News and Accolades

Obama Presidential Center Grand Opening to Feature Stevie Wonder, Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder, Tems, The Roots & More

Former President Barack Obama has lined up a galaxy of superstars to help him celebrate the grand opening of his Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. Thursday’s (June 18) event — which will livestream globally at noon ET — will feature performances and appearances from U2’s Bono and The Edge, Bruce Springsteen, Christina Aguilera, Common, Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Stevie Wonder, Tems and The Roots. In addition, the event will feature appearances by the nonprofit arts-based youth development organization Guitars Over Guns, the Illinois Army National Guard and Uniting Voices Chicago, as well as speeches from Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Obama Presidential Center opens — the wait is finally over

A landmark moment in Chicago unfolded on Thursday as the Obama Presidential Center held its grand opening ceremony on the city’s South Side, drawing thousands of attendees and a star-studded program that reflected the full cultural and civic weight of the occasion. The event marked the culmination of more than a decade of planning, fundraising, and construction — and for many who showed up, it carried the feeling of something long overdue finally arriving.

The program was built around both civic purpose and artistic celebration. Performances came from an extraordinary lineup that included Bruce Springsteen, Christina Aguilera, Common, Eddie Vedder, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Marc Anthony, Stevie Wonder, Tems, The Roots, and U2’s Bono and The Edge. The Uniting Voices Chicago choir also performed, and the Illinois Army National Color Guard was present for the ceremony’s formal elements. An invocation led by Pastor Joel Hunter and Joshua DuBois opened the proceedings with a tone of reflection and shared purpose.

Obama Presidential Center Opens With Bruce Springsteen, U2, Stevie Wonder, Eddie Vedder, & More

The Obama Center's opening ceremony starts today at noon eastern, or 11 a.m. central time, and it'll be livestreamed on the Center's website. We can't really name one headliner in a list full of legends, but the first name listed on the poster is Bruce Springsteen, who got the Presidential Medal Of Freedom from Obama before the two of them did a podcast together.

The ceremony will also include performances from Stevie Wonder, Eddie Vedder, Christina Aguilera, John Legend, Guitars Over Guns, and Uniting Voices Chicago. The Roots, who once slow-jammed the news with Obama, will serve as house band, and the show will include what the Obama Center website calls "a 'One World' global performance celebrating unity, creativity, and hope, featuring Tems, Marc Anthony, U2’s Bono and the Edge." Black-ish star Marsai Martin will be on hand, as will Chicago natives Common and Jennifer Hudson.

Herbie Hancock and ‘wingman’ Kurt Elling turned International Jazz Day finale into a love letter to Chicago

Though streamed online to millions around the world, it had special meaning to Chicagoans: an appearance by Gov. JB Pritzker; a wealth of Chicago talent, including Buddy Guy; remarks read on behalf of Pope Leo XIV; and tributes to Chicago legends. The night was truly a love letter to this city, a first-time host of the traveling annual celebration.

More poignant Chicago moments followed, including Jacob Collier’s tribute to hometown hero Quincy Jones on piano. A self-proclaimed lover of “illegal chords,” Collier performed a unique rendition of Michael Jackson’s “She’s Out of My Life,” which Jones produced. Next, Chicago’s Uniting Voices youth choir joined singer Lizz Wright onstage.

Review: An astounding cast of jazz talent packs the stage for crowning Jazz Day concert

Call me biased, but the evening’s standouts kept Chicago at their heart. Singer Lizz Wright soothed the soul with her bluesy, elemental rendition of “Seems I’m Never Tired Lovin’ You,” backed gospel-style by the Uniting Voices Chicago children’s choir. 

How Chicago’s youth found harmony here

When Uniting Voices Chicago (UVC) brought its premier ensemble, Voice of Chicago, to India this March, the aim was not simply to perform. The two-week tour—spanning Panchgani, Mumbai, Dharamshala, and McLeod Ganj—was a series of encounters with ways of listening that extend far beyond the stage.

Led by UVC president Josephine Lee, the group of 53 singers (ages 14–18) represents the grit and diversity of Chicago. Many were travelling abroad for the first time, yet they carry a professional pedigree most veteran musicians would envy. This is an ensemble that has shared stages with Beyoncé, Yo-Yo Ma, and Chance the Rapper, and performed for world leaders from Barack Obama to Nelson Mandela.

Uniting Voices Chicago Raises Over $1.8 Million At Red Jacket Optional Gala

The Geraghty set the stage for music education as Uniting Voices Chicago hosted its Red Jacket Optional gala, supporting youth programming citywide. Nearly 500 supporters attended the evening, which featured remarks from President Josephine Lee outlining the organization’s long-term vision before leading a wide-ranging program of student performances. An Emmy-winning and Grammy-nominated conductor who has led the organization for 26 years, Lee led the group through a program featuring Broadway selections, global works and original compositions, including the debut of “My Joy” alongside “Rainbow Connection,” “Fly to Paradise” and “100 Years.” Voice of Chicago, the organization’s premier high school ensemble, presented “Ke Nale Modisa” accompanied by scenic visuals of South Africa. Cuisine by Boka Catering Group, a live auction and a late-night afterparty completed the program, with the gala raising more than $1.8 million to sustain subsidized music education programs serving nearly 4,000 students across 85 Chicago Public Schools.

Uniting Voices Chicago brings thousands of students together for annual Black History Month concert

Thousands of Chicago school students took a special field trip on Tuesday to perform together for a celebration of Africana music and culture. It was part of the annual Black History Month concert series from Uniting Voices Chicago. The collective energy inside the Auditorium Theatre was contagious.

"Storytime, song time. It's going to be a beautiful celebration," said Lonnie Norwood Jr., director of Africana studies with Uniting Voices.

"It's uniting so many voices together," said sixth grader Meryl Immanuel. 

3,000 students to perform Africana music at Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre | ChicagoNOW

Students from Chicago Public Schools and area campuses will take the stage at the Auditorium Theatre for the annual Black History Concert presented by Uniting Voices Chicago.

Chicago teen Kai Rutledge goes viral with powerful baritone voice

Viral sensation Kai Rutledge joins Uniting Voices Chicago president Josephine Lee and his proud mom to talk about his breakout performance, musical journey, inspiration, and what’s next—plus a live performance you won’t want to miss.

Josephine Lee: In an age of anxiety and division, the arts are not an ‘extra,’ they’re a lifeline

Arts programs bring people together around share goals that require contact, cooperation and trust. The nearly 4,000 young people involved in Uniting Voices hail from every Chicago ZIP code. They sing in 36 languages across genres, from classical to gospel to hip hop. With each piece, they step into someone else's history, culture or story. Through repeated contact, and through challenge, failure, support and success, they learn how to work across difference with respect.

Uniting Voices Chicago still going strong after nearly 70 years

On Sunday’s WGN Weekend Morning News, we shine a spotlight on Uniting Voices Chicago, a children’s choir that’s still going strong after almost 70 years.

Kainoah Rutledge, a 13-year-old singer with Uniting Voices whose voice sounds a lot old than that, and Judy Hanson, senior director/conductor with Uniting Voices, joined the program.

“The choir was founded in 1956, at the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement, really to unite diverse youth, bring them together to create global ambassadors,” Hanson says. “We serve close to 4,000 singers now.”