Upcoming Events

Join us for a one-of-a-kind storytelling event exploring the profound, silly, and heartfelt meaning of "home" through the eyes of experienced storytellers.

Echoing the Schweikher House's history, tales of art, architecture, science and family, you'll transport from the warmth of the family hearth to the homes we build within ourselves. Each storyteller will invite you into their world, sharing personal experiences that touch on the universal longing for sanctuary.

Whether "home" is a place, a person, or a feeling, this Story Sessions event promises to tug at your heartstrings and leave you reflecting on your own journey. Savor the ambiance of our architectural gem and join us for an afternoon of connection and unforgettable stories.

Light refreshments offered.

Past Events

Join pianist Peter Storms and special guests C21 Women's Ensemble for a late afternoon of meditative piano and vocal music in the living room of the historic Schweikher House. Storms and C21 will explore the themes of light and dark as we approach the Solstice and the shortest day of our year.

Doors open 2:30, performance at 3pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Program

Featuring works by Arvo Pärt, Philip Glass, Sarah Quartel, Vicente Lusitano, Ro Ogura, Hildegard von Bingen, and others.

Peter Storms is a Chicago-based singer and multi-instrumentalist who has built a reputation as a sensitive accompanist and interpreter of many musical styles, a detailed transcriptionist, a fearless sight reader, and a skilled orchestrator and arranger. Second to collaborating with fellow musicians, his favorite activity is finding new ways to understand and interpret works which are over- (or under) played. His work as music director and sound designer has been heard on many stages throughout Chicago, work for which he earned a Joseph Jefferson Equity Citation for Outstanding Sound Design. Peter has created music for performing artists and ensembles across the country and has toured with Irish tenor Michael Londra, also conducting the orchestra on Michael's Emmy-nominated PBS special, Beyond Celtic.

C21 Women's Ensemble brings together singers from diverse backgrounds to celebrate humanity's resilience and strength through the universal language of music. Founded in 2014 by celebrated choral leader Marty Swisher, the group began as a mixed choir presenting a variety of genres. In 2017, the focus shifted to treble voices, showcasing the work of women composers and underrepresented artists. Today, C21 seeks to use music to build community, inspire strength, and stir souls to action. Based in Oak Park's historic Unity Temple, the ensemble performs at venues across the city and blends movement and song for exciting, interactive musical experiences.

Background artwork: Hostile Frost, 1963, Martyl

Join us for an intimate performance by Pianist Yuri Ebihara, Cellist Brian Hoffman and Violinist Yuri Uomizu in the living room of the historic Schweikher House.

Doors open 2:30, performance at 3pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Program

Johannes Brahms: Piano Trio No. 1 in B Major, op. 8

Dmitri Shostakovich: Piano Trio No. 1 in C minor, op. 8

Pianist Yuri Ebihara was born in Aichi, Japan and graduated from the Music Department of the Nagoya City Kikusato High School. She then graduated top of her class from the Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music. There she received the Kuwabara Prize, awarded to the top student, as well as a university scholarship, and later, a Master’s degree and Ph.D. (2016) from the Graduate School. In the doctoral program, she researched performance aesthetics from the perspective of Debussy's fingerings under the research theme of "Debussy's Performance Aesthetics: From the Fingerings of Chopin's Complete Works Revised by Debussy". She has studied piano under Rieko Watanabe, Midori Sano, Haruko Kasama, Vadim Sakharov, Atsushi Kitazumi, and Emiko Kumagai. From 2015-2021, she served as a part-time lecturer at her university, teaching piano and solfège. In 2019, she served as a Lecturer at the NHK Cultural Center Nagoya. She has also served as Director of the Japan Chamber Music Academy and as an Executive Committee Member of the Nagoya Ensouka Ikuseijyuku. In 2001, she won the 1st Prize in the high school division of the 55th Mainichi Gakusei Ongaku Concour, Piano Section, Nagoya. In 2007, she won the 1st Prize and Solo Grand Prize of the Huppel Peace Memorial Tosu Piano Competition, and the same year was specially invited to perform for the Governor of Aichi Prefecture.

Cellist Brian Hoffman performs throughout the United States and abroad as soloist, chamber musician, and principal cello of numerous orchestras. Mr. Hoffman has performed in masterclasses with Joel Krosnick of the Juilliard School and Juilliard String Quartet, soloist Alban Gerhardt, the Guarneri String Quartet, the Ying Quartet, Benjamin Zander, Sir Simon Rattle, and Riccardo Muti. His awards include the First Place in the NCMA Cello Competition, the Armfield-Eichhorn Award for Outstanding Musical Achievement, MTNA Chamber Music Competition National Finalist, Northwestern University’s Esther Yochim Fellowship, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago’s J. Critser Fellowship. He holds degrees in Cello Performance and Pedagogy from Oberlin College (BM) and Northwestern University (MM), where he served as Teaching Assistant to Professor Hans Jensen. Mr. Hoffman is the Director of the Midwest Conservatory of Music and Executive Director of the Midwest Philharmonic Orchestra based in Schaumburg, IL.

Violinist Yuri Uomizu was born in Tokyo, Japan. She attended the Geidai College of Fine Arts and Music in Tokyo. After graduating, she began studying with Katsuya Matsubara and Teiko Maebashi, and became a Yamaha Music Foundation scholarship recipient with Prof. Roman Nodel at the University of Music and Music Performing Arts Mannheim. After the concert exam with Prof. Nodel, she took up additional studies in chamber music together with her string quartet, “Tramonto,” with Prof. Susanne Rabenschlag. She also took part in numerous master classes, working with Thomas Brandis, Saschko Gawriloff, Stefan Picard, and the Verdi Quartet. Numerous prizes and awards have documented Yuri Uomizu's artistic career, including 1st Prize, the Legacy Prize and the Yamaha Prize at the 3rd Legacy Competition in Japan. In the summer of 2008, she became concertmaster of the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra under Jun Märkl. From 2010 until her move to the Chicago area, she served as first violin in the Hessian State Orchestra in Wiesbaden, Germany.

