About Us:

Under the direction of internationally acclaimed British conductor Jane Glover, Music of the Baroque occupies a special place in the rich cultural life of Chicago. Long recognized as one of the region’s top classical groups, Music of the Baroque’s professional chorus and orchestra is one of the leading ensembles in the country devoted to the performance of eighteenth-century works.

Over the past four decades, Music of the Baroque has presented premiere performances of many early masterpieces, including Monteverdi’s operas and 1610 Vespers, Georg Philipp Telemann’s Day of Judgment, Mozart’s Idomeneo, and numerous Handel operas and oratorios. The ensemble has drawn particular praise throughout its history for its performances of the major choral and orchestral works of J. S. Bach and Handel, Mozart, and Haydn.

Music of the Baroque draws audiences from across the Chicago metropolitan area, performing regularly at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park in downtown Chicago and the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, as well as at intimate Chicago and suburban churches.

Listeners across the country enjoy the work of Music of the Baroque through radio broadcasts and recordings on 98.7WFMT Radio.

Music of the Baroque's available recordings include "Glover Conducts Mozart," featuring Symphonies 40 and 41; "Kraemer Conducts Bach," including Bach's Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 3, 4, and 6; "Mother & Child," recorded live during the ensemble's 2013 holiday concerts and conducted by Paul Agnew; "Jubilate" and "Renaissance Christmas," both featuring Renaissance and Baroque music for choir and brass; and Telemann's Day of Judgment.

Through its "Strong Voices" program, Music of the Baroque conducts arts education to support and enhance music education programs at Chicago public high schools.

Jane Glover was named Music Director in September 2002. Nicholas Kraemer is the ensemble’s Principal Guest Conductor. William Jon Gray is the Chorus Director.

Highlights from the 17/18 season include Mendelssohn's Elijah, featuring acclaimed bass-baritone Eric Owens in the title role; Music of the Baroque's first performances of Handel's Esther; Baroque double and triple concertos; Bach's St. John Passion; Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola; and Baroque music for orchestra and voice, including Pergolesi's Stabat Mater.