23rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration Concert

Sun, 18 Jan, 2026 at 03:00 pm UTC-06:00

Nichols Concert Hall | Evanston

Music Institute of Chicago
Publisher/HostMusic Institute of Chicago
23rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration Concert
Advertisement
FREE ADMISSION
This annual tribute to the historic American leader features performances by Music Institute students and community partners.
This year celebration includes a keynote address given by Dr. Jonathan Bailey Holland, dean of the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, where he is also the Kay Davis Professor of Music.
Dr. Holland's opera “The Bridge”, commissioned by Boston Modern Opera Project and premiering in 2026, chronicles Martin Luther King’s years in Boston, narratively framed by the journey to Selma and the crossing of the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
The Music Institute is collaborating with Hearing in Color, a Chicago-based organization dedicated to sharing music that has been historically excluded from musical spaces. MIC has commissioned a world premiere composition for the occasion from Hearing in Color Young Composer Abisola Toukourou, which will be performed by Chroma, their new permanent, professional chamber ensemble consisting of performers with marginalized identities.
The program also features Evanston Children’s Choir, Dance Center Evanston, Reach Teach Play, Chicago Musical Pathways, and the Evanston Art Center.
Advertisement

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave,Evanston, Illinois, United States

Icon
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Ask AI if this event suits you:

More Events in Evanston

AJ Lee & Blue Summit w. Chicken Wire Empire
Sat, 17 Jan at 08:00 pm AJ Lee & Blue Summit w. Chicken Wire Empire

Evanston SPACE

Candlelight: Mozart vs Beethoven | Chicago
Sat, 17 Jan at 08:45 pm Candlelight: Mozart vs Beethoven | Chicago

St. Luke's Episcopal Church Evanston

Nebraska Cornhuskers at Northwestern Wildcats Mens Basketball
Sat, 17 Jan at 09:00 pm Nebraska Cornhuskers at Northwestern Wildcats Mens Basketball

Welsh-Ryan Arena

Penn State Nittany Lions at Northwestern Wildcats Wrestling
Sun, 18 Jan at 09:30 am Penn State Nittany Lions at Northwestern Wildcats Wrestling

Welsh-Ryan Arena

Yoga at Double Clutch Brewery
Sun, 18 Jan at 11:00 am Yoga at Double Clutch Brewery

2121 Ashland Ave

Lines N' Lyrix Music Trivia
Sun, 18 Jan at 06:00 pm Lines N' Lyrix Music Trivia

2902 Central Street, Evanston, IL, United States, Illinois 60201

Lawrence Tome w. Eddie Ganet at Space
Sun, 18 Jan at 07:00 pm Lawrence Tome w. Eddie Ganet at Space

Evanston SPACE

MLK Jr. Family Swim Event
Mon, 19 Jan at 10:00 am MLK Jr. Family Swim Event

Goldfish Swim School- Evanston

I have a Dream Vision Board Fundraiser
Mon, 19 Jan at 12:00 pm I have a Dream Vision Board Fundraiser

745 Howard St

Diverse Communities United: A Better World Is Possible
Mon, 19 Jan at 02:00 pm Diverse Communities United: A Better World Is Possible

2715 Hurd Ave

Evanston is Happening!

Never miss your favorite happenings again!

Explore Evanston Events