Lauren Smith: A smiling Lauren Smith with short curly black hair, wearing a black collared shirt, holds a wooden-handled baton and glances off to the side in front of a colorful mosaic wall in red, yellow, teal, green, and blue.

Resident Company

Soul Force: Annual Dr. King Celebration & Fundraiser

Chicago Sinfonietta

Performances

Jan 16 Sat 7:00PM

Buy Tickets

Performance Run Time: Approximately 2 hours, with one 20-minute intermission

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. believed hope and joy could change things, even in the face of fierce opposition. That belief is what this January’s concert celebrates, with full orchestra, a gospel choir, and Chicagoans from every neighborhood singing “We Shall Overcome” as one.

The first half honors the young musicians who got their start with us. Jessie Montgomery’s Soul Force opens the night, followed by the tender “Mother and Child” from William Grant Still’s Suite for Violin and Piano. Violinist Kai Isoke Ali-Landing then joins us for Florence Price’s Adoration for violin and orchestra, a piece so warm it feels like being handed a cup of tea.

After intermission, the night moves to the place where Dr. King’s movement started: the church. Congregations sang, organized, and planned non-violent protests inside those sanctuaries, and the songs traveled into the streets with them. You’ll hear that tradition live, with a gospel choir and the Sinfonietta building toward Richard Smallwood’s Total Praise, and then the whole audience joins in for “We Shall Overcome.”

This is also our fundraiser for Chicago Sinfonietta. If you’d like to give beyond your ticket, that’s entirely your call, and every gift supports the musicians and programs that make nights like this possible.

ARTISTS

Maestra Mei-Ann Chen / Conductor
Lauren Smith / Guest Conductor
Kai Isoke Ali-Landing / Guest Artist

PROGRAM

Jesse Montgomery / Soul Force
William Grant Still / Mother and Child (II.)
Florence Price / Adoration for Violin and Orchestra / Featuring Kai Isoke Ali-Landing, violin
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor / African Suite: IV. Danse Negre, Op. 35, No. 4
Gospel selection / Gospel choir and Chicago Sinfonietta
Traditional We Shall Overcome / Audience sing-along with all performers

About Chicago Sinfonietta

Groundbreaking. Dynamic. Daring. A tenured orchestra and acclaimed cultural leader that champions diversity, equity, and inclusion by creating community through curated symphonic experiences, the award-winning Chicago Sinfonietta (CS) is a source of community through music, as well as ensuring and inspiring a continued investment in diversity and inclusivity in the genre of classical music to promote fairness and equity. With core values built around being culturally responsive and advocates of inclusivity in all aspects of the 37-year-old organization’s work, Chicago Sinfonietta’s unrelenting commitment to being at the forefront of innovation drives its high standard of symphonic experiences. CS takes pride in leading by example with immersive audience engagement activities, impactful career development, education, and extensive community outreach programs.

Considered one of the most versatile, compelling, and dynamic international conductors today, Taiwanese American conductor Mei-Ann Chen is a multi-hyphenate in the classical music industry: conductor, mentor, and educator. She is Music Director of the MacArthur Award-winning Chicago Sinfonietta since 2011, Chief Conductor of Austria’s Recreation – Grosses Orchester Graz at Styriarte since 2021 (making her the first female Asian conductor to serve as the ensemble’s chief conductor), the first-ever Artistic Partner of Houston’s ROCO since 2019, and an Artistic Partner with Northwest Sinfonietta (WA) since 2022. A sought-after mentor to young conductors worldwide, she is praised for her tremendous impact through Chicago Sinfonietta’s Freeman Conducting Fellowship, Taki Alsop Fellowship, and her passionate commitment with educational institutions around the United States and abroad. Announced in April 2026, Chen officially begins her work as Director of Orchestral Activities and Chair of Conducting of the internationally renowned Manhattan School of Music in July 2026. An acclaimed communicator praised for her energy and enthusiasm, Ms. Chen is a sought-after guest conductor and has appeared with distinguished orchestras throughout the Americas, Europe, The United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Africa and Asia (over 166 to date), and continues to expand her relationships with orchestras worldwide.

In addition to programs with STYRIARTE, ROCO, and Northwest Sinfonietta, highlights of Ms. Chen’s 2026 summer and 2026-27 season engagements include a return to National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra during its 80th anniversary season and also quick returns to Sinfonieorchester Liechtenstein and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, performances of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection” with Austria’s STYRIARTE Festival Youth Orchestra on Austrian televised ORF “Klangwolke Werk” series; a trio of performances with NYO2, including a return to Carnegie Hall, followed by a five-day residency and performances in the Dominican Republic’s Santo Domingo and Santiago; serving on the Jury of the renowned Princess Astrid International Music Competition hosted by the Trondheim Symfoniorkester & Opera and also the prestigious Solti International Conducting Competition 2026 in Hungary; opening Manhattan School of Music’s orchestral performances in September as the new Director of Orchestral Activities, and returning to National Taiwan Normal University (the oldest Music Department in Taiwan celebrating 80 years of history) as an Honorable Visiting Professor.

