2018 in Portraits

Look at all these wonderful people making the world better with beautiful art! Thanks to all for their trust and enthusiasm. Plus, I joined in and got a new headshot myself. Hair and makeup by Angela Brasington, Christine Sciortino, Kimberly Cox, and Andrea Samuels. Photos © copyright 2018 by Elliot Mandel. All rights reserved.

2018 in Music Photos

A year of big performances, big venues, big voices, and big ovations. Here’s a look at my favorite music photos from 2018. Applause to all!

All photos © copyright 2018 by Elliot Mandel. All rights reserved.

Mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano and pianist Shannon McGinnis open the 2018 Collaborative Works Festival (Sept 5, 2018).

Cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han celebrate the Harris Theater’s 15th Anniversary (Oct 3, 2018)

Pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard accepts the ovation at University of Chicago (March 6, 2018).

Jane Glover leads Music of the Baroque in its Millennium Park debut (Sept 12, 2018).

Kurt Elling in full voice at a packed Green Mill (June 22, 2018).

Chicago Children’s Choir belting it out in Millennium Park (May 24, 2018).

Fourth Coast Ensemble opens its 5th season in Frank Lloyd Wright’s stunning Unity Temple (Nov 2, 2018).

Soprano Nicole Cabell and pianist Craig Terry melt all the hearts Beyond the Aria (May 17, 2018).

Bella Voce stand and sing as one during their annual gala at the Museum of Contemporary Art (May 19, 2018).

Axe-slingin’ at the annual Bitter Jester Music Festival (July 4, 2018).

Victor Yampolsky and the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra after a blistering Mahler 5 (Feb 3, 2018).

I found a neat little corner at the Copernicus Center for this angle on Scott Speck and the Chicago Philharmonic’s season opening concert (Nov 10, 2018).

Eric Snoza is the bassist in blue for Daren Hagen’s “Orson Rehearsed” (Sept 14, 2018).

Stephen Burns and the Fulcrum Point New Music Project’s annual Concert for Peace at Harris Theater (Dec 19, 2018).

The Zukerman Trio headlines the Music Institute of Chicago’s gala weekend (May 20, 2018).

Maestro Stanley Sperber leads the masses in the International Music Foundation’s DIY Messiah (Dec 17, 2018), though one face stood out from the crowd…

…Applause for Mr. Claus. (Dec 17, 2018).

Well, that was fast.

Spring has come and gone, and I spent most of it among wonderful artists and beautiful moments. Here's a sample of everything I saw: 

The Chicago Children's Choir singing their hearts out in grand spaces. Galas for Bella Voce and Music of the Baroque. A beautiful spring evening on stage at Millennium Park. A surprise proposal and engagement tomfoolery. The Chicago Philharmonic's Scott Speck puts on the conducting gloves. Lots of portraits of lovely and talented artists. And the best rooftop view a photographer could ask for. 

All photos © copyright 2018 by Elliot Mandel. All rights reserved.

Chicago Children’s Choir at Navy Pier.

Patrice Michaels and Kuang-Hao Huang for Cedille Records.

Bella Voce Gala at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Pianist Shannon McGinnis.

Scott Speck’s entrance before leading the Chicago Philharmonic’s season finale.

Chicago Children’s Choir in Millennium Park.

Composer/conductor/bassoonist Steve Ingle.

Audio/video engineer Aaron Gottl.

Nicole Cabell and Craig Terry for Harris Theater’s “Beyond the Aria.”

“Beyond the Aria” overlooking Millennium Park.

Jamie surprises Erica after a run with a ring.

She said yes.

Engagement session with Kristi and Greg in Lincoln Park.

Engagement silliness.

The Zukerman Trio at the Music Institute of Chicago.

Jane Glover toasts the crowd at Music of the Baroque’s gala.

Back for chamber music at St. James Cathedral for the International Music Foundation.

The view from the roof after a storm.

2017 in Music Photos

Here is a selection of my year in music photography, leading off with an image from the Chicago Children's Choir that sums up 2017 in general. It's a pretty awesome privilege to be able to do this for a living.  

