The Chicago Philharmonic opened its 18-19 season with a multi-night festival celebrating Polish music and the 100th anniversary of Polish independence. I began my fifth season as the Philharmonic’s photographer and had the pleasure/challenge of shooting in some unique and grand spaces around Chicago. Here’s a gallery of my favorite shots from the festival. Pictured: the Silesian Quartet at Fourth Presbyterian Church; jazz pianist Piotr Orzechowski at the Polish Museum of America; director Scott Speck, pianist Łukasz Krupiński, and the Chicago Philharmonic at the Copernicus Center; and Marek Mos conducting the Philharmonic in Wojciech Kilar’s Mass for Peace for 1700 people at St. Hyacinth Basilica.

If there's a way to sum up the start of 2018, it's that I photographed some pretty awesome and beautiful things. The year started off with a Supermoon in sub-zero temps. After the feeling returned to my fingers, I drove out to the Mississippi River to watch the bald eagles before concert season picked up again. I spent a dress rehearsal with the Lake Forest Symphony; covered the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra's final concert before its China tour; and shot the Chicago Philharmonic (with two pianos!). The Northwestern University Jazz Orchestra - with Victor Goines and Don Vappie - blew out the best Mardi Gras tunes north of New Orleans. I shot my first concert for the Harris Theater on the stage of the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, and watched in amazement while pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard performed Ligeti and Beethoven before a rapt audience at the University of Chicago. Fulcrum Point New Music Project closed March with a rollicking performance of music by Wynton Marsalis. Now, on to spring!

A Supermoon rises over Lake Michigan on January 1, 2018.

A bald eagle hunts over the Mississippi River in Davenport, IA, January 13, 2018.

Vladimir Kulenovic leads the Lake Forest Symphony, January 24, 2018.

Victor Yampolsky leads the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra before a packed house at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, February 3, 2018.

Victor Yampolsky and the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra, February 3, 2018.

Scott Speck leads the Chicago Philharmonic in Saint-Saens' "The Carnival of the Animals," March 4, 2018.

Victor Goines leads the Northwestern University Jazz Orchestra on Mardi Gras, February 13, 2018.

New Orleanian Don Vappie performs with the Northwestern University Jazz Orchestra on Mardi Gras, February 13, 2018.

NUJO leads the second line parade on Mardi Gras, February 13, 2018.

Harris Theater presents "Beyond the Aria" with Heidi Stober, Lindsay Metzger, Andrew Stenson, and Craig Terry at Millennium Park, March 1, 2018.

Pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard takes a final bow after his solo recital for University of Chicago Presents, March 6, 2018.

Stephen Burns and Fulcrum Point New Music Project perform music by Wynton Marsalis at The Promontory in Hyde Park, March 28, 2018.

Scenes from the Chicago Philharmonic's Poland 2018 Festival

Supermoon and Symphonies: Early Highlights of 2018