Red Jacket Optional Gala is record-breaker to empower Chicago's youth

Uniting Voices Chicago (formerly Chicago Children’s Choir) hosted its Red Jacket Optional gala, on Saturday, Oct. 19, at The Geraghty. This record-breaking gala raised funds for Uniting Voices’ transformative youth empowerment and music education programs that serve thousands of students from every neighborhood in Chicago and beyond.

The event raised over $2 million at this inspirational gala, their most successful gala to date, that supports music programming offered on a sliding scale for maximum accessibility to nearly 4,000 students in programs across Chicago.

Red Jacket Optional (RJO) is Uniting Voices Chicago’s largest annual fundraiser and one of Chicago’s most impactful galas. Support from RJO ensures that high quality and culturally empowering music education is available to any child, regardless of their financial position or neighborhood. Over 70 percent of Uniting Voices Chicago participants, in 150+ ensembles, come from low- to moderate-income households and 100 percent participate at some level of subsidy. 

Josephine Lee, President of Uniting Voices, shared, “At Red Jacket Optional 2024, we witnessed the transformative power of music to unify, inspire and change lives. I am deeply grateful for our incredible community for their continued support of Uniting Voices, to give every child an opportunity to reach their full potential with no limits. These young people are our future global leaders, as demonstrated by our alumni who are not just artists but also doctors, scientists, lawyers, entrepreneurs, social workers, and leaders in business, government and in their communities. What we experienced goes beyond music; it’s about being part of something greater than ourselves. I believe in the extraordinary potential of Chicago’s youth to achieve greatness, and every student who walks through our doors is poised to create a generational impact on the world."

The night featured vibrant performances by Uniting Voices members, ages 6-18, including renditions of Broadway classics, original music, and songs from around the world. The exceptional cuisine by Boka Catering group, open bar, access to a live auction with premium experiences, a rousing paddle raise, and an epic afterparty made for an unforgettable evening supporting Chicago’s youth! 

Additionally, the event honored current President Josephine Lee for her 25 years of visionary leadership at Uniting Voices Chicago. Ms. Lee is an Emmy-winning and Grammy-nominated conductor, pianist, singer, producer and non-profit leader who joined Uniting Voices early in her career. She has made a widespread impact in the fields of music and education through an array of engagements across the globe, and has worked with a sterling roster of international artists. She brings a wealth of experience to her work from performances at the LA Philharmonic to conducting at the National Philharmonic at Strathmore to composing a unique suite for piano and cello, Ascension, and many more.

Through her vision for Uniting Voices, Ms. Lee has doubled the number of students served, tripled the organization’s budget, and established Uniting Voices Chicago as one of the city’s premier civic and cultural institutions, creating a performance-based learning experience built around innovative creative partnerships.