At Chicago a cappella, we center music as a conduit for connection and inclusion.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA) is at the heart of what we do every day. We know the arts have a history of exclusion, often rooted in systemic barriers. That’s why we’re driven to make meaningful, thoughtful decisions that foster a more equitable community and focus that work within our organization. This is a stated and shared commitment by our staff, board, and the incredibly talented artists we work with.

Organizationally this means:

• We strive to build cultural bridges, and our concerts are a place where performers and listeners bond in the discovery of and appreciation for music from many ethnic, religious, and cultural traditions. ¡Cantare! Chicago connects composers from Mexico and students from predominantly Latine and Black communities in Chicago, and by removing ourselves from the creative process, we provide a space for authentic, shared expression between students and composers.

• We are working to improve accessibility, by performing in venues that are physically accessible and offering resources for visually impaired patrons, such as large print programs and supertitles at select performances. We provide extensive information regarding the concert space and environment to help patrons make informed purchasing decisions, prepare for the concert experience, and be in contact with us to request additional access services.

• We support emerging and diverse talent through our HerVoice competition and mentorship program, by providing cost-free mentoring to emerging composers who identify as women. In addition to intensive mentoring, workshops, and premieres for winning composers, we also provide training seminars from experienced women composers to everyone who enters.

• We are removing financial barriers with “pay-what-you-can” single ticket and membership models, student pricing, and family memberships, recognizing that economic barriers shouldn’t prevent anyone from enjoying music.

In our day-to-day:

• Advocating for those who aren’t present.
• Learning from our peers and prioritizing the voices of the historically oppressed to keep us grounded.
• Reflecting on our initiatives, striving for growth and improvement.

This work is continuous and important. We’re grateful for the feedback, leadership, and generosity that helps guide us.

Chicago a cappella gratefully acknowledges the Native Peoples on whose ancestral homelands we gather, as well as the diverse and vibrant Native communities—more than 100,000 tribal members—who make Illinois their home today. The communities we serve through our concerts and community engagement programs occupy the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires—the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa—as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We honor these and numerous Native tribes who first made the shores of Lake Michigan a center of arts and commerce.