Join us for an unforgettable tour experience in three Modernist architectural gems as part of Docomomo Tour Day 2024. We invite you to embark on the Trifecta House Tour of iconic masterpieces: the Edith Farnsworth House, the Ruth and Al Ford House, and the Schweikher House. Experience pioneering architecture by Mies van der Rohe, Bruce Goff and Paul Schweikher. Two homes are Nationally Landmarked and one is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Food, drinks and transportation are provided. More details for this extraordinary tour event are listed in the ticket button below.

Join us for an intimate performance by pianist Leah Kang in the living room of the historic Schweikher House.

Doors open 2:30, performance at 3pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Featuring selections by Franz Liszt, Lili Boulanger, Germaine Tailleferre, Takashi Yoshimatsu, Maurice Ravel, and Earl Wild.

Pianist Leah Kang (D.M.A.) is a musician of diverse interests who received degrees in biology and public health at the University of California, Los Angeles prior to pursuing professional studies in music. She has performed in the United States, Germany, Austria, France, Canada, Czech Republic, and has been featured as a soloist with the Antelope Valley Symphony Orchestra, Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra, and the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic Orchestra in concertos by Beethoven and Chopin. She was awarded prizes in the International Siegfried Weishaupt Piano Competition and the American Prize Competition for Piano Performance (professional division) and her performances have been broadcast on SWR2 of Germany and WFMT in Chicago.

A dedicated teacher, Kang has served on the music faculties of Antelope Valley College and Citrus College, as Associate Instructor of Music Theory at Indiana University Bloomington, and as a piano instructor for the School of Music and Division of Continuing Studies at University of Wisconsin–Madison. She currently teaches piano, music appreciation, and music theory at Joliet Junior College, College of DuPage, and Midwest Conservatory of Music. As a two-time recipient of the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) research fellowship, Kang spent her dissertation years as a visiting scholar at the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn. Her research explored arrangements of Beethoven’s works as created by his close contemporaries. She performed a lecture recital premiering rare chamber music arrangements of Beethoven's overtures and presented aspects of her research at international conferences such as “Beethoven-Perspektiven” (Beethoven-Haus, Bonn, Germany), "Beethoven 2020: Analytical and Performative Perspectives" (Dutch-Flemish Society for Music Theory, Amsterdam, Netherlands), and the World Piano Conference (Novi Sad, Serbia). Current interests involving pioneering French women composers from the early twentieth century have been supported in part by the Illinois Arts Council Agency and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

Kang earned her Master of Music and Performer Diploma in Piano Performance from Indiana University Bloomington and her Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Fox Crossing Stringband is based out of Chicago, IL where in 2016, Despina Pafralides championed the idea for an all-female bluegrass band to her friend, Allison Branch, whom she played with in a local country band. They connected with Cassie Wright, a banjo and dobro player, to provide a true bluegrass sound.

In 2019, they released their debut album 'Box of Memories' blending both original songwriting and bringing bluegrass stylings to popular tunes. They released their second full-length studio album “Bluegrass on My Mind“ in September 2022, and a foxy pop cover EP entitled “Bluegrass Prom” in 2023.

Guests may bring chairs, blankets, coolers (BYOB) & snacks to the historic Schweikher House in Schaumburg and enjoy a Friday night concert on the lawn. Please arrive between 5:00 pm - 5:30pm, explore the grounds, set up chairs and blankets, enjoy a beverage, and enjoy the live, in-person music beginning at 5:30pm.

Join the Schweikher House Preservation Trust for a summer afternoon fundraiser at the Schweikher House in Schaumburg, Illinois on Saturday, June 8th, from 1pm to 4pm in support of our organization. Enjoy the 35+ varieties of blooming peonies, drinks, and hors d'oeuvres from Unforgettable Edibles while mingling throughout the house and grounds. Classical guitarist, Brad Conroy, will provide the soundtrack for the afternoon.

Tickets support future programming including our popular salon and outdoor concerts lined up through February 2025, lectures and guided tours as well as maintaining a growing collection of Paul Schweikher artifacts and Alex and Martyl Langsdorf (subsequent owners of the home) artifacts.

We are grateful to our community partners and sponsors for this event: Schaumburg Bank & Trust Company and the Schaumburg Park District.

The Schweikher House was constructed in 1938 as Modernist architect Paul Schweikher’s home and studio. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a local Schaumburg landmark, the AIA Illinois top 200 architectural sites in Illinois, a longstanding member of Docomomo Chicago and a new member of Iconic Houses.

Join us Saturday, June 8th, from 1pm to 4pm.

If you're unavailable to join us at the Peony Party, please consider making a donation to the Schweikher House Preservation Trust. Thank you for your support!

Join us for an intimate performance by pianist Elif Allenfort in the living room of the historic Schweikher House, sponsored by Robbins Architecture, Winnetka, Illinois.