Ms. Chen’s 2025-2026 season included impressive debuts with Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Austria’s ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien, France’s Orchestre Nacional des Pays de la Loire, Madrid Orchestra and Choir, Brazil’s Orquestra Sinfônica Municipal, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and highly anticipated returns to Chicago Symphony Orchestra, San Franciso Symphony, Sinfonieorchester Liechtenstein, Sweden’s Uppsala Chamber Orchestra, the Netherland’s Residentie Orkest Den Haag, and Taiwan’s National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra for multiple programs during its 80th Anniversary Season.

Recent engagements include significant debuts with the Festival Vaduz Classic in Liechtenstein, sold-out programs with South Africa’s Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Brevard Music Center, a five-city tour of the Netherlands in her debut with Philharmonie Zuidnederland, debuts with Denmark’s Odense Symphony, The Orchestre National de France (Paris debut), Norway’s Stavanger Symphony, and Taiwan’s One Song Orchestras (televised New Year’s concert), and returns to San Franciso Symphony and the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center.

Past significant international engagements include a return to Vienna’s Tonkunstler Orchestra at the Grafenegg Festival and debuts with Germany’s Staatsorchester Darmstadt and Orchestra National du Capitole de Toulouse (France debut), Spain’s Basque National Orchestra (Spain debut), Finland’s Helsinki Philharmonic (Finland debut), and multiple returns to the Netherlands Philharmonic at the Concertgebouw, Norwegian Radio, and Sweden’s Norrlandsoperan, and serving as a Jury Member for both the 2021 & 2024 MALKO Competitions hosted by the Danish National Symphony. In the US, Ms. Chen debuted with American Composers orchestra at Carnegie Hall, stepped in last minute for debut with Minnesota Orchestra, and made returns to Cincinnati and the San Francisco Symphony.

Extensive international guest credits include the symphony orchestras of England’s BBC in London, Brazil’s São Paulo (OSESP), Denmark’s National, Aalborg, Aarhus, Odense and Copenhagen Philharmonic, Finland’s Tampere Philharmonic, Germany’s Badische Staatskapelle Karlsruhe, Musikalische Academie des Nationaltheater-Orchestesters Mannheim, and NDR Radiophilharmonie Hanover, Mexico’s National, Norway’s Oslo Philharmonic and Trondheim, Sweden’s Gävle, Helsingborg, Gothenburg, Malmö and Norrköping, and Switzerland’s Basel and Lucerne, Taiwan Philharmonic and Kaohsiung City at WeiWuYing (the world’s largest performing arts center since 2018 in Ms. Chen’s hometown), Scotland’s BBC Scottish, and Turkey’s Bilkent in Ankara. Other North American guesting credits include the major symphonies of Atlanta, Baltimore, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Oregon, San Diego, Seattle, Toronto, and Vancouver, to name a few.

As Music Director of Chicago Sinfonietta, Ms. Chen has made three recordings for Cedille Records: “Black Being” with flutists/composers Flutronix ” (released February 2026 by GRAMMY® Award producer Elaine Martone), “Project W – Works by Diverse Women Composers” (released March 2019 by GRAMMY® nominated producer, Jim Ginsburg), featuring world premiere recordings for works by Florence Price, Jennifer Higdon, Clarice Assad, Jessie Montgomery, and Reena Esmail, and “Delights and Dances” (June 2013). In 2018, Innova Records released ROCO’s debut album “ROCO: Visions Take Flight” (produced by GRAMMY® Award producer, Blanton Alspaugh) featuring five commissioned contemporary works by Karim Al-Zand, Reena Esmail, Derek Bermel, Anthony DiLorenzo, and Marcus Karl Maroney. Invited by Marin Alsop, Ms. Chen recorded Michael Daugherty’s Time Machine for Three Conductors with UK’s Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra on Naxos Records label in 2011.

A passionate advocate for music education, since 2014, Chen has dedicated significant time in mentoring young conductors through Chicago Sinfonietta’s Freeman Conducting Fellowship program (helping to launch professional careers for more than a dozen young conductors), has been a mentor for the Taki Alsop Fellowship since 2022, and conducts ensembles at important educational institutions, such as Carnegie’s esteemed NYO2 for young musicians (age 14-16), New England Conservatory (her alma mater), The Juilliard School, Indiana University, Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, University of Southern California, and The Royal Conservatory in Toronto, Canada. She also participated at various training programs, including the New World Symphony in Miami, Texas Music Festival, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, Ung Filharmoni in Norway, and served as Artistic Director of National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra Summer Festival for young musicians (2016-2021). Ms. Chen first Music Directorship was with the extraordinary Portland Youth Philharmonic in Oregon (2002-2007), America’s oldest youth orchestra.

