Virtual Performances & Artistic Partnerships
In 2020-21, CCC performances went virtual and expanded the Choir’s reach like never before. These performances amplified our singers’ voices to offer hope, joy, and beauty to our youth, families, and audiences.
The safety of our singers was paramount throughout the season. In-person recording sessions, performance opportunities, and creative collaborations were made possible through extensive COVID-19 safety protocol, including pre-event and on-site testing.
60+
Artistic Events &
Video Releases
247 Million +
Online Views
29
Guest Artists &
Educators
Artist and Guest Highlights
Natalie Bergman
Son Monarcas
GRAMMY Award-winner Lisa Fischer
GRAMMY Award-winner Ranky Tanky
Bomba con Buya
Son Monarcas
Peter CottonTale, Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, Chance the Rapper, Kofi Lost, and Cynthia Erivo in "Together"
Latin Music Project Ensemble of the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance
Kai Love
Luis Salgado
“Music can be used as a tool to educate others, express our feeling through song, and to bring people together to fight for a cause. If we can bring kids together through music, then we can definitely bring the city together.”
—CCC Singer, 2021
CCC-Produced Concerts and Performances
Throughout the 2020-21 season, CCC annual pillar events transitioned online to celebrate the voices of our youth and showcase young people’s leadership in Chicago’s culture. Online CCC concerts, special live events, and recorded music videos were viewed more than 128,000 times.
February 25, 2021
Black History Month Virtual Concert: Preserving and Persevering
Bringing together singers from every CCC program and every part of our city, this special event served as the culmination of a semester-long curriculum exploring Black voices, artists, leaders, and history. Repertoire and performances explored how the power of Black music has been the cultural key in both preserving African traditions in America and in helping millions persevere in the face of racial injustice. Celebrating all that has been accomplished and recommitting to the progress that lies ahead, this special event garnered international attention from audiences and was shared by social justice and civil right leaders and advocates nationwide.
CCC’s 2020-21 Black History Month Virtual Concert was made possible by generous support from the Jackson Legacy Foundation and Jamie & Brian Vandenberg.
May 6, 2021
Canto Latino: Cruzando Fronteras
Born of CCC’s Humboldt Park Neighborhood Choir, this annual community concert went global in 2020-21! For the first time ever, Canto Latino engaged singers from every CCC program. The concert’s theme, cruzando fronteras, “crossing borders,” explored the artistry of Latinx leaders and communities who have used music to break the barriers of language and geography. An all-Spanish language repertoire celebrated the voices of Chicago’s Latinx immigrant population with music from recognized Latin American artists and guest artists representing Chicago communities. CCC hosted a live Canto Latino watch party in Senka Park in the Gage Park neighborhood, with live music from Dos Santos: Anti-Beat Orquesta and Grupo Rimel. CCC’s Ambassadors Board hosted Soundbites watch-party events in homes and restaurants across the city—raising $60,000 in support of CCC.
September 26, 2020
Reverberation
CCC’s annual gala went online for a concert of favorite CCC songs, messages from special guests, and new pieces to offer hope and joy in fall 2020. More than 1,350 guests and audience members watched the virtual celebration “live,” and in one year, Reverberation garnered nearly 9,500 online views—more than 15x the number of people engaged in CCC’s traditional gala. The support of donors, sponsors, Board members, and audiences totaled nearly $1 million in support of CCC’s mission.
December 17, 2020
Fireplace Special
Celebrating the peace of the winter season and the hope of the new year, CCC’s Fireplace Special showcased music from around the world—including holiday favorites presented by CCC Neighborhood Choirs, Dimension, and Voice of Chicago.
Fall/Winter 2020
CCC Partnerships
CCC partnerships with Chicago organizations, including the City of Chicago, shared the holiday spirit with our city on television and online:
Hyde Park & Kenwood Interfaith Council Virtual Thanksgiving Day Service
Millennium Park at Home: Chicago Holidays
BMO Harris Bank Magnificent Mile Lights Festival
Spring 2021
Video Performances
A series of CCC video performances showcased the talent and growth of our singers throughout the year, sharing uplifting messages and meaningful expression. Song features included “Breakin’ the Silence,” a CCC original by Composer-in-Residence W. Mitchell Owens III, as well as 10 videos featuring Neighborhood Choir singers.
May 21, 2021
Paint the Town Red!
In June 2021, CCC celebrated a return to in-person programming with a city-wide Paint the Town Red! Outdoor, pop-up performances brought singers together, masked and distanced, within their own communities for the first time in 15 months. Performances were livestreamed on Facebook, garnering a reach of more than 14,000. Nearly 400 audience members attended the 11 events in neighborhoods reaching every corner of our city.
Creative Collaborations and Guest Appearances
CCC’s online collaborations with world-renowned artists expanded the Choir’s reach and shared singers’ voices with diverse audiences worldwide.
Together
GRAMMY Award-winner Peter CottonTale’s song, “Together,” was recorded by CCC singers along with Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra musicians, Chance the Rapper, Kofi Lost, and Cynthia Erivo. The piece provided the inspirational audio track for the Google 2020 Year in Search video–receiving more than 241 million online views in only seven months. “Together” was then recorded as a music video, and on Inauguration Night 2021, was featured on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert for a national television audience of millions.
October 28, 2020
Access Hollywood “Just a Dream” with Jamion Cotton
CCC singer Jamion Cotton and his original song, “Just a Dream,” were featured across the U.S. on Access Hollywood.
December 18, 2020
Chi-Town Christmas with Chance the Rapper
CCC alumni celebrated with Chance the Rapper in his virtual special, Chi-Town Christmas.
May 2, 2021
GRAMMY.com’s Good Vibes “Talk to the Lord”
GRAMMY.com’s Good Vibes Only showcased Natalie Bergman’s video “Talk to the Lord” featuring CCC Neighborhood Choir singers from across the city.
Voice of Chicago is presented by
