Ravinia Festival, headquartered in Highland Park, IL, operates as North America's oldest music festival within the music industry. The organization presents over 100 diverse events each summer, featuring a wide range of performances that include renowned soloists like Yo-Yo Ma and John Legend, alongside the annual summer residency of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Under the leadership of President and CEO Jeff Haydon, the festival focuses on community engagement through educational initiatives such as Reach Teach Play, while Chief Conductor Marin Alsop curates multiple weeks of concerts with the orchestra.
The festival maintains a year-round staff of approximately 55 employees, with the workforce expanding significantly during the summer season to include ushers, food service personnel, and operational support. A key component of the Ravinia experience is the Steans Music Institute, a prestigious summer conservatory located on the 36-acre grounds. This program offers fully paid fellowships to 60 to 70 talented young professional musicians from around the world, allowing them to study with esteemed faculty and perform alongside festival headliners.
Situated in a gently wooded area just north of Chicago, the park features multiple venues including the 3,350-seat open-air Pavilion, the Lawn, the 850-seat Martin Theatre, and the 450-seat Bennett Gordon Hall. The facility accommodates guests with various dining options and allows children up to age 15, as well as high-school and college students, to attend classical performances on the Lawn free of charge.
