Fall in Love with Music

Saturday, October 24, 2026

Join the Chicago Symphony League for the annual Fall in Love with Music event, which celebrates the expressive power of music. The featured guests are conductor Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider and cellist Jian Wang, and they each join Chicago Symphony President Jeff Alexander in conversation. Learn more about the week’s concert program, Szeps-Znaider’s extensive history with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Wang’s thoughts on Dvořák’s heroic Cello Concerto before enjoying an exclusive duet performance. 

Schedule
11:00 AM Guest Check-In
11:30 AM Luncheon
12:30 PM Program

Order tickets Sponsor the event

Proceeds from Fall in Love with Music benefit Chicago Symphony’s artistic, educational and community engagement programs.

Can’t attend the event? Support Fall in Love with Music by making a gift. 

Fall in Love with Music Sponsors

Maestro Sponsor
Lori Julian for the Julian Family Foundation

Conductor Sponsors
Phyllis Dougherty
Mimi Duginger
Sarah Good and Mark Mosley
Steve and Missy Ravid
John and Penny Van Horn

Baton Sponsors
Marcia Devlin
Allisa Gam
Mary and Michael Goodkind
Merle L. Jacob
Joseph and Judy Konen
Kathy Nordmeyer
Carol Nykiel
Jacqueline Sabian
John and Kathleen Solaro
Janice Young

Virtuoso Sponsors
Nancy A. Abshire
Jeff and Keiko Alexander
Peter and Nora Bouchard
Judy Das Gupta
Becky L. Davenport and Jack S. Jensen
Cheryl Istvan
Ken and Darrelyn Marx
Claretta Meier
Kathleen Orr
Larry G. Simpson

Soloist Sponsor
Barbara Asner
John and Carol Brosk
Diane Good
Leslie R. Wilson
Lois Wolff

Encore Sponsors
John and Janet Baar
Enrique and Elizabeth Beckmann
Eileen Conaghan
Renita M. Esayian
Fred Garzon
JoEllen Kerwin
Sid and Sharon Mitchell
Elizabeth Peters
Hilda Richards
Betty Smykal
Barbara Wright-Pryor

Thank you to these generous sponsors for underwriting the afternoon’s festivities:

Invitations and Mailing
Carol Nykiel

Wine
Margo and Mike Oberman

Favors
Merle Jacob
Janice Young

Linens
Sarah Good

Contributions made by October 15, 2026.

Photos from last year’s event: 
League members with Klaus Mäkelä
League members with Zell Music Director Designate Klaus Mäkelä
Todd Rosenberg Photography
League member listens attentively
League members listen attentively
Todd Rosenberg Photography
CSOA President Jeff Alexander and Zell Music Director Designate Klaus Mäkelä
Chicago Symphony President Jeff Alexander and Zell Music Director Designate Klaus Mäkelä
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Violist Antoine Tamestit
Violist Antoine Tamestit
Todd Rosenberg Photography
League members with Klaus Mäkelä
League members with Klaus Mäkelä
Todd Rosenberg Photography
CSOA President Jeff Alexander and Zell Music Director Designate Klaus Mäkelä
Jeff Alexander and Klaus Mäkelä
Todd Rosenberg Photography
CSOA President Jeff Alexander, Event co-chair Mimi Duginger, Zell Music Director Designate Klaus Mäkelä and Event co-chair Margo Oberman
Jeff Alexander, Mimi Duginger, Klaus Mäkelä and Margo Oberman
Todd Rosenberg Photography
League members and CSO Bass Ian Hallas
Betsy Berry, Liz Branch and Ian Hallas
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Lori Julian and Sharon Mitchell
Lori Julian and Sharon Mitchell
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Donors smile
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Violinist Alexandra Preucil and violist Antoine Tamestit
Violinist Alexandra Preucil and violist Antoine Tamestit
Todd Rosenberg Photography
League members and CSO Assistant Concertmaster Yuan Qing Yu
Liz Branch, Yuan Qing Yu, Sonya Doumanian and Greta Doumanian
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Hosted by

Sarah Good, President
Merle Jacob and Kathy Nordmeyer, Co-Chairs