From Nordic landscapes to Record Row: Chicago a cappella offers diverse 2026-27 concert season

Chicago a cappella is ready to kick off its diverse 2026-27 season.

Up first is “The Northern Lights” fall concerts starting Oct. 11 with music from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark, filled with themes of nature, folklore and light. The ensemble’s annual “Holidays a cappella” concert returns in December with festive works — both traditional and contemporary — from around the world. The spring concert, “Record Row,” will pay tribute to the recording studios on South Michigan Avenue that made Chicago a powerhouse of American soul, blues and rock from the 1950s to the ’70s.

“We are thrilled to bring this sensational set of exciting concerts to both new and longtime Chicago a cappella audiences for our 2026-27 season,” said Matt Greenberg, executive director. “The upcoming season offers a fun mix of comfort and familiarity, along with exploration and freshness. Our goal is always to curate a season of programs that bring joy, innovation and education to our audiences through truly extraordinary music and exceptional voices.”

Chicago a cappella’s artists include John William Trotter, Ryan Cox, Benjamin Rivera, Augustine Ahn, Megan Bell, Matthew Brennan, Rebecca Fitzpatrick, Ace Gangoso, Miya Higashiyama, Amanda Kohl, Adam Kosberg, Joe Labozetta, Katelyn Lee, Kristin Lelm, Thereza Lituma, Chelsea Lyons, Trevor Mitchell, Cari Plachy and Alan Taylor.

The concerts, which run 110 minutes including an intermission, are recommended for ages 10 and older. Tickets are on sale at chicagoacappella.org.

‘Northern Lights’

This fall concert program, with music direction by John William Trotter, combines luminous harmonies, landscapes and timeless stories. Performances will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, at Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave. in Naperville; 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 460 Lake St. in Oak Park; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Murphy Auditorium, 50 E. Erie St. in Chicago; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave. in Evanston.

‘Holidays a cappella’

This winter concert, with music direction by John William Trotter, explores how centuries of music have expressed the wonder of the season, from ancient chants and Renaissance carols to contemporary works and holiday classics. This year, “Holidays a cappella” will include its first family-friendly performance at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, at Buchanan Chapel at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut St. in Chicago.

Performances will be 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, at Buchanan Chapel at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut St. in Chicago; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 460 Lake St. in Oak Park; 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave. in Naperville; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave. in Evanston.

‘Record Row’

Chicago a cappella’s spring concert, with a program by Ace Gangoso and music direction by Benjamin Rivera, will feature iconic songs from Record Row, a 10-block stretch of Chicago’s South Michigan Avenue where several independent record companies such as the historic Chess and Vee Jay labels produced blues, R&B, jazz and soul music in the mid-20th century.

Performances will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 18, at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave. in Evanston; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 24, at the Studebaker Theater at the Historic Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave. in Chicago; and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 25, at the McAninch Arts Center’s Belushi Performance Hall, 425 Fawell Boulevard in Glen Ellyn.

Tickets are $40-$60, with a limited number of $10 student tickets and pay-what-you-can tickets available at select performances. Audiences can purchase an on-demand digital streaming ticket for $40 (with a pay-what-you-can $20 minimum option). Discounts are available for members and groups of 10 or more. Tickets are available at chicagoacappella.org.

Founded in the early 1990s, Chicago a cappella, a 10-person ensemble, has traveled the nation, collaborated with guest artists, and earned accolades for their concerts and recordings.