Cadenza Conversations

Multi-Day Scholar Symposiums on Classical Music

We believe that music is both a microphone and a mirror. Composers and their works reflect history, amplify culture, and become a guide for how we can understand the world today. Art carries human experience, connecting our past, present and future.

Cadenza Conversations grow out of a simple love of music and a desire to talk about what it stirs in us. There’s no script, no pressure to arrive at answers. We listen closely, speak openly, and let the dialog take us where it will.

At heart, it’s about people who love music coming together.

We gather. We talk. We listen.

Upcoming Retreat: Requiems (Reprise)

  • "...a masterful job of balancing preparation, speakers and lively discussion throughout the sessions. I highly recommend these experiences to anyone who loves -- or thinks they love -- great music."

  • "...The video session with the author of one of the best books I've read in years, was particularly special!"

  • "Extremely unique and gratifying!"

Stack of books on a piano keyboard, including titles about Shostakovich, with a book about his life on top.

Unbounded Dialogue

Cadenza Conversations are small-group, multi-day gatherings designed for those who crave deep, unhurried discussions about classical music and its connections to history, philosophy, and the human experience. These sessions, inspired by Socratic Dialogues and historical salon gatherings, bring together musicians, scholars, authors, and curious thinkers for rich, thought-provoking exchanges.

Here, there is no singular authority - every voice is valued. Participants engage as both learners and contributors, exploring ideas freely in an atmosphere of intellectual openness and curiosity.

Our sessions are cozy and immersive, hosted in intimate home settings where discussion flows naturally over shared meals and carefully curated readings and listenings. Beyond conversation, we take the experience further - with excursions and special moments designed to deepen your connection to the music and its broader meaning.

Come with an open mind and a curious spirit, and leave with a richer understanding - not just of music, but of yourself and the world around you.

Close-up of a black and gray bowling ball with finger holes.

Student Participation

Through special partnerships with a few notable Chicago musical institutions, our symposiums proudly feature handpicked, talented students chosen for their passion and unique perspectives.

For students, this isn't just about expanding your musical horizons - it's about joining a community of seasoned musicians, leaders, and scholars. Get ready to immerse yourself in ethnomusicology, forge connections, and glimpse into the future of academic life.

Plus, it's not just about the experience - it's a valuable addition to your résumé! Ready to take your passion for music to the next level? Join us!

Noteworthy Guests

Our symposiums have given participants an opportunity to be in conversation and develop relationships with leaders from presitigious institutions, including:

Collection of logos for various organizations and individuals, including Northbrook Symphony, Music Institute of Chicago, Evanston Symphony Orchestra, CEDILLE, Embrace Everything, Washington University in St. Louis, South Asia Institute, and M.T. Anderson, author and storyteller.

Previous Symposia

  • Lux Aeterna

    A STUDY OF REQUIEMS [March 2026]

    A deep dive into the meaning and purpose of the Requiem Mass, tracing its origins in the 15th century through to modern expressions. Together, we looked into the liturgical text and musical interpretations, as well as explored how cultures around the world approach the passing from living to dead.

  • Echoes of the Self

    BEETHOVEN’S STRING QUARTETS [December 2025]

    This music is as much a musical triumph as it is a glimpse into the soul. They mirror a soul in evolution: from youthful elegance to heroic confrontation, and, ultimately to private meditation and transcendence.

  • The Hero, The Journey, and the Call

    STRAUSS’S TONE POEMS [September 2025]

    Richard Strauss’s music embodies the hero’s journey, through struggle, triumph, and transformation. His compositions bring to life this journey’s archetypes, trials, and revelations. Together, we explored Strauss’s musical storytelling, uncovering how this music challenges and expands our understanding of heroism, identity, and the human experience.

  • Regime & Revolution

    SHOSTAKOVICH & STALIN [March 2025]

    Composing under the umbrella of a brutal regime, this music expresses the deepest of tragedy and suffering, and the peaks of triumph. We examined this music in the context of human emotion in the face of totalitarianism, war and struggle, and Russian history, arriving at a better understanding of how this history and these historic experiences shape our own lives today.

  • I Shall Die So As To Live

    MAHLER’S SECOND SYMPHONY [August 2024]

    Our first Cadenza Conversation was an unforgettable exploration into the musical, philosophical, and spiritual dimensions of this grand symphony. We dissected the symphony’s profound themes: from the hero's journey, life and death, religious expressions like The Last Judgment and Resurrection, to the relevance of religious liberty in modern life.

Want to Be A Part Of These?

We're on the lookout for passionate music aficionados and scholars to be part of our exclusive events. If you're eager to join our community and potentially participate in a future Cadenza Conversation, reach out to us! Let your enthusiasm for music lead the way.

Join The List