Chamber Concerts

Attend intimate classical concerts in the Thornhill Education Center, sip hot cider, and meet the artists at a special reception.

Enjoy intimate classical concerts hosted monthly at The Morton Arboretum’s Thornhill Education Center.

From November 2024 through March 2025, five concerts will be given by small ensembles in the Arbor Room, where floor-to-ceiling windows offer gorgeous views of the Arboretum’s grounds and gardens. The diverse performance schedule features fresh perspectives on traditional repertoire as well as creative fusions that expand the chamber music art form.

Returning for the 2024–2025 season, a post-concert reception will be held in the Founder’s Room following each performance. Enjoy hot coffee, lemonade, and hot cider while mingling with fellow concert-goers and the artists.

All performances begin at 2:15 p.m. During the winter months, guests are encouraged to allow extra time to park and enter the venue.

Performance Schedule

Sunday, November 3, 2024
Trevor Stephenson

Sunday, December 8, 2024
KAIA String Quartet

Sunday, January 5, 2025
Chicago Brass Quintet

Sunday, February 2, 2025
Kontras Quartet

Sunday, March 2, 2025
Paul Galbraith

Performances begin at 2:15 p.m.

Ticket Details

Chamber Concert tickets can be purchased individually by date or as a subscription. A subscription includes a ticket to each of the five concerts in the 2024–2025 series.

Cost
Concert ticket: $42
Subscription: $200

Member cost
Concert ticket: $37
Subscription: $175

Purchasers wanting to buy multiple individual concert tickets but not a seasonal subscription are encouraged to call the Ticket Line at 630-725-2066.

Your ticket purchase supports the Arboretum’s vision of a greener, healthier, more beautiful world where people and trees thrive together.

The Morton Arboretum acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council.

Ticket Details

Concert tickets can be purchased individually by date or as a subscription. A subscription includes a ticket to each of the five concerts in the 2024–2025 series.

Individual concert tickets and season subscriptions include a post-concert reception and opportunity to meet the artist(s).

Cost
Concert ticket: $42
Subscription: $200

Member cost
Concert ticket: $37
Subscription: $175

Purchasers wanting to buy multiple individual concerts are encouraged to call the Ticket Line at 630-725-2066 to make their purchase.

Tickets include admission to the Arboretum as well as to the Chamber Concert performance.

2024–2025 Performers

Sunday, November 3, 2024—Trevor Stephenson, Bach-Handel-Scarlatti: Class of 1685

Harpsichordist Trevor Stephenson, artistic director of the Madison Bach Musicians, will perform and discuss masterworks by three Baroque composers all born in 1685—Bach, Handel, and Scarlatti. The program will include selections from Bach’s French Suites, Handel’s Suite in E major (including the variations known as “The Harmonious Blacksmith”), and several of Scarlatti’s keyboard sonatas, which are both poetic and dazzling.

Sunday, December 8, 2024—KAIA String Quartet

The Chicago-based KAIA String Quartet, celebrated for their ability to blend jazz, classical, Latin, and world music, is devoted to promoting the vibrant musical traditions of Latin America. Known for their active engagement in both performance and music education, KAIA has collaborated with renowned artists, earned critical acclaim for their albums, and served as teaching artists in various programs—showcasing a commitment to nurturing the next generation of musicians while leaving an indelible mark on Chicago’s music scene and beyond.

Sunday, January 5, 2025—Chicago Brass Quintet

The Chicago Brass Quintet has been at the forefront of brass chamber music since the group’s founding in 1963. Internationally regarded as virtuoso musicians, the quintet has been widely lauded for their interpretation of the classical canon and for their creative approach to arrangement and performance.

Sunday, February 2, 2025—Kontras Quartet

Kontras Quartet explores the role of chamber music in the new millennium, at once keeping classic tradition and style alive while embracing new opportunities and fusing genres to expand the art form and include a more diverse audience. Kontras means “contrasts” in the Afrikaans language, fitting for a string ensemble whose colorful repertoire spans centuries, genres, and continents.

Sunday, March 2, 2025—Paul Galbraith

Paul Galbraith is internationally renowned as one of the foremost guitarists of our time. The searching depth of his interpretations, along with his revolutionary playing style and instrument, have made him an instantly recognizable figure in the world of classical music.

Accessibility

Chamber Concerts take place in the Arbor Room at the Thornhill Education Center on the Arboretum’s West Side. The building has wheelchair ramp access, as well as a drop-off circle in front of the building. The Arbor Room is on the main entry level of the building, and is a level room. The Arbor Room itself has no stairs or ramps. If you use a wheelchair and need seating accommodations, please reach out to specialevents@mortonarb.org.

Visit Accessibility at the Arboretum for more information.