Doors open 2:30, performance at 3pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Program

J. S. Bach French Suite in E Major, BWV 817

 L. van Beethoven Sonata in d minor (The Tempest) op.31 No.2

P. Glass Etude in f minor, No.5

A. Piazzolla Cafe 1930 (from lHistory of Tango)

A. Piazzolla Night Club 1960 (from History of Tango)

P. Ziegler Milonga del Adios

A. Beach Barcarolle op.28 No.1

Pianist Elif Allenfort was born in Turkey gaining an early admission to the Hacettepe University Ankara State Conservatory when she was only 9. Her first major performance was a concert with the symphony orchestra in Ankara, playing Mozart Piano Concerto K. 488; she was 13 years old. During her decade studying at the Ankara Conservatory, Allenfort performed throughout Turkey, appearing on stage, the radio and on television. Not only she was one of the youngest graduates ever from Ankara State Conservatory, she also graduated with the rare accomplishment of being the top student in the conservatory and the university at large. Her accomplishments at the conservatory earned her the distinguished "Ihsan Dogramaci Highest Artistic Achievement" award.

After graduation, Allenfort continued her education at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, Belgium, under Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden and Teresa Escudero, and later at the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Musical College. Allenfort performed in solo and chamber music recitals during her stay in Belgium and participated in numerous master classes with the leading pianists in Europe, including Radu Lupu and Idil Biret.

Allenfort moved to the United States in 1996, and received multiple scholarships to study at Roosevelt University Chicago Music College. She completed her Master's Degree with honors, and was immediately admitted to Roosevelt's Artist Diploma program where she obtained her post-graduate degree.

An active chamber and solo musician, Allenfort has collaborated with members of the Music of the Baroque, the Rembrandt Chamber Players, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra, and performed with the Roosevelt University Orchestra. She taught at the Betty Haag Academy of Roosevelt University, Chicago, and at the Metropolis School of Performing Arts, Arlington Heights, IL, where she was the Head of the Piano Department for eight years. In addition to teaching at her private studio in a Northwest suburb of Chicago, Allenfort is also on the faculty of Sherwood Community Music School at Columbia College Chicago.

Join us for an intimate performance by cellist Nelly Rocha in the living room of the historic Schweikher House, sponsored by Robbins Architecture, Winnetka, Illinois.

Featuring works for solo cello by female composers.

Doors open 2:30, performance at 3pm. Light refreshments will be served.

PROGRAM

Kou I’noa……………………………...….Leilehua Lanzilotti (1983)

The Fall of the Leaf…………………...… Imogen Holst (1907-1984)

Caritas Abundant in Omnia……....Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)

O Virtus Sapientiae Armadura………………………………..Andrea Casarrubios (1988)

Don't Look at the Sky……………….………..Lynn Bechtold (1980)

Song of ropes………………………………..…..Kate Moore (1979)

Canto para las animas…………………..…..…Leticia Cuen (1971)

Polish Caprice………………….….Grazyna Bacewicz (1909-1969)

Ophelia……………………………..…….……Paola Prestini(1975)

Unlocked………………………………..……….Judith Weir (1954)

Make me a Garment

The Keys to the Prison

Dam Mwen Yo………………………………Natalie Joachim (1983)

Cellist Nelly Rocha has performed as a soloist, chamber and orchestra musician in Europe, Asia, Mexico and across the United States in venues such as Carnegie Hall, David Geffen Hall Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, Konzerthaus Berlin, Kultur und Kongresszentrum Luzern, Teatro Arcimboldi (Milan), Teatro Calderon (Madrid), China Conservatory of Music (Beijing), Auditorio Nacional (Mexico), and Palacio de Bellas Artes (Mexico).

Rocha has performed with artists including: Michael Bublé, Audra McDonald, Hanson, Pink Martini, Deltron 3030, Watsky, Smokey Robinson, Aleks Syntek, Natalia Lafourcade, Ely Guerra and the Jingle Punks Hipster Orchestra. She has appeared on Mozart in the Jungle, the Late Night Show with David Letterman, WNYC’s Soundcheck, and can be heard in the GRAMMY award winning album All the Ladies by Joanie Leeds and the album Mi Alma Mexicana with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas released by SONY.

Rocha is originally from Monterrey, Mexico, where she began her musical studies. She holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Houston and a Master of Music degree from Arizona State University.

A dedicated teacher, Rocha has taught at Harold Washington College, the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and the Music Conservatory of Westchester. She completed the two year Suzuki teacher training program at the School for Strings in New York.

A passionate advocate of music by women, Rocha has performed recitals featuring female composers at the International Congress of Women in Music, the Encuentro Internacional de Mujeres en el Arte and the Universal Forum of Cultures.

Rocha enjoys performing with the non-profit organizations Concerts in Motion, which provides free concerts for seniors, veterans, the disabled and homeless, and with Music for Autism, which provides free autism-friendly concerts for individuals with autism and their families.

“This book examining Japanese residential architecture in detail from 1945 onwards can be said to be a realistic history of post-war Japanese society, as seen through the filter of architectural design… The chain of creativity that began in the architectural world of post-war Japan remains unbroken—this book conveys that sense of hope.” Tadao Ando

Naomi Pollock is an American architect and author who writes about design and architecture in Japan. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications on both sides of the Pacific, including A+U, Dwell, Jutakutokushu, Kinfolk, Wallpaper*, and Architectural Record for whom she is the Special International Correspondent. In addition, she has written numerous books, including Modern Japanese House, Made in Japan: 100 New Products, Jutaku: Japanese Houses, Sou Fujimoto, and Japanese Design Since 1945: A Complete Sourcebook. She was also the editor of NUNO: Visionary Japanese Textiles. In recognition of her contributions as a journalist and a critic, she was invited into the College of Fellows of The American Institute of Architects in 2018.

Iker Gil is the founder of MAS Studio, Editor in Chief of the nonprofit MAS Context, and Executive Director of the SOM Foundation. Iker has edited or coedited several books including Radical Logic: On the Work of Ensamble Studio and Shanghai Transforming. He has curated multiple exhibitions including Nocturnal Landscapes, Poured Architecture: Sergio Prego on Miguel Fisac, and BOLD: Alternative Scenarios for Chicago, part of the inaugural Chicago Architecture Biennial. He was Associate Curator of the US Pavilion for the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale and cocurator of Exhibit Columbus 2020–2021. He has taught at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), and Escola da Cidade (São Paulo).

