Merit School of Music
I am grateful for lunch today with Charles Grode and Meredith Barber and for the chance to hear what’s ahead at Merit School of Music.
Merit’s mission is clear and urgently important: to transform the lives of Chicago-area youth by removing barriers to high-quality music education.
As a Merit alum and current board member, I’m proud to support and spotlight the school’s expanding reach and excellence across Chicagoland.
A few highlights worth celebrating and sharing:
Gala 2026 at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, Merit’s largest annual fundraiser, honoring Caroline and Charlie Huebner and D-Composed. The Huebners will receive the Alice S. Pfaelzer Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts, and D-Composed will receive the Merit School of Music Award for Citizen Artistry.
Congratulations to Merit students in the Phoenix String Quartet and Bone Rangers Trombone Quartet for major wins last weekend at both the MYA and Rembrandt chamber competitions.
An upcoming cello masterclass led by Klaus Mäkelä, CSO Zell Music Director Designate.
An open rehearsal with the Merit Philharmonic led by Enrique Mazzola, Music Director of Lyric Opera of Chicago, an extraordinary learning opportunity for young musicians.
I am proud of this work and of the students, faculty, families, and supporters who make it possible.