Executive Chef Matthew Ford Takes Over Kitchens

Ravinia welcomes a new executive chef with the 2013 season, Matthew Ford, who last summer served as executive sous chef at Ravinia. Ford’s ever-evolving menus will feature the flavors of Chicago and the Midwest, relying on locally grown ingredients—including those fresh from his gardens on the Ravinia grounds. Prior to joining Levy Restaurants almost eight years ago, Ford honed his passion for French-Vietnamese cuisine at Le Lan in Chicago and also worked at Mackinac Brewing Company in Traverse City, MI, where he discovered his love of micro-brewed beers. He joined the Levy team at Wrigley Field as a sous chef shortly after graduating from Le Cordon Bleu in Chicago in 2005. Proving himself to be an invaluable team member, he continued to rise through the kitchen ranks as senior sous chef overseeing the Stadium Club and Premium Suites, and in 2011 he was promoted to executive sous chef, helping to oversee all culinary operations for the Field Museum. Other major events Ford has contributed to over the course of his tenure at Levy include the Breeder’s Cup, Country Music Awards and most recently, the Ryder Cup.

Swing Dancers Join the Fun at Benny Goodman Tribute

Award-winning swing dancers from Big City Swing in Chicago will showcase the high-flying moves of such dances as the jitterbug and lindy hop when Ravinia presents a big-band tribute to Benny Goodman on June 14. The concert featues singers Sylvia McNair and Cyrille Aimée and clarinetists Larry Combs, Eric Schneider and Anat Cohen with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra led by Jeff Lindberg. Swing dancers will be stationed on the Pavilion floor near the stage. Prior to the concert they will give brief demonstration on a 40x60 foot dance floor installed on the lawn, and they will judge the Women’s Board’s annual dance contest, which this year adds categories for Best Lindy, Best Jitterbug and Best Costume. The event celebrates the 75th anniversary of the 1938 Ravinia debut of the “king of swing,” who sent cultural shockwaves across the country because of his innovative rhythms and racially integrated band. His booking led to today’s mix of classical and non-classical music at Ravinia.

New Sabrosa Brings Latin Flavor to Ravinia Market

Sabrosa, a new Latin tortaria, will open this summer in the Ravinia Market. Picnickers can take away signature tortas—built on “bolillo” rolls and pressed to perfection—fresh empanadas, “loaded” guacamole served with tortilla chips, or elote a la plancha, and even a house-made sangria on tap.

Summer Jobs Are Opening for Ushers, Wait Staff and More

Ravinia will host a job fair from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, in Bennett Gordon Hall for people seeking summer employment as ushers, security, retail sales associates and chair rental staff. Applications can be made in person at this event. Ravinia’s food/catering provider, Levy Restaurants, is hosting “open houses” for applicants from 2 to 5 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday through May 1. All those applicants will be interviewed at the Levy job fairs at Ravinia from 4 to 7 p.m. on May 1, May 7 or May 9. Other seasonal job opportunities are posted at Ravinia.org.

Three New Concerts Added: OneRepublic, Cheap Trick and Dark Side of the Moon

The Internet’s biggest rock group, OneRepublic, makes its debut along with soul artist Mayer Hawthorne and Churchill on a July 23 triple bill. Best known for the smash hit “Apologize,” which remained on Billboard’s Hot 100 for 10 weeks, OneRepublic recently released its third studio album, Native, in March with the first single, “Feel Again.” Rockford’s own Cheap Trick returns to Ravinia on Aug. 31 to re-create two classic live albums, Cheap Trick at Budokan and Sgt. Pepper Live, the latter with the Ravinia Festival Orchestra. In its Ravinia debut Classic Albums Live appears on Sept. 8 performing the iconic Pink Floyd album The Dark Side of the Moon, which was recently added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress. Tickets to these events go on sale to the public beginning at 5 a.m. on April 25, exclusively at www.ravinia.org.