Photo: Shigeru Ban, Paper House, Yamanashi Prefecture, 1995. Photo © Hiroyuki Hirai. Courtesy of Thames & Hudson.

Join us for an intimate performance by harpist Emily Stone in the living room of the historic Schweikher House.

We’re grateful for Robbins Architecture, Winnetka, Illinois, sponsor of this salon concert.

Doors open 2:30, performance at 3pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Harpist Emily Stone distinguishes herself as an award-winning ensemble, chamber, and solo musician based in Chicago, IL. Stone frequently performs as an extra musician with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, substitute harpist with the Des Moines Metro Opera, and substitute harpist with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. She is an Associate Member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and a substitute harpist with the New World Symphony Orchestra. Her most recent engagements include performances with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago conducted by Ken-David Masur and Riccardo Muti. Ms. Stone served as the Harp Fellow for the 2023 National Orchestral Institute + Festival performing under conductors such as Marin Alsop, David Alan Miller, David Neely, John Morris Russel, and Joseph Young. In 2022, she toured with Il Volo on their Il Volo Sings Morricone & More Tour and Josh Groban on his Harmony Tour. She has performed with numerous ensembles across the US including the Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago, Evanston Symphony Orchestra, Southport Symphony Orchestra, Northwestern University Medical Orchestra, Northshore Concert Band, and Cordancia Chamber Orchestra.

A native of Nashville, TN, Ms. Stone began her piano studies at age five and her harp studies at age eleven. A student of Kathleen Bride, Ms. Stone earned her B.M. degrees in Harp Performance and Music Education with a minor in French and Performer’s Certificate at the Eastman School of Music. She continued her graduate studies at Northwestern University where she earned her Master of Music degree in Harp Performance under the tutelage of Marguerite Lynn Williams. Currently, she is pursuing an Artist Diploma at OAcademy Music Conservatory (Orchestra of the Americas) in the studio of Elizabeth Hainen. She is an active member of the American Harp Society and Sigma Alpha Iota and is the President of the Greater Chicago Chapter of the American Harp Society.

Join violinist Natalie Frakes, cellist Ómkara Gil and painist John Bitoy for an intimate performance in the living room of the historic Schweikher House as we celebrate the upcoming winter solstice, sponsored by Robbins Architecture, Winnetka, Illinois.

Selections include pieces by composers Andrea Casarrubios, Jessie Montgomery, Christian Ryan, and Buck McDaniel. The program celebrates a universal milestone - the winter solstice - in which everyone in the northern hemisphere can embrace. Central to all the traditions of the solstice is the renewal of spirit, symbolized by the rebirth of the sun, connecting our music at this time of healing and hope and reflection.

Natalie Frakes is a violinist and violist, music educator, activist, and mindfulness teacher. She deeply believes music can be a vehicle for social change and has dedicated herself to education and creative social initiatives. She began her musical journey at the age of five as a Suzuki student in Detroit, Michigan. Natalie is co-founder and second violinist in string quartet Six Mile Strings whose aim is to push the boundaries of what the "traditional" string quartet can do. Their debut album, "Up North" can be purchased at bandcamp.com/sixmilestrings. Natalie is also founder of the female-powered collective, Midtown Strings, performing in Chicago, Detroit and Washington D.C. Frakes is currently Director of Orchestras at Niles West High School in Skokie, Illinois and continues to be engaged as a music educator in disempowered communities. She is also pursuing Master's degrees at Longy School of Music and VanderCook College of Music.

Venezuelan cellist, Omkara Gil, recently graduated with her bachelor's degree at Chicago College of Performing Arts in the studio of Prof. Richard Hirschl. Gil began her musical studies at the "Vicente Emilio Sojo" Conservatory of Music, El Sistema and the "Academia Latinoamericana de Violoncello" at the age of 10. A member of the National Children's Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, Gil served as principal cellist of the Lara Youth Symphony Orchestra under the conduction of Sir Simon Rattle, Daniel Barenboim, Gustavo Dudamel and many other noteworthy conductors. Her affiliation with the orchestra further led her to her concerto debut in 2017. She has participated in summer festivals like Chautauqua Music Festival, Academia Internacional de Solsona (Spain) and "Festival Hiberoamericano de Violoncello" (Venezuela) where she has performed multiple solo and chamber works by composers such as Beethoven, Ravel, Saint Saens, Villalobos, among others.

John Bitoy, an Afro-Dominican pianist and composer hailing from Chicago, enjoys a multifaceted career as a soloist and collaborative pianist. Renowned for performances of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with esteemed orchestras like the South Loop Symphony and Symphony of Oak Park, he's graced stages like the Chicago Symphony Center and Millenium Park’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion. An advocate for new music, John champions compositions by artists like Steve Wallace, Marcus Norris, and Tyshawn Sorey while seamlessly navigating diverse genres. From playing with Sigur Ros on their U.S. tour to being featured at the Jazz Showcase and Andy’s Jazz Club, his musical journey spans traditional repertoire and illuminates the works of the African Diaspora.

Doors open 2:30, performance at 3pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Join us for an intimate performance by guitarist Jim Perona in the living room of the historic Schweikher House.

Sponsored by Robbins Architecture, Winnetka, Illinois.

Perona is one of the most performance-active classical guitarists in the Chicagoland area. His expansive repertoire includes classical, flamenco, Latin and his own contemporary arrangements. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from Northern Illinois University under the tutelage of Fareed Haque and Master's Degree from the New England Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Eliot Fisk.

