Two exciting and important events I’m a part of in the Chicago area. I hope to see you there.
@chroma.chi , Hearing in Color’s resident ensemble is a featured performer at the Turn on Summer event at Buckingham Fountain this Saturday!
then,
Monday, join myself, @sylvia.ewing.dreams , and @avery_r_young in conversation about his artistic journey and his recently debuted opera “safronia”
FREE WEBINAR - Beyond Bars: Creating “Non-Traditional” Scores and Parts
Monday, May 18, 2026
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT
Zoom
Staff Moderator: @robkrafael
Featured Speakers: @maliirenemusic and @mazzmuse
While creating and providing standard orchestral scores and parts remains a key component of being a broadly performed composer, more ensembles are increasingly exploring graphic notation and improvised scores. LaRob K. Rafael, Director of Composer Advancement at the American Composers Orchestra, will be joined by composers Mazz Swift and Mali Irene for a dynamic conversation on how to successfully navigate—and creatively thrive within—this expanding corner of new music.
🔗 in bio for registration!
FREE WEBINAR - Onstage Do’s and Do’s: Rehearsal Techniques and Procedures
Staff Moderator: @robkrafael
Featured Speakers: @jimmylopezmusic , @kyledicksonconductor
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST
Receiving a performance by an orchestra isn’t the end of the road for a composer—it’s the beginning of an ongoing artistic relationship. In this webinar, composer @jimmylopezmusic and conductor @kyledicksonconductor join us to explore how composers can navigate the rehearsal room with clarity, confidence, and collaboration. Together, we’ll discuss practical rehearsal techniques, effective communication strategies, and how composers can meaningfully engage conductors, orchestras, and musicians throughout the rehearsal process to build lasting partnerships.
🔗 in bio for registration!
I woke up on 2/26 feeling very BIRTHDAY-y. Thank you all for the well wishes. I’m very grateful for life. And the chance to try again… and again.
Let’s GO!
FREE WEBINAR: Tomorrow, join us for Tricks of the Trade: Orchestration, a free professional development workshop with Pulitzer Prize–winning composer @mwagner411 hosted by the amazing @robkrafael . Explore orchestration as a living, practical craft through real musical examples!
📅 Feb 12, 2026 | 4:00 PM ET
🎟️ Free, RSVP required: 🔗 in bio!
What sets Chroma apart?
LaRob K. Rafael speaks to the founding mission of this new ensemble - stories and music grounded in authenticity!
By supporting Hearing in Color’s matching campaign, YOU are investing in the future of Chroma and your gift is matched 1:1. Head to the link in our bio today!
We can’t wait to bring more music to you very soon!
🎥 Videographer: @brandonhbott
Throwback to Ear Taxi Festival:
Had the chance to do an on-stage interview with 2x Grammy Award winning composer @christophertinmusic (a musical voice I’ve admired for a very long time) ahead of a performance of his work The Lost Birds. I knew when I wrote this question, it was a lot , but I didn’t expect this moment. To be fair, I did give a heads up! 😂 A great interview and guest. Chris, let me know when we can chat next! #thelostbirds #eartaxifestival #interview #depaul #wfc
I have not yet come down from the @chroma.chi cloud! But when I do, know that I will say more words. For now, I’m grateful, blessed and honored. To these incredible artists, our commissioned composers, to @madeleinewoodworth , to @segundoruizbelvis , and all who attended or supported, thank you!
welcome to Chroma!
📸: @lafavephoto
LaRob K. Rafael is a Chicago-based curator, speaker, and Founder of Hearing in Color, a nonprofit amplifying historically excluded voices in classical music. He collaborates with leading institutions like the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Lyric Opera of Chicago, and is Artistic Director of the 2025 Ear Taxi Festival. A Sphinx LEAD alum and 2025 MPower Artist Grant recipient, LaRob shaped inclusive programming at WFMT (Chicago’s primary classical station, 98.7 FM) through projects like Sounds Classical and Soundtrack. His work reimagines classical music’s past and future through storytelling, equity, and community-centered performance.
Learn more at chromachicago.org.
📸: @mietustouch
And in the middle of all that Ear Taxi, I also was traveling for my work with @amercomporch and the EarShot Readings for both the Jacob’s School at Indiana University and Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. Had a great time hearing and facilitating discussion around these brilliant new voices in orchestral writing. Alongside new friends and old like @kyledicksonconductor & @jimmylopezmusic #onwardinmusic
Instagram won’t let me be great so I’m leaving out a bunch of photos, but, now that the festival has officially concluded, I wanted to share my reflection and gratitude to all who attended, composed, and performed on it.
Thank you! See you at the next thing coming real soon!
📸: @justforesttsl
