the Grant Park Music Festival, my very first as your Artistic Director and Principal Conductor.

It is a true honor to lead this extraordinary institution, and I look forward to embarking on this musical journey with all of you in beautiful Millennium Park. This year’s Festival will be a non-stop celebration of outstanding music performed by our world-class orchestra and chorus and many of the greatest soloists of our time. 

This season reflects our unwavering commitment to celebrating both the cherished traditions of classical music and the vibrant voices of today’s composers. We’ve crafted a season that offers something for everyone—from iconic masterpieces like Holst's The Planets, Ravel's Bolero, Orff's powerful favorite Carmina Burana and Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, to new and diverse works that bring fresh perspectives to concertgoers. We will continue to explore the full breadth of music, from beloved classics to cutting-edge compositions by living composers, many of whom have strong ties to Chicago. 

One of the things that really excites me is the way that the programs have been curated to present music in such a way that gives the listeners the opportunity to hear a piece of music they love in a new way. Well-known works by the giants of classical music will be presented on the same programs as music from innovative, gifted contemporary composers whose pieces deserve to be heard alongside those of composers like Mahler and Beethoven. Presenting newer voices together with those from the past makes those masterworks sound new again. The same way a chef pairs a great wine with a delicious meal, each piece influences the prism through which the audience hears the other to provide a sense of discovery that is both gripping and illuminating.  

The season will bring an array of top-tier guest conductors, including, of course, concerts led by our incomparable Chorus Director Christopher Bell as well many notable others including Andrew Litton, Osmo Vänskä and Keri-Lynn Wilson. We also will welcome a few major guest artists including the extraordinary soprano Janai Brugger, violinists Augustin Hadelich and Jennifer Koh, and pianists Clayton Stephenson and Joyce Yang. 

Other highlights of the season include a celebration of Broadway’s greatest partnership, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, and, of course, our annual Independence Day Salute—just to name a few. 

As always, the Grant Park Music Festival remains free and open to all, ensuring that everyone—whether a lifelong classical music fan or someone new to the genre—can enjoy these remarkable concerts. I hope you’ll join us this summer for an unforgettable season filled with discovery, beauty and inspiration. 

Thank you for being a part of the Grant Park Music Festival community. I cannot wait to see you in June. 

Warmly,

Giancarlo Guerrero 
Artistic Director and Principal Conductor 
Grant Park Music Festival