All photos © copyright 2017 by Elliot Mandel. All rights reserved.

Chicago Children's Choir raising voices at its 61st Annual Red Jacket Optional Gala. 

The triumphant Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra performs at its 70th Anniversary Gala.

Victor Goines at the Green Mill. Selected as "Best Photo in a Club" during the Logan Center for the Arts jazz photography exhibit.

Bitter Jester Music Festival

Chuck Webb at Navy Pier

Birds-eye-view of Bella Voce at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Benny Golson plays his classics at Jazz Showcase.

Kurt Elling lights up the Green Mill. 

Myra Huang, Shannon McGinnis, Sarah Shafer, Douglas Williams, and Nicholas Phan at the Collaborative Works Festival.

Susanna Phillips and Myra Huang give a glowing recital during the Collaborative Works Festival.

Jorge Federico Osorio plays Brahms for the Cedille Records gala. 

My on-stage view of Jane Glover conducting Music of the Baroque. 

Chicago Children's Choir Gala

The Chicago Philharmonic opens its season with Carmina Burana. 

Third Coast Percussion premiering a work by Augusta Read Thomas with the Chicago Philharmonic.

Nicholas Kraemer conducts Bach with Music of the Baroque.

Kate Carter and Louise Chan perform on the Dame Myra Hess series at the Chicago Cultural Center.

Steve Reich backstage with percussionists at Northwestern University. 

Steve Reich takes a bow with percussion ensembles at Northwestern University.

Scenes from the 2015 Collaborative Works Festival

My third season shooting for the Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago (CAIC) kicked off last week with the 2015 Collaborative Works Festival and four days of fantastic singing. It's an incredible privilege to have such close access to these singers; here are some of my favorite images.  

Photos © Copyright 2015 by Elliot Mandel. All rights reserved.   

Bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni with pianist Craig Terry.

Bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni with pianist Craig Terry.

Bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni with pianist Craig Terry.

Tenor Nicholas Phan and pianist Shannon McGinnis.

Soprano Nicole Heaston and pianist Michael Brown. 

Soprano Laquita Mitchell and pianist Shannon McGinnis.

Soprano Nicole Heaston and pianist Michael Brown. 

Soprano Laquita Mitchell.

Tenor Nicholas Phan and pianist Michael Brown.

Soprano Nicole Heaston and pianist Shannon McGinnis.

Soprano Laquita Mitchell and pianist Michael Brown.

Soprano Nicole Heaston and pianist Shannon McGinnis.

Soprano Laquita Mitchell and pianist Michael Brown.

A gallery of singers.

I love photographing singers - it's the perfect combination of drama and music.  

Laquita Mitchell, Shannon McGinnis

Kiera Duffy, Shannon McGinnis

J'nai Bridges

Alice Teyssier

Anthony Clark Evans

Juliet Petrus, Matthew Gemmill

Deborah Selig, Shannon McGinnis

Julie Anne Miller, Maureen Zoltek

Saturday night with a soprano

The Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago is quickly changing the way Chicago audiences listen to vocal music.  No fancy halls or microphones; just intimate venues and soloists singing the long neglected form of art song.  On Saturday, CAIC held its Spring Lieder Lounge in the Dixon-Stein studio on the 8th floor of the Fine Arts Building.  Perched above Michigan Avenue, the Dixon-Stein space was a perfect salon-style setting to listen to songs by Schubert, Fauré, Sibelius, and American composers Libby Larsen and Tom Cipullo, performed by renowned soprano Deborah Selig and pianist Shannon McGinnis.  This was the fifth event I've shot for CAIC, and my appreciation for vocal music grows with every performance.  As an added bonus, CAIC announced its 2014-15 season with a brochure that features my photos.  

Soprano Deborah Selig and pianist Shannon McGinnis 

The Dixon-Stein instrument shop doubles as a performance salon on the eighth floor of the Fine Arts Building.

Violins hanging in the Dixon-Stein studio.

CAIC's attractive new brochure for its 2014-2015 season.