Perona was invited to perform and lecture at the Boston Guitar Festival in 2018 and also performed and lectured at the 2021 Rhode Island Guitar Festival.

Perona is highly sought after for private events, being named an 11-time "Best of Weddings" winner on TheKnot.com, "Hall of Fame" award on TheKnot.com, and a 2-time "Top National Guitarist" on TheBash.com.

Doors open 2:30, performance at 3pm. Light refreshments will be served.

The Schweikher House Preservation Trust, in collaboration with Docomomo US and sponsored by Robbins Architecture, invites the public to a reception at the Schweikher House in Schaumburg, IL. The house was built 85 years ago in 1938 and to commemorate this milestone, early photographs will be displayed from the house's construction. Enjoy light hors d'oeuvres and wine while mingling throughout the space. A salon concert in the living room will begin at 3pm by internationally recognized flute-piano duo, Dr. Iva Ugrčić and Dr. Satoko Hayami.

Described as "luminaries," "world-class," and "adventurous," the flute-piano duo of Dr. Iva Ugrčić (fl) and Dr. Satoko Hayami (pf) have presented uniquely diverse and virtuosic programs through dynamic performances and storytelling since 2017. Passionate about premiering and commissioning works by contemporary composers, especially women composers from diverse backgrounds, the duo prioritizes and thrives in sharing the perspectives of newly composed works while celebrating the ones that paved the path for future generations.

Performance includes pieces by J.S. Bach, Bela Bartok, Cecile Chaminade, Mel Bonis, and Eunike Tanzil.

A “natural star on her instrument,” known for her technical brilliance, expressive musicianship, and remarkable versatility, Dr. Ugrčić has garnered international acclaim. Her performances, both as a soloist and a collaborator in chamber and orchestral settings, have graced renowned music festivals and venues across the world. Dr. Ugrčić is the Founder & CEO/Artistic Director of LunART, an international nonprofit organization whose mission is to support, inspire, promote, and celebrate women in the arts. Under her leadership in 2022 alone, LunART received a Silver Lining Award for the outstanding contribution to the art community, and a Programming Award from the International Alliance for Women in Music.

An award-winning pianist, Dr. Satoko Hayami, performs and teaches solo, duo, and chamber music worldwide, most notably in Italy, Hungary, Croatia, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Canada, and throughout the United States. Her adventurous programming and virtuosic playing brought her to prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in D.C.; Millers Outdoor Theater in Houston, TX; Harris Hall in Aspen, CO; Memorial Union Shannon Hall in Madison, WI. A passionate performer of new music, Satoko co-founded Sound Out Loud Ensemble, a contemporary chamber ensemble, which received national acclaim in 2018, winning first prize in Chamber Music Performance of The American Prize.

We are incredibly grateful to Robbins Architecture, for their sponsorship of this event.

Event Cover Photo: Paul Schweikher Collection, Design and the Arts Special Collections, Arizona State University Library

Guests may bring chairs, blankets, coolers (BYOB) & snacks to the historic Schweikher House in Schaumburg and enjoy a Friday night concert on the lawn. Explore the grounds, set up chairs and blankets, enjoy a beverage, get comfortable and ready for live, in-person music.

Doors open at 6:00 pm, Laughlin will play at 6:30pm.

** Rain date will be June 23, 2023 **

Guitarist Christopher Laughlin has performed extensively across North America and around the world playing in 25 countries on five continents including Portugal, Greece, Morocco, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, India, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Austria, Yugoslavia, Romania, The Czech Republic, Ghana, Cameroon, Bolivia, and many others.

Christopher has performed as soloist with the Symphony of the Shores, Chicago Chamber Orchestra, the Westshore Symphony, the St. Joseph Pro Musica, the LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra, the Northwest Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Symphony String Quartet. He has made two recordings for Peregrine Records, Danza!, and Simplicio.

Christopher received a B.M. from The Peabody Conservatory and an M.M. from Yale University. After completing his studies at Yale he was awarded a Fulbright Grant for study in Paris with Uruguayan guitarist Betho Davezac, continuing his studies for a second year with a grant from the French government. Christopher has won prizes in two international competitions, the Concours International de Guitar in Sable-sur-Sarthe, France, and the Concours International de l’U.F.A.M. in Paris.

Christopher teaches at Loyola University Chicago, and at the Christopher Laughlin School of Music in Northbrook, IL.

Join us for an intimate performance by classical guitarist Brad Conroy in the living room of the historic Schweikher House. Enjoy the music of Fernando Sor, Manuel Ponce, Conroy's originals, as well as a premier of a new work dedicated to him by Eduardo Morales-Caso.

Brad Conroy is a versatile guitarist, performer, and educator who specializes in the art and scholarship of the classical guitar. Brad performs from a diverse repertoire which begins at the Renaissance and goes through to the 21st century, often including his own compositions and improvisations.

Conroy has given concerts across the United States and abroad, with appearances that include Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, the International Guitar Festival in Brno, Czech Republic, Vienna, Austria, Newport Beach, California, and Dublin, Ireland to name a few. His music has been heard on WFMT Chicago, and he has given concerts for the Chicago Historical Society, the Chicago Classical Guitar Society, the Czech Guitar Society, The Schweikher House, as well as a private concert for Caroline Kennedy and her entourage.

Conroy finished his B.M. at Northeastern Illinois University (cum laude) with a degree in Classical Guitar Performance where he studied with 19th century scholar Dr. Brian Torosian and furthered his music studies with a M.M. in Classical Guitar Performance at The Chicago College of Performing Arts, the music conservatory at Roosevelt University where he studied with world renowned guitarists Denis Azabagic and Sergio Assad.

