WICKER PARK — A free outdoor concert of classical music inspired by iconic locations around Wicker Park is being held Sunday in the neighborhood’s namesake park.
The “Sonic Walkabout” show is a live version of a musical walking tour organized by the Access Contemporary Music School.
The school has collaborated in past years with Open House Chicago and held similar events around the country to write and perform compositions during building tours.
When those tours were put on hold during the pandemic, they took things outside, commissioning pieces for a walking tour of several sites in Ravenswood last September.
“It’s essentially trying to provide the same kind of experience that you would have received if you were doing an actual tour of the building, which you would have done before the pandemic,” said Trevor Watkin, the school’s director of operations.
Using the Gesso app, tour attendees can hear about the history of a building or place, how it inspired each composer, and then the music itself.
Tours in Wicker Park and Lakeview went live after musicians recorded new pieces this summer.
Featured neighborhood sites include the Chopin Theatre, the Flatiron Arts Building, Quimby’s Bookstore and more.
Eight pieces from the tour will be performed at Sunday’s concert, alongside the weekly Wicker Park Farmer’s Market.
Because each song only runs about a minute to a minute and a half, Watkin says the performance will be rounded out by longer works of classical music from around the world.
“Sonic Walkabout: Live in Wicker Park” will be held from 1-2 p.m. Sunday in Wicker Park, 1425 N. Damen Ave.
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