Every night the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs at Ravinia, high school students from all over the Chicagoland area come to enjoy free lawn entry and, by doing so, earn points towards a $5,000 grant for their schools music program. Over 100 high schools are currently in the running and with just three CSO concerts remaining, it could still be anyone's game. As of August 5, 2013 the current standings for the Classical Youth Initiative grant for a high school music program are:
First Place: Warren Township
Second Place: Highland Park
Third Place: Libertyville
Fourth Place: Neuqua Valley
Fifth Place: New Trier
With Fremd and Stevenson close behind!
The Classical Youth Initiative is Ravinia's program aimed at giving high school students in the Chicago area the opportunity to experience the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and a chance to win money for their school's music program. To help create and develop ideas that teenagers would be receptive to, Ravinia reached out to students from Highland Park High School who met weekly with Ravinia staff members to develop a way to promote classical music to their peers. The result of all their hard work is the Classical Youth Initiative. You can follow the contest standings and learn more about Ravinia's Classical Youth Initiative here.