75 Years of the Wheaton College Artist Series
Words: Juliana Bacote ’24
Photos: Kayla Smith
Doorway to the Armerding Concert Hall.
For 75 years, acclaimed artists from around the world have graced the Artist Series stage with their craft and excellence. Beginning with the Robert Shaw Chorale in 1950, these performances have drawn hundreds of thousands of concert-goers, featuring dance companies, string quartets, choirs, full symphony orchestras, and more. Over the decades, artists and directors have engaged directly with audiences through pre-show conversations and notes, building a unique community experience.
One of the most appreciated aspects of the Artist Series is each performance’s accessibility to local audiences, made possible by affordable ticket prices and discounted subscription offerings. Audiences also often voice appreciation for the program’s support of Chicagoland artists, including Black Oak Ensemble, Ballet 5:8, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Yet the Artist Series has always emphasized bringing the world of the arts to Wheaton, inviting groups from regions outside Illinois both domestically and abroad. United States artists have included the Harlem Gospel Choir, Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, and the U.S. Army Field Band. Global performers have included the National Dance Theatre of the Ukraine, Cuarteto Latinoamericano, and the National Chorus of Korea.
“Planning an Artist Series year after year that inspires and satisfies a wide variety of interests was no small task,” said Dr. Tony Payne ’79, who served as general manager of the program for 41 seasons and recently retired. “We worked very hard to broaden the palate of our patrons by presenting artists who, while grounded in ‘classical’ concert music, excelled as improvisers and expressed their own diverse interests in the limitless dialect of music.”
While the high-quality programs are what make up the Artist Series, there is something deeper at the heart of it. Thanks to the contributions of generous partners and concert-
goers, the Artist Series also benefits the community in many ways. As the only classical series in DuPage County, the performances are a form of outreach to local residents and those in surrounding areas. Seen as a gift by the locals, it provides “a taste of heaven on earth,” as one longtime subscriber describes.
