Camerata Chicago to Open Season in Mid-Autumn with Mendelssohn's 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream'

Music of Mendelssohn, Mozart, and Tony Payne
in Chicago Oct. 16, Wheaton Oct. 17,
and Hinsdale Oct. 18

Camerata Chicago (Photo: Dan Anderson)

CHICAGO, September 18, 2026 — Camerata Chicago, led by its British-born founder and music director Drostan Hall, will open its 2026–2027 concert season with music of Felix Mendesssohn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the world premiere of a new work by local composer Tony Payne. 

To launch its 23rd season, the professional chamber orchestra will present Mendelssohn’s music for Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Op. 61; Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for Four Winds in E-flat Major, K. 297b; and the world premiere of Payne’s “Fantasy on English Melodies,” commissioned by Camerata Chicago. All three are new to the ensemble’s repertoire. 

Concerts are at 7:30 p.m. October 16 at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut Street (at Michigan Avenue), Chicago; 3 p.m. October 17 at Armerding Concert Hall, 520 E. Kenilworth Avenue., Wheaton; and 3 p.m. October 18 at Union Church of Hinsdale, 137 S. Garfield Street, Hinsdale. 

Guest concertmaster for the 2026-2027 season is Chicago violinist Eric Gratz. 

Witty, colorful, and atmospheric 

Mendelssohn’s music for Shakespeare’s romantic comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Opus 61, comprises the overture Mendelssohn wrote as teenager and the incidental music he composed nearly two decades later. 

Music Director Drostan Hall, who was born in Norwich, England, and retains his “plummy” British accent, will narrate excerpts from the play, set in an enchanted forest, as well as conduct Mendelssohn’s witty, colorful, and atmospheric score conjuring bird songs, buzzing insects, rustling leaves, and rippling creeks.

The work includes the resplendent “Wedding March,” one of the most famous pieces of classical music, traditionally heard at the conclusion of the ceremony as the newlywed couple walks out in joyous celebration. 

Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante for Four Winds in E-flat major, K. 297b, is a charming and melodious three-movement orchestral work. The soloists are four of Camerata Chicago’s principal players: Grace Hong, oboe; Elizandro Garcia Montoya, clarinet; Vincent Karamanov, bassoon; and Lee Shirer, horn.

“We are thrilled to feature our superb principal wind players for the first time with the programming of this marvelous concerto,” Hall says. 

Hall says, “Audiences who are used to hearing the Mendelssohn and Mozart played by a symphony orchestra can savor these more intimately scaled performances for the musical detail they reveal.”

Both are examples of works were originally written for orchestras the size of Camerata Chicago, he says, “as were many other important works in the classical repertoire we feature.” 

Hall says his ensemble “is about chamber-music intimacy on a larger stage. We are a mid-size orchestra playing in suitably sized venues, so concertgoers can expect an intimate, direct, chamber-like experience.” 

New work reminiscent of Vaughan Williams 

Hall describes Payne’s ““Fantasy on English Melodies” as “beautifully cast in the mold of Ralph Vaughan Williams, who turned English folk tunes into wonderful, spiritually uplifting compositions.” 

The “Fantasy,” which Payne dedicated to Hall, includes the folk ballad “Lovely Joan,” a tribute to Hall’s late mother, Joan. 

Hall says, “In addition to mainstream classical repertoire, our artistic touchstone, we also relish 20^th century and contemporary compositions, such as Tony Payne’s new work, that traditional concertgoers will enjoy.” 

Payne is Camerata Chicago’s third and newest composer-in-residence. This is his first commission for the ensemble. 

Following a distinguished, four-decade career at Wheaton College’s Conservatory of Music, Payne retired as managing director of their Artists Series and associate professor of music emeritus in 2024. 

He has composed and published more than 100 hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs. His historical song cycles include “Departures: Four Songs on Texts by Malcolm Muggeridge,” “Lincoln’s Farewell: Four Songs,” and “The Last Words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.” 

Among his award-winning works are a Trio Sonata for violin, alto saxophone and piano; and Concerto for Concert Band. 

Tickets and information

Single tickets are $50 adults, $40 seniors 65 and over, $10 students, $2 children 14 and under. VIP tickets are $75. 

Using online code CCPR provides a 15% discount. 

Group discounts are available. 

All venues are general seating with special front sections for VIP ticket holders with the exception of Armerding Concert Hall at Wheaton College, which has assigned seating. 

Tickets and information are available at CamerataChicago.org and by phone 312-799-0916. Email: andiamo@cameratachicago.org.    

Camerata Chicago 

Founded in 2003 by British-born violinist Drostan Hall, the 40-piece modern-instrument ensemble Camerata Chicago is recognized as one of America’s finest chamber orchestras.

Grammy Award-winning American soprano Sylvia McNair, who appeared as soloist with the orchestra, says, “In my opinion, Camerata Chicago is Chicago's second orchestra, behind only the CSO.” 

Hailed as “one of the top five chamber orchestras in America" by Shmuel Ashkenasi, first violinist of the former Vermeer Quartet, Camerata Chicago also won praise from international conductor Sir Charles Mackerras, who served as the ensemble’s international advisor: "I was very impressed indeed with the very high quality of the playing.” 

In 2013, Camerata Chicago undertook a European tour with Chicago cellist Wendy Warner, a protégé of Mstislav Rostropovich, as soloist. Other artists with whom the ensemble has collaborated include, among others, pianist Evan Ozel, bronze medalist of the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, soprano Michelle Arezaga, and cellist-composer Joshua Roman. The ensemble had a particularly close relationship with the internationally acclaimed Vermeer Quartet, which was active until 2007. 

Camerata Chicago makes regular guest appearances on the Artist Series at Wheaton College and recently collaborated with the Joffrey Ballet Academy. The ensemble has performed at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, and Chicago Cultural Center, among other high-profile Chicago venues. 

“Camerata Chicago is firmly planted in the classical music mainstream, keeping alive the truly great, melodic orchestral works,” Hall says. “Our hallmark is music that’s tonal and melodic, performed with historically grounded interpretations.” 

The chamber orchestra’s discography includes albums on the Centaur, DMD Classics, and Cedille Records labels.
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