News Releases

CHICAGO (Feb. 19, 2013)-- BMO Harris Bank announced today their season sponsorship of the Chicago Grant Park Music Festival's 79th Season, taking place June 12—August 17, 2013 at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago's Millennium Park.
"We believe that sharing the joy of music is one of the key components to a vibrant community," said Chris McComish, Executive Vice President, Retail Banking, BMO Harris Bank. "Our support of the Chicago Grant Park Music Festival is an important investment in our community, and part of our ongoing support to the arts and culture in Chicago."

This summer, Carlos Kalmar will lead the Grammy Award-nominated Grant Park Orchestra and Christopher Bell will direct the award-winning Chorus in 30 concerts.

Throughout the ten week season, the Festival will be joined by a roster of nationally and internationally acclaimed guest artists.
"We're grateful to BMO Harris Bank for demonstrating a leadership role in supporting the Festival—a true cultural treasure in Chicago—and helping to keep classical music free and accessible to all," said Paul Winberg, President and CEO of the Grant Park Orchestral Association.

New this year, the Festival will partner with the Chicago Sinfonietta on Project Inclusion, a professional development program that guides young minority musicians in their career, with a goal of increasing diversity among orchestral ensembles. The Festival will also again collaborate with DePaul and Roosevelt Universities to offer advanced training and performance opportunities for pre-professional vocal students as part of its Apprentice Chorale. Led by Christopher Bell, the students will perform alongside the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus.

All Grant Park Music Festival concerts are free and open to the public. Seating in the Seating Bowl and on the Great Lawn is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information about th e Grant Park Music Festival including membership and group seating, visit gpmf.org or call 312.742.7638. For additional information, visit the Grant Park Music Festival Facebook page or follow the Festival on Twitter @gpmf.

 About BMO Harris Bank
Based in Chicago, BMO Harris Bank N.A. provides a broad range of personal banking products and solutions through over 600 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nevada, Arizona and Florida. BMO Harris Bank's commercial banking team provides a combination of sector expertise, local knowledge and mid-market focus throughout the U.S. Deposit and loan products and services provided by BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. BMO Harris Banksm is a trade name used by BMO Harris Bank N.A. BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a North American financial organization with 1,600 branches, and a retail deposit base of approximately $180 billion. 

About Grant Park Music Festival
Acclaimed by critics and beloved by audiences, the Grant Park Music Festival is the nation's only free, summer-long outdoor classical music series of its kind. The Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, located between Michigan and Columbus Avenues at Washington Street, is the official home of the Grant Park Music Festival. The Grant Park Music Festival is proudly presented by the Grant Park Orchestral Association with key support from the Chicago Park District and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
The Grant Park Music Festival is led by Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Carlos Kalmar, along with Grant Park Chorus Director Christopher Bell, Grant Park Orchestral Association President and CEO Paul Winberg, and Board Chair Chuck Kierscht.