Conroy has been on faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago, and he maintains a private studio in Arlington Heights, IL.

Doors open 2:30, performance at 3pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Join us for an intimate performance by pianist Dr. Daniel Baer in the living room of the historic Schweikher House.

Selected pieces include: Janacek's Piano Sonata, Mozart's Sonata in D major k. 311, Schubert's Piano Sonata in B-flat Major

Dr. Baer currently teaches with Music Institute of Chicago and has previously taught at the Eastman School of Music, the Eastman Community Music School, and Syracuse University. His students have won piano competitions, participated in local and statewide music programs, and earned admittance to college music programs.

Dr. Baer won first prize, the Marshall Prize, at the 2015 Grieg Festival Young Artist Competition held in Sarasota, Florida. He has since made his international debut, playing in the International Bergen Arts Festival and for the Grieg Society of Oslo. He has been a prizewinner in many other national and international piano competitions including the 2017 Iowa piano competition, the 2015 National Federation of Music Clubs Biennial Competition held in Fargo, North Dakota, and the MTNA young artist piano competition. Dr. Baer was invited to be the guest artist at the 2012 Leschetizky Annual Birthday Recital, which was his New York solo debut. The blog Music, Life and other challenges wrote “Daniel Baer’s playing took the ear on a leash. Every note had color, depth, emotion, and meaning.” In 2011, he participated in Juilliard’s ChamberFest program performing the Brahms G minor piano quartet in Paul Hall. He has also played solo and chamber music recitals in Avery Fischer Hall, Kilbourn Hall, Hatch Recital Hall, and Steinway Hall.

Doors open 2:30, performance at 3pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Join us for an intimate performance by world renowned guitarist Fareed Haque in the living room of the historic Schweikher House, brought to you by Modern Illinois, helping people buy and sell mid-century modern and other architecturally significant properties.

Over the years Haque has transcribed and arranged countless new works for guitar. Transcriptions and Arrangements will feature selections including music of the Baroque and Classical era with authentic improvisations, impressionistic works for piano by Mompou, Saint-saens and a selection of pieces from Haque's latest album CASSEUS! Also, hauntingly beautiful Haitian guitar music by the legendary Haitian composer Frantz Casseus will be included. Doors open 2:30, performance at 3pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Join us for an intimate Solstice Concert in the living room of the historic Schweikher House.

Together the duo will perform British composer Michael Head’s “Three Pieces,” a baroque oboe concerto by Benedetto Marcello and the amazingly virtuosic yet soulful Sonata for oboe and piano by French composer Francis Poulenc. Kesselman will also play as a solo pianist. His repertoire will include Franz Liszt’s popular Romantic showpiece, Liebestraum. He will also play song transcriptions by George Gershwin and his own Notturno (Night) from his recently composed Suite for Piano. In this wonderfully intimate setting, these musician friends will share with you stories of the pieces, the composers and themselves - creating a special performance that you soon won’t forget!

American Bach - In a daring collaboration, Miles and Kaeding combine decades of musicianship to breathe new life into J.S. Bach’s Cello Suites. Miles puts the original cello melody on the banjo and Kaeding plays her cello adaptation of a contrapuntal continuo accompaniment originally composed by Margaret James for double bass.

Sound impossible? Perhaps. But this is consistent with Bach’s brazen imagination. And when Miles debuted this concept for the first time in 1997, it was warmly embraced by artists, critics and one of the world’s greatest living cellists, Janos Starker.

Jill Kaeding has played throughout the classical world and with the likes of Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles. Michael Miles is a world renowned musician, whose work has endorsements from Bela Fleck, Pete Seeger, & Dave Brubeck.

"Miles has dared to take on some of the most dramatic and profound music ever written…and succeeded” - Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune

"A remarkable feat…my first reaction to his playing was a smile and then ." -Janos Starker (1924-2013)

“Thanks for the music you make.” -Yo-Yo Ma

Reception is Sold Out

The Schweikher House Preservation Trust, in collaboration with Docomomo US, invites you to a casual evening at the Schweikher House on Friday, October 7th, 2022 at 6pm. We'll open the doors for an informal social gathering with light food and wine along with guitar by Brad Conroy. Experience the house and studio as if you were invited over by the Schweikhers or Langsdorfs. See the property and grounds in twilight, an experience rarely available to the public. Details and tickets below.

Docomomo Tour Day, October 8th, 2022 offers tours through the House & Studio by an expert docent and learn about the history of the property, the Modernist architect who designed, lived and worked in it, Paul Schweikher and the second owner/residents, the Langsdorf family. Tours are offered at 10am and 12pm and run approximately 75 minutes each.

Guitarra Azul is ... World Class Musicianship... Spirited Dance... Irresistible Rhythm... Unforgettable Melodies...

A sensual, smoldering performance of inspired music.

David and Stefano of Guitarra Azul Duo will transport you to a different place and time with a joyous celebration of life!

Guests may bring chairs, blankets, coolers (BYOB) & snacks to the historic Schweikher House in Schaumburg and enjoy a Friday night concert on the lawn. Attendees may arrive between 5:30 pm - 6:00 pm, explore the grounds, set up chairs and blankets, enjoy a beverage, get comfortable and ready for live, in-person music. Guitarra Azul Duo will play from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm.

Old Timey will play an outdoor jazz concert at Schweikher House.

Guests may bring chairs, blankets, coolers (BYOB) & snacks to the historic Schweikher House in Schaumburg and enjoy Friday night jazz on the lawn. Parking is limited, carpooling is encouraged!

