Paint the Town Red is one of Uniting Voices Chicago's most anticipated and largest events of the year, bringing together singers from every corner of Chicago and every level of our programs in song. Voice of Chicago, Dimension, all 12 Neighborhood Choirs and singers from our School Program will be performing, alongside guest artists The Filharmonic and Amaia Gabantxo.
We are committed to hosting inclusive, accessible events that enable every audience member to engage fully. Should you need an accommodation of any kind for any reason, or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact us at info [at] unitingvoiceschicago [dot] org.
Lead Sponsor
Richard L. Duchossois Memorial Foundation
Supporting Sponsors
Event Partner
Support this transformative day that brings together the next generation of global leaders in Chicago! Join in the spirit of togetherness as young people from every corner of Chicago harmonize in the heart of the city with a donation to keep these programs accessible to all singers.
Your donation can go twice as far! All donations made in the month of May will be matched by generous donor advocate D. Elizabeth Price, up to $15,000.
Donate
Guest Artists
Learn more about the guest artists joining our singers for this transformative day of song!
The Filharmonic, a Los Angeles-based a cappella group of Filipino-Americans who were featured in NBC’s hit musical competition, The Sing-Off, has much to sing about. After the show the five-piece vocal group kept the momentum rolling with countless national and international shows, they were featured in the Universal Pictures hit movie, Pitch Perfect 2, and set off a viral sensation with their Late Late Show appearances. They consist of vocalists Vj Rosales, Joe Caigoy, Trace Gaynor, Vocal Bass Jules Cruz and Beat Boxer Niko Del Rey
Amaia Gabantxo is a multidisciplinary artist working in music and literature. She was born in a fishing village in the Basque Country into a musical family who were her first inspiration, and has lived in four different countries: Spain, Ireland, England and the United States. She has taught literature and creative writing in U.K. and U.S. universities—most recently at the University of Chicago and the School of the Art Institute—and performed with flamenco troupes and classical ensembles everywhere she’s lived.
Now back in Europe, she creates soundscapes that combine traditional Basque song with field recordings of Basque landscapes, including sounds captured under water during her free diving film and sound collection immersions. In 2022, she co-founded the arts and culture non-profit KREATRIBÜ in Bermeo, her hometown.
Paint the Town Red
Thursday, May 25, 11am
Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park
PROGRAM
People Get Ready
Curtis Mayfield; arr. W. Mitchell Owens III
Revelation 19
Jeffrey LaValley
I Love Everybody
American Civil Rights Freedom Song; arr. Lonnie Norwood, Jr.
March of the Toreadors (from Carmen)
Music by Georges Bizet; words by Ludovic Halévy & Henri Meilhac
Habanera (from Carmen)
Music by Georges Bizet; words by Ludovic Halévy & Henri Meilhac
Txoria Txori Txikia
Mikel Laboa & Benito Lertxundi; arr. Amaia Gabantxo & Kreatribu Association
Zizo Jik’ Iziko! (South African Freedom Medley): Thula M’twanam | Toyi-Toyi | Tshona Malanga
Traditional Xhosa Songs by Apartheid Protestors
We Win
Vincent Bohannan
Una Sangre
Paul Cohen, Lila Downs & Celso Duarte; arr. Julio Morales
Mientras Me Curo del Cora
Kevyn Cruz, Daniel Echavarria, Carolina Giraldo & Robert McFerrin, Jr.
Arirang
Korean Folk Song; arr. Josephine Lee and SKIM
Kilometro
Thyro Alfaro & Yumi Lacsamana; arr. Joe Caigoy
Ode to Hip Hop
Kendrick Duckworth, Mark Spears & Pharrell Williams; Hank Boxley, Keith Boxley, Carlton Ridenhour & Eric Sadler; Curtis Brown, Bernard Edwards, Henry Jackson, Guy O'Brien, Sylvia Robinson, Nile Rodgers & Michael Wright; Ronald Nathan Bell, Robert Bell, John Bowman, George Brown, Mark James, Mark Jones, Robert Mickens, Claydes Smith, Dennis Thomas & Allen Westfield; Kier "Kay Gee" Gist & Queen Latifah; Melvin Bradford, Shawn Carter, Scott Storch & Andre Young; Woody Cunningham, Norman Durham, Mikel Hooks, Ronald Hudson, Tupac Shakur, Larry Troutman, Roger Troutman & Andre Young; Darrol Durant, Roger Munroe, James Seals & Trevor Smith Jr.; Melissa Elliott, Isaac Freeman & Ciara Harris.
Arr. Farlanda Buchannon & Bailey Haynes; choreography by Farlanda Buchannon
United
W. Mitchell Owens III