Over spring break, The Harker Orchestra went to Chicago to perform at the Chicago International Music Festival, held at the Symphony Center, home to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra’s performance included challenging works by Stravinsky and Rimsky-Korsakov and earned a Gold rating, the highest awarded to the festival’s performers.

The trip also included a masterclass by Carter Simmons, music director of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, held at the Symphony Center’s Buntrock Hall. Another highlight was attending the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances, conducted by Karina Canellakis.

Students also received a tour of Northwestern University, with a smaller group visiting the Bienen School of Music, where senior Andre Lu and junior Mindy Truong set up meetings with its faculty.

Despite their busy schedule, the group found time for sightseeing around Chicago, visiting the famous Chicago Bean and seeing a special exhibition of Frida Kahlo’s works at the Art Institute of Chicago.