Attendees may arrive between 6:30 pm - 7:00 pm, explore the grounds, set up chairs and blankets, enjoy a beverage, get comfortable and ready for live, in-person music. Old Timey will play from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm.

Kasey Foster, leader of Old Timey, is an actor, singer, producer, choreographer, creator, and puppeteer. Foster recently performed at the Goodman Theater in The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci and is also a Lookingglass Theater Ensemble Member since 2017. Foster has created over forty original works in Chicago, and produces two annual series called Dance Tribute and The ACTual Show. As a choreographer, Kasey has recently worked with Actors Gymnasium, The House Theatre Chicago, Lifeline, and Trap Door Theatre. Tunes may range from Lawrence Welk, Theresa Brewer, Perry Como, Willie Dixon, Dave Bartholomew, The Mills Brothers, Rosemary Clooney, Les Paul and Mary Ford, Hank Williams Sr., and Irving Fields.

Attendees may arrive between 6:30 pm - 7:00 pm, explore the grounds, set up chairs and blankets, enjoy a beverage, get comfortable and ready for live, in-person music. The Paul Wagner Trio will play from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm.

Wagner has been playing the saxophone since 2007 and has been active in DePaul University's jazz program, the Chicago jazz scene, and educating young saxophone players. Wagner has performed at the prestigious Green Mill with Jim Trompeter's jazz combo and at Symphony Center for DePaul's annual gala dinner. Throughout his musical journey, Wagner has studied with Scott Burns, Chris Madsen, and Andy Oberhausen. Some of Paul's greatest musical influences are Joe Henderson, Sonny Stitt, Ahmad Jamal, Michael Brecker, John Coltrane, Marvin Gaye, Joshua Redman, and Thad Jones. This show will consist of songs throughout Wagner's journey into music and which have also encouraged his musical development. Growth and nostalgia: we are the sum of our experiences.

Paul Wagner: Tenor Saxophone

Jacob Bachorski: Electric Bass

Nicco Gonzalez: Drums and Cymbals

SOLD OUT

Described as "a world class musician" (Galena Gazette) who plays with “high energy and polish” (WQXR), cellist Anita Graef has earned recognition for her music making as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral performer.

Notable appearances include features in Strings Magazine, as well as Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert series, and “Concerts from the Library of Congress.” She has also performed in recital as a guest of various radio programs, including “Young Artists Showcase” on WQXR, WFMT, WGTE, WUOL, WOSU, WVPB, NPR and others. She serves as the Artistic Director and cellist of the Juliani Ensemble, an innovative, multi-faceted chamber ensemble, with whom she has performed extensively both nationally and internationally.

Highlights of 2021/2022 include concerto debuts, notably with the Louisville Orchestra among others, recital performances at Columbia University, the New Lens Concert Series, “Live from WFMT,” and a residency at the University of Missouri.

Sold Out

James Preucil hails from a musical family and began learning violin from his mother at age 3. He is now in his second year at the Juilliard School of Music, where he studies with Professor Samuel Rhodes.

An avid chamber music musician, James has attended Credo Chamber Music Festival (2016-2018), Castleman Quartet Program (2019), and Harpa International Music Academy (2019). In July 2021, he performed a solo recital featuring his own 5-movement composition: “The Sea Suite for Solo Viola.”

James also created a YouTube channel called Viola King, focused on making the viola and its repertoire more accessible. Now with more than 4,000 subscribers, he regularly posts performances, compositions, arrangements, covers, vlogs, comedy videos, and discussions about the viola.

The Schweikher House Preservation Trust, in collaboration with Docomomo US, will offer a selection of in-depth specialty Schweikher House tours that will focus on the travels of Paul Schweikher and Martyl Langsdorf and how their experiences influenced their work as architect and artist respectively.

Please note the theme for each tour when selecting a time.

Tour Schedule:

10am - 11:30am | Japanese influence on the Schweikher House (this course has been submitted for AIA credits and is pending)

11:30am - 1pm | Martyl (Langsdorf) travel influences on her art

1pm - 2:30pm | Japanese influence on the Schweikher House (this course has been submitted for AIA credits and is pending)

The 10am and 1pm tours will include a discussion of the Japanese influence on Schweikher’s own home through a thoughtful, deliberate and masterful integration of wood, brick and glass, while incorporating a harmonious relationship with the outdoors.

The 11:30am tour offers special attention to the stewardship of Martyl Langsdorf, her worldwide travels and its influence on her prolific art career.

Friday Night Jazz with Chris Madsen & Dylan Barnett

Dr. Christopher Madsen’s credits as a saxophonist include performances and recordings with Paul Simon, Wynton Marsalis, Jeff Hamilton, Makaya McCraven, Michael Dease, Ulysses Owens, Ben Williams, Marquis Hill, Jon Irabagon, and countless others. He is a published composer with Kendor Music, Inc., the UNC Jazz Press, and Walrus Music. From 2008 to 2014, he served as Jazz Studies Coordinator for Northwestern University and is currently Jazz Studies faculty at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Wisconsin at Parkside. A graduate of the Juilliard, DePaul University, and University of Illinois music schools, Madsen is also a Vandoren and Conn-Selmer artist and member of the College Music Society, NAfME, National Educator’s Association, and JEN. He has presented clinics, conducted ensembles, and performed around the U.S. and the world. He is one of the most in-demand and versatile saxophonists in Chicago, maintaining an active performance schedule and private studio. 

For more information on Chris Madsen, visit www.chrismadsen.net

Paint the Peonies with Fine Artist Maggie Capettini

Wednesday, June 10, 2020 (11 am - 2 pm)

Come join fine artist Maggie Capettini and paint the Schweikher House peonies en plein air.

Limited to 5 painters. Participants must bring their own supplies. All painting media welcome!

