The first time Jeff Condren attended a concert at Ravinia Festival he was blown away.
“I grew up in Cincinnati and we didn’t have anything like Ravinia,” says Condren, Ravinia’s new Associates Board president who just began the first year of his two-year term. “My wife used to work at Ravinia and I’ve been on the Associates Board since 2015. It’s now such a central part of our lives—one that we can even involve our children in. I’m looking forward to playing a more meaningful role in advancing Ravinia’s community outreach for the arts.”
The Ravinia Associates Board is a premier group of more than 90 Chicago area young professionals who share a passion for Ravinia and the musical arts. Its mission is to support Ravinia by promoting awareness of the festival and its year-round music programs, encouraging the development of new audiences for classical music, and contributing to Ravinia, its Reach Teach Play® music education programs, and the Ravinia Steans Music Institute. To date, the Associates Board has contributed nearly $5 million to the festival and those programs through its Music Matters benefit and other fundraisers.
“I was a music kid when I was in grade school,” Condren remembers. “I was lucky that in addition to sports, my school had an arts program. Not all schools are as lucky. It’s been eye opening to work side-by-side with students and have them teach us how to play different instruments—to really see the Reach Teach Play® programs in action. Creative outlets in school are so important.”
Ravinia’s Reach Teach Play® programs serve thousands in Chicago-area communities, opening doors where everyone can access and experience the positive impact of live music. Several programs extend Ravinia’s reach into Chicago and Lake County public schools that otherwise have little to no music curriculum of their own, providing 20,000 students with live performances and integrative activities that spark a love of music and invite exploration of varied genres and styles, as well as programs that teach the foundations of music and encourage children to engage in music-making and express themselves creatively. Ravinia gives students the opportunity to play musical instruments, develop their talents, and create pathways for continued success through a variety of programs, including a community family music school, an El Sistema–inspired orchestral program that fosters social development, and a mentorship program for high school jazz musicians. Central to Reach Teach Play’s® mission of access, Ravinia provides free summer concert passes to thousands of community members through partnerships with more than 150 social service agencies, as well as public libraries and community music and performing arts schools.
This year, Music Matters—a black-tie optional event—will take place on Saturday, May 11 at Ravinia Festival. It will be an unforgettable evening of dinner, cocktails, auction items, and of course—live music. All proceeds from Music Matters will benefit Ravinia and its Reach Teach Play® programs.
“Over the last couple of years, we’ve experimented with where we hosted Music Matters,” Condren explains. “But I’m thrilled that this year, Music Matters will be at Ravinia. When I support Ravinia, I like to be at Ravinia.”
To purchase tickets to Music Matters or to learn more about how you can support Ravinia and its Reach Teach Play® programs,, visit ravinia.org/musicmatters.
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