Chicago Children's Choir to host inspirational Red Jack Optional Gala

Chicago Children’s Choir (CCC), a nonprofit organization that empowers and unites youth from diverse backgrounds to become global leaders through music, announces the return of one of Chicago’s most inspirational galas, Red Jacket Optional, in person for the first time since 2019.

The evening will feature performances by select CCC ensembles alongside a slate of high profile artists that includes Grammy Award-winner Kurt Elling, Chicago native singer-songwriter Natalie Bergman, Eurovision’s Vasil Garvanliev, and acclaimed opera singer Jonathan Green.

The concert will take place at The Geraghty (2520 S. Hoyne Ave.) on October 16, 2021, with a free livestream starting at 8:30 p.m. During the event, Chicago Children’s Choir ensembles will captivate audiences with a powerful set that includes a range of musical styles and numbers, including the world premiere of the original composition “Still Here,” by the Choir’s composer-in-residence W. Mitchell Owens III. As in recent years, anyone can watch the evening's exciting performances for free at rjo.ccchoir.org/watch.

This year’s event celebrates the Choir’s 65^th anniversary and invites audiences to “Imagine” a more harmonious world.

“We’re ready to show the world what unity looks like,” Josephine Lee, President of Chicago Children’s Choir, said. “This year’s gala is much more than just a fundraiser. The 2021 Red Jacket Optional is an invitation for all of Chicago to join some of the city’s most vibrant, talented youth to imagine a future in which our world, healed by the transformational power of music, thrives in harmony.”

Red Jacket Optional 2021 is co-chaired by Monica Carney, Renee and John Salomon, and Rahul Sekhar and Lauren Johnson Sekhar, and will honor local philanthropic leaders Mridu & Chandra Sekhar for their long-term service and dedication to embodying CCC’s values in their work across Chicago. The gala itself continues to be a landmark event with awe-inspiring musical performances from CCC, one-of-a-kind dining by the James Beard Award-winning Boka Catering Group, and striking design by Tom Kehoe of Kehoe Designs.

“There really isn’t anything quite like this on the Chicago social calendar,” Red Jacket Optional Co-Chair and CCC Board member Monica Carney said. “As a Chicago Children’s Choir alumna myself, I know firsthand how this experience amplifies the voices of young people and unifies our communities. That’s why we anchor the Choir’s biggest annual fundraiser in an inspiring celebration of the musical excellence that our singers embody every day.”

Red Jacket Optional secures critical funds that deliver empowering music education programs to schools and neighborhoods for young people from every zip code in Chicago—regardless of socioeconomic circumstance. As always, CCC is committed to taking all the appropriate health and wellness precautions to ensure a safe environment for its guests. For those who cannot make it in person, CCC is excited to invite audiences to join the celebration online.

While the evening’s livestream will begin at 8:30 p.m., the in-person event will begin at 6:00 p.m. with cocktails, followed by dinner curated by Guiseppe Tentori for Boka Catering Group, and, of course, will culminate in exhilarating performances by various Chicago Children’s Choir ensembles.

Tickets are on sale now and will be available until October 4 at rjo.ccchoir.org/tickets. (For more information, visit rjo.ccchoir.org.)