| PHOTOS AVAILABLE HERE. The Music Institute of Chicago celebrates the holiday season with Duke It Out! Nutcracker, its annual music and dance program for families December 7 at 11 a.m. at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue in downtown Evanston. The Music Institute’s Ensemble-in-Residence Quintet Attacca and guests from Braeburn Brass team up with Dance Chicago in a family-friendly, one-hour version of The Nutcracker that alternates between Tchaikovsky's original score and the jazz version by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. An interactive musical instrument petting zoo for children takes place at 10 a.m., welcoming audience members to try out instruments featured in the Tchaikovsky score. |