Ravinia On Tour

Ravinia on Tour

Alumni from Ravinia’s Steans Institute

Ravinia on Tour extends the sensational soundscapes of summer with ensembles that feature award-winning alumni of the Steans Institute, where young professional classical piano, string, and vocal artists and jazz performer-composers arrive each season to collaboratively expand their artistry and elevate their concert careers.

2025 Spring Tour

Saxophonist Veronica Leahy
Saxophonist Steve Wilson
Trumpeter Jason Palmer
Pianist Luca Mendoza
Bassist Harish Raghavan
Drummer Mark Whitfield Jr.

This performance features a stellar lineup of Steans Institute alumni who seamlessly blend the improvisational spirit of jazz with the intricate textures of classical collaboration. Their program showcases original works and fresh arrangements that highlight the rich dialogue of instruments and traditions, composed by past Bridges winners Addison Frei, Jisu Jung, Zhengtao Pan, and Benjamin Ring.

The music of Bridges is cultivated from an annual competition for emerging composers held by Ravinia. Each winning piece is workshopped by the composers in collaboration with the Steans Jazz Program directors—who have included Billy Childs, Rufus Reid, and Steve Wilson—and the house ensemble of Steans alumni, including this tour’s featured musicians. Longtime fans of jazz or classical music, or anyone interested in the interlacing of both genres, will find an immersive musical journey in the Bridges Competition Concert, celebrating the beauty of blazing past artistic boundaries into the realm of infinite imagination.

Concert Schedule

Wednesday, April 16, 2025 — Brooklyn, NY
National Sawdust, 7:30 p.m. Tickets

Program

Addison Frei: Comment on War (2020)
Jisu Jung: Moment to Journey (2022)
Benjamin Ring: Mental Gymnastics (2023)
Zhengtao Pan: Mirror, Floating on Water (2024)

Featured Artists

Rannveig Marta Sarc, violin (’19, ’20, ’22)
Claire Bourg, violin (’16, ’17)
Robert Switala, viola
Alexander Hersh, cello (’15, ’16)

Greg Ward, saxophone (’01)
Glenn Zaleski, piano (’05)
Dan Chmielinski, bass (’12)
Kenneth Salters, drums (’15)