with Evren Ozel, Piano
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 20
Performed by Camerata Chicago
Conducted by Maestro Drostan Hall.
Union Church, Hinsdale – May 2, 2026
Videographer: Dan Anderson
Audio: Eric Arunas / Dirk Gowens
Author Archives: Camerata Chicago
2026 A Midsummer Night’s Dream
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October 16
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October 17
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October 18
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October 16 – 18, 2026
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Mendelssohn & Shakespeare
narrated by conductor Maestro Hall
Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante
with Four Winds Soloists
Fantasy on English Folk Tunes by
Composer-in-Residence Dr. Tony Payne
This family event will run for 2 hours
including a 20 minute intermission.
Chicago | Wheaton | Hinsdale
In a stunning inaugural performance of the 2026 / 2027 Season, Camerata Chicago plays Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, including the famous Wedding March, with excerpts from Shakespeare’s play narrated by conductor Maestro Drostan Hall.
Listen to this excerpt from the Woodstock festival 2008 in which Maestro Drostan Hall narrated the poetry of Shakespeare’s play to the music of Mendelssohn!
Four of Camerata Chicago’s superb wind Principals will play Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for Four Wind Instruments:
- Grace Hong, oboe;
- Elizandro Garcia Montoya, clarinet;
- Vincent Karamanov, bassoon;
- Lee Shirer, horn.
Clockwise: Grace Hong, oboe; Elizandro Garcia Montoya, clarinet; Vincent Karamanov, bassoon; Lee Shirer, horn.
The orchestra will perform the World Premiere of Dr. Tony Payne’s Fantasy on English Folk Tunes!
Dr. Payne is Camerata Chicago’s Composer-in-Residence.
Dr. Tony Payne, Composer-in-Residence
Repertoire
Mendelssohn A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Mozart Sinfonia Concertante for Four Wind Instruments
Dr. Tony Payne Fantasy on English Folk Tunes
Eric Gratz
Guest Concertmaster Eric Gratz
Camerata Chicago is delighted to announce the appointment of violinist Eric Gratz as guest concertmaster for the 2026-2027 season. He succeeds concertmaster Mathias Tacke, who retired at the end of the 2025-2026 season after serving 18 years with us. Mathias’s leadership elevated every performance, inspiring both musicians and audiences alike.
Gratz, an international prize-winning violinist, is artistic director of the American Chamber Music Society in Chicago. He previously served for nine seasons as concertmaster of the San Antonio Symphony. As both soloist and concertmaster, he has appeared with more than two dozen orchestras, including those of Cleveland, Louisiana, Phoenix, San Antonio, Tucson, Santa Fe Opera and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra.
Tony Payne
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Tony Payne as Composer-in-Residence at Camerata Chicago!
Dr. and Mrs. Payne at our Benefit Concert, Reception and Dinner on September 14, 2024
Dr. Tony Payne, was until July 2024 Associate Professor of Music, Director of Arts Events Management and General Manager of the highly successful Wheaton College Artist Series for 45 years, bringing some of the world’s greatest performing artists to the Wheaton College campus, including the Camerata Chicago Chamber Orchestra.
Prof. Payne has also been involved with the founding of Wheaton’s Arts4Ministry program and engages widely in music for Christian worship from Evangelical and Protestant to Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox. He was Minister of Music at First Baptist Church, Wheaton from 1993-2013, and organist at Wheaton Bible Church since 2018.
He holds degrees in music composition from Wheaton College, Bowling Green State University, and a Doctor of Music degree in composition from Northwestern University School of Music.
Dr. Tony Payne, Composer-in-Residence
His earliest compositions were inspired by his participation in the Bedford band program with David Tolly, Leonard Salvo and his dear friend, Paul Stanifer, the Bedford choir program with C. David Parker, also the music program of First Baptist Church, Temperance. He served the church in various ways, particularly under the ministry of his lifelong friend Dr. Robert Wisehart, and of Pauline Tolly (Bedford Alliance Church) and her mother, organist Elizabeth Williams. On Saturday mornings, he pestered Mrs.
Williams with questions about the organ during her rehearsal time, so much so that she sometimes struggled to be patient! Among all of these mentors, Tony found the inspiration to pursue a career and a life in music. After his advanced degrees, he returned to his alma mater, Wheaton College and has used that treasured assignment as a springboard to countless opportunities around the world from Auckland, New Zealand to Moscow, Russia.
At Wheaton, Tony Payne taught arranging, orchestration, electronic music and composition during his long tenure at the College’s Conservatory of Music. He has also served the Wheaton College Chapel Program as pianist, organist and worship leader on countless occasions. As a lifelong contributor to Christian worship, he has composed and published over 100 psalms, hymns and spiritual songs that are available in a spiral-bound book form.
Dr. Tony Payne Photo Credit Kayla Smith
2026 Messiah
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November 20
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November 21
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November 22
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November 20 – 22, 2026
Handel’s Messiah
Conducted by
Maestro Drostan Hall
Enjoy the outstanding musical artistry of Camerata Chicago and its wonderful chorus performing the Messiah (Part I – Christmas) by Handel with the Hallalujah Chorus and Zadok the Priest. At the heart of our elite chorus are some of the top choristers in Chicago.
We have four wonderful soloists:
Soprano Emily Richter
Mezzosoprano Camille Robles
Tenor Daniel Espinal
Bass Baritone Laureano Quant
Clockwise: Soprano Emily Richter; Mezzosoprano Camille Robles; Bass Baritone Laureano Quant; Tenor Daniel Espinal;
Hallelujah Chorus: At these concerts the Camerata Chicago Orchestra and Chorus will perform the famous and celebrated Hallelujah Chorus. We’ll perform it twice – the second time giving you the opportunity to join in for a truly rousing finale to this fabulous sacred music performance.
