Classical Music Chicago

Classical Music Chicago, formerly the International Music Foundation, was founded in 1976 by Chicagoan Al Booth. His vision to turn Handel's Messiah into classical Karaoke as the Do-It-Yourself Messiah. The format was inspired by his experience of a sing-along Messiah in a parish church in Bromley, Kent; by the lunchtime concerts at the Bishopsgate Library in London; and by the National Gallery concerts given by Myra Hess in World War II London, he determined to create similar events in Chicago. He organized the first Do-It-Yourself Messiah at Orchestra Hall in 1976 and the first Dame Myra Hess Memorial concert at the Chicago Cultural Center in 1977. With the help of his friend, Yehudi Menuhin, he founded Live Music Now! in Chicago to [...]

Classical Music Chicago, formerly the International Music Foundation, was founded in 1976 by Chicagoan Al Booth. His vision to turn Handel's Messiah into classical Karaoke as the Do-It-Yourself Messiah. The format was inspired by his experience of a sing-along Messiah in a parish church in Bromley, Kent; by the lunchtime concerts at the Bishopsgate Library in London; and by the National Gallery concerts given by Myra Hess in World War II London, he determined to create similar events in Chicago. He organized the first Do-It-Yourself Messiah at Orchestra Hall in 1976 and the first Dame Myra Hess Memorial concert at the Chicago Cultural Center in 1977. With the help of his friend, Yehudi Menuhin, he founded Live Music Now! in Chicago to bring professional musicians into the Chicago Public Schools.

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