Classical Guitar in a Modernist Home - SOLD OUT!

Saturday February 22, 2020 (3 pm - 5 pm)

We had a lovely afternoon of music in the living room of the Schweikher House with guitarist Brad Conroy. It was a very special event featuring Conroy's beautiful guitar playing along with some personal recollections of his childhood neighbor, and former Schweikher House resident, Martyl.

Conroy's program spanned centuries with a selection of music from international composers Manuel Ponce, Johann Kaspar Mertz, Isaac Albéniz, and more. The performance took place in the Schweikher House and consisted of two 30 minute sessions with a short intermission in between.

Thursday December 19, 2019

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

In celebration of the winter solstice, we hosted a very special evening of a cappella chamber pieces with Jillian Krickl (soprano), Kathryn Michalowski (mezzo-soprano), Stephen Boyer (tenor), and Dan Reilly (baritone) from the prestigious Schola Cantorum at Holy Cathedral in Chicago. Singers engaged us with Gartenleider, a rarely-performed choral work by Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel and Glow by Eric Whitacre, most notably heard in “World of Color” at Walt Disney World. Attendees had access to the home and learned about the Solar bedroom, one of the great features of the Schweikher House. Originally designed as Paul Schweikher’s master bedroom, the room benefits from passive solar energy.

Past -Conversations in the Studio

Elmhurst Art Museum's Exhibition Manager, Sarah Cox, shares how the exhibition 'Houses of Tomorrow: Solar Homes from Keck to Today' came together. She'll discuss how the House of Tomorrow shaped the careers of George and William Keck, sharing some of their innovations in midcentury single-family homes and the new generation of builders they inspired.

Jane Rozek, Local History Librarian at the Schaumburg Township District Library presents an in depth look at the Schweikher House carpenter, Emil Sporleder. When Schweikher was given property by L.D. Kern, he turned to Emil Sporleder to construct the masterpiece of a house we see today. While he served as a general contractor, Emil was particularly skilled at woodworking and took delight in fashioning decorative doors, windows, stairways and cabinetry. Emil’s career, like Schweikher’s, later continued outside of Schaumburg Township, as he took on many jobs in Mount Prospect and Arlington Heights.

Architectural Historian, Bob Goldsborough, will discuss the prolific work of architect Edward Dart. Goldsborough will trace Dart's origins from his upbringing in New Orleans and his studies at the Yale School of Architecture to his work for Paul Schweikher and his impact on the mid-century modern architecture of Wheaton, Barrington and Chicagoland.

Peonies at the Schweikher House and How to Grow Your Own

Sunday June 2, 2019 (1:00 - 2:00 pm)

Master Gardener Bev Krams will give a vibrant presentation on the peonies in the Schweikher House garden, including the University of Illinois Master Gardener Group’s efforts to identify the peonies. Bev will discuss the types of peonies found in the garden, including their colors, shapes, and growth habits and attendees will learn how to select a peony, design for their own peony garden, care for their peonies in spring & fall, disease prevention, as well as, dividing & planting herbaceous peony roots. Come and learn why you want to grow peonies for their resilience, deer-resistance, and outstanding beauty and fragrance!

Bev has been a Master Gardener with the North Cook County District for over ten years. She has received the States Outstanding Master Gardener of the Year Award and has received a sustained excellence award from the University of Illinois. She has presented programs for garden clubs, community groups and Master Gardeners. She is a member of Citizens for Conservation and the Arlington Heights Garden Club where she serves as the Horticulture Chairperson and a member of the Program Committee. Her garden has been Conservation @ Home Certified for native habitat.

Martyl: Landscapes of the Mind

Sunday May 5, 2019 (1:00 - 2:00 pm)

Discover and discuss the body of work of an historically significant artist’s work in her studio.

The artist Martyl, famed designer of the Doomsday Clock, and her husband Alexander Langsdorf, purchased the home and studio from modern architect and first resident, Paul Schweikher in 1953. Martyl immediately turned Schweikher’s architecture office into her art studio where she continued her successful painting career until her death in 2013.

Julie Mars will guide the discussion of Martyl’s fascinating life and work. Much of the conversation will revolve around Martyl’s favorite imagery of landscape, mountains, islands, false doors, and synapses. We will discuss these as metaphor and try to unpack the deeper meaning in Martyl’s striking images.

Julie A Mars is a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has been a fine arts professional for over 25 years. She has represented her own and other artists’ work as an art consultant for galleries, interior designers, major furnishing retailers, homeowners, collectors, and businesses. She is currently the Director of Communications at the Addison Center for the Arts where she enjoys fostering and promoting the arts in the community.

Paul Schweikher’s Impact on Schaumburg

Monday April 29, 2019 (7:00 - 8:15 pm)

Schaumburg Township District Library

Central Library - Rasmussen Room

In 1938, Paul Schweikher built his National Register home in Schaumburg Township. Local History Librarian Jane Rozek will share details of this famous architect, his home and his local work. Co-sponsored by the Library and the Schaumburg Township Historical Society.

Plein Air Painting: Beyond Monet

Sunday March 24, 2019

1:00 - 2:00 pm

Many people are aware that Monet painted out-of-doors, yet understand very little about the process and art historical context of his style of painting. Attendees will dive deeper into the history and process of plein air painting, and learn about the modern resurgence of this movement.

The conversation will be facilitated by fine artist Maggie Capettini as she presents a history of plein air painting and shares her modern tools and equipment, as well as, some of her completed paintings.

The Schweikher House hosts a variety of events, including a lecture series called Conversations in the Studio. The Schweikher House is also open for rentals including student excursions, events for tour groups, and weddings.  For more details on prices and to learn how we can accommodate your next event, contact us.