Welz Kauffman Previews 2013 Season

Ravinia’s 2013 season features more than 120 events from June 6 through September 15. Hear about the season first-hand from the man who programmed it: Ravinia President and CEO Welz Kauffman will preview the season in a free public event at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 11. Coffee and dessert will be served, and guests will have a chance to win free prizes including concert tickets, dinners provided by Levy Restaurants and items from Ravinia Gifts. Seating is limited; reservations are required by April 9 at 847-266-5044 or by filling out the RSVP form on our website. The event will be held indoors at PNC Private Dining, located on the second floor of Ravinia’s dining pavilion. Free parking is available in Ravinia’s North Parking Lot at 418 Sheridan Road in Highland Park

Ravinia Supports "Contrast" of TEDxWindy City Events

Ravinia has signed on as a sponsor of the Feb. 23 TEDxWindy City event that will bring together a variety of TED Talks speakers to address the theme “contrast.” As part of its support, Ravinia will recreate one of its glorious lawn picnics for the lunch hour. “How can a place like Ravinia—known for being something different every day—not embrace the concept of contrasts?” asked Nick Pullia, director of communications. “Ravinia, home of the cultural omnivore, is a series of contrasting opportunities: Pavilion or lawn? Classical or country? Picnic or fine dining? We thrive on contrasts.” The event runs from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago. For registration and information, click here.

Women’s Board Gala Raises $900,000 to Support Ravinia, REACH*TEACH*PLAY

In its 50th anniversary year, the Women’s Board of Ravinia Festival hosted a gala benefit—starring Patti LuPone and Patricia Racette with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by James Conlon and Rob Fisher—that raised $900,000 for the festival and its REACH*TEACH*PLAY education programs. Since its inception, the Women’s Board has become the biggest donor to the nonprofit festival, having given more than $25 million. The group also started Ravinia’s first educational programs and continues to spearhead new initiatives, such as Sistema Ravinia, which creates student orchestras in underserved schools. Listen to this public service announcement from Hubbard Radio (WTMX, WILV, WDRV) about Ravinia’s Women’s Board.

Hometown Gives Ravinia a Design Award for New Grand Entrance and Underpass

The Design Review Commission of Ravinia’s hometown, Highland Park, has given its 2012 Design Award to the festival for its new grand entrance and pedestrian underpass, which was completed in one off-season and opened last summer. Mayor Nancy Rotering will present award to Ravinia President and CEO Welz Kauffman at the June 11 City Council Meeting.

Ravinia Trustee Marcus Lemonis to Star on TV’s Secret Millionaire

Ravinia Festival Trustee Marcus Lemonis, the CEO of Camping World and Good Sam LLC, will appear later this summer on an episode of the ABC reality series Secret Millionaire. In each episode, one of the country’s wealthiest people has to navigate an impoverished area without the help of the resources he or she is accustomed to. Lemonis recently made it possible for the Women’s Board of Ravinia to launch a new chair-and-table rental business opening on the festival grounds this summer.

Customer Appreciation Day 2012

Thank you to everyone who came out! We had a blast and we hope you did too. Here is a quick snippet of just some of the fun had!

Thanks again!

Hot Off the Press! 2012 Season Poster

The winning design of the 2012 poster was inspired by the 50th anniversary of the Women's Board of Ravinia Festival–even down to the smallest detail–the flower illustration has 50 petals.

Your purchase benefits Ravinia and its REACH*TEACH*PLAY education programs.

Ravinia Festival Ranked as a Top Alternative Music Festival

Ravinia 2011 – Go Gos and the B52s

Fox News has ranked Ravinia Festival as one of the Top Alternative Music Festivals in the country. Being not only the oldest music festival in the country, but the oldest on the continent, it is very flattering to still be considered as one of the best! None of this would be possible without you. Thank you for all your patronage and support over the past 107 years (6 months, and 26 days), making Ravinia Festival the greatest music venue ever. (Yes, ever)

“What truly defines us is that music-lovers can really create their own vision of what Ravinia is to them--an intimate dinner date for two followed by a performance by the great Chicago Symphony Orchestra, or a group of friends on the lawn partying with the Blues Brothers.” – Welz Kauffman, Ravinia President and CEO.      

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