In March 2025, Mei-Ann Chen received the Marylou Speaker Churchill Award from her alma mater, New England Conservatory of Music, named for her violin teacher. Past honors include being named one of 2015 Top 30 Influencers by Musical America, the 2012 Helen M. Thompson Award from the League of American Orchestras, the 2007 Taki Concordia Fellowship founded by Marin Alsop, and 2005 First Prize Winner of the Malko Competition (she remains as the only woman in the competition history since 1965 to have won First Prize). Ms. Chen is Conductor Laureate of the Memphis Symphony after serving as Music Director (2010-2016), and recently served as Artistic Advisor to Massachusetts’ Springfield Symphony Orchestra (2024-2026). Born in Taiwan, Ms. Chen came to the United States to study violin in 1989 at Walnut Hill High School for the Arts, received a violin performance undergraduate degree from New England Conservatory before becoming the first student in New England Conservatory’s history to be awarded double master’s degrees simultaneously in both violin and conducting, and earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in conducting from University of Michigan.

American conductor, Lauren Smith, is a versatile artist deeply committed to facilitating experiences of unity through music.

As a Tanglewood Music Center Conducting Fellow, Smith conducted concerts throughout the Tanglewood Music Center’s summer season. Following a performance, The Berkshire Eagle noted, “Conductor Lauren Smith led with confidence and clear, sweeping gestures, embodying the spirit of the music and enthusiastically supporting her musicians.” Smith is a proud recipient of a Kovner Fellowship at The Juilliard School, where she studies Orchestral Conducting with David Robertson.

Recent debuts include the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, Les Violons du Roy, and AXIOM. She was a 2025 Conducting Fellow at Domaine Forget, receiving mentorship from Yannick Nezet-Seguin and Kensho Watanabe, and was selected to conduct Orchestre Métropolitain in a public masterclass and Les Violons du Roy in concert. Smith also served as Music Director for the American Gothic Performing Arts Festival’s To Be Heard: Shadows in America program featuring works by Copland, Price, and Joel Thompson.

As an oboist, Smith has performed in various ensembles including the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, and more. Smith was a 2023 Fellow at the Yale School of Music’s Norfolk Chamber Music Festival and an oboist for the Chautauqua Music School Festival Orchestra (2022). Smith was First Prize winner of the Baton Rouge Music Club Competition (2022). Her oboe mentors include Richard Killmer, Titus Underwood, and Johanna Cox Pennington.

Smith serves as founder and director of the Louisiana Art Music Collective. The Collective reaches hundreds of members of the south Louisiana community, offering free concert experiences.

She is the former Adjunct Instructor of Oboe at Houghton University and taught students at the Eastman Community Music School and at University of Rochester. After careful faculty review, Smith was awarded the Eastman School of Music’s prestigious Graduate Teaching Assistant Prize (2023/24).

Smith holds a master’s degree from the Eastman School of Music and a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University Ogden Honors College.

Lauren is family-oriented, a passionate writer, and a lover of Louisiana cuisine.

Kai Isoke Ali-Landing, 16, is a violinist originally from Chicago, Illinois, and now living in Melbourne, Florida. She began her musical studies at 18 months old, initially learning the violin with her mother, violinist Lucinda Ali-Landing, at the Hyde Park Suzuki Institute. Kai Isoke currently studies with Almita Vamos of Roosevelt University in Chicago.

Kai Isoke has attended several summer music festivals, including the Taipei Music Academy & Festival (2024), Sphinx Performance Academy (2020–2024), Heifetz International Music Institute (2023), DePaul School of Music Summer Violin Intensive (2020), and the Chicago Suzuki Institute (2014–2019).

Throughout her career, Kai Isoke has competed in local, regional, national, and international competitions. In 2025, she won first place in the DePaul National Concerto Competition and third place in the Sphinx Competition. In 2024, she earned an honorable mention in the DePaul National Concerto Competition, placed third in the Sejong Music Competition, was a finalist in the Chicago International Violin Competition, and reached the semi-finals of the Sphinx Competition. Additionally, her chamber group was a quarter-finalist in the Fischoff Competition (2024) and won first place in the St. Paul String Quartet Competition, where they also received the BIPOC Round Prize and the Audience Choice Award. Kai Isoke also earned an honorable mention in the Rembrandt Chamber Competition.

Other notable achievements include first place in the Sejong Music Competition (2017), first place in the Society of American Musicians (2018), and honorable mentions in the 33rd Music Festival in Honor of Confucius (2018) and the DePaul National Concerto Competition for Young Performers (2023).

Outside of her musical endeavors, Kai Isoke enjoys computer science, running, sailing, studying Mandarin, and traveling. She plans to continue her violin studies while aspiring to perform as a soloist with orchestras worldwide.