Sharing Notes

📣Irish Fest on the Patio announcement: Two of the most in-demand names in Irish music are coming together for one unforgettable performance!

🥁 Ryan Lacey — longtime drummer for Gaelic Storm and co-producer of 8 Billboard #1 World Music albums — has spent more than two decades touring the world’s biggest theaters and festivals. Beyond the stage, Ryan is also the founder of Eucatape and creator of Focus Rhythms, combining rhythm, creativity, and education into everything he does.

🎶 John Williams — five-time All-Ireland champion and co-founder of Solas — is internationally recognized as one of the finest Irish musicians performing today. A master of accordion, concertina, flute, piano, and bodhrán, John has toured across North America and Europe and was featured in the Academy Award-nominated score for Road to Perdition.

Together, these two powerhouse musicians bring decades of world-class touring, tradition, and energy to the stage for a night of incredible Irish music.

Get your tickets now & catch these two in action!

https://e.givesmart.com/events/Nlh/

🏀‼️Big news: We have been invited to perform ONE WEEK from today at the WNBA Chicago Sky halftime performance in honor and support of Women’s Cancer Awareness Night 💗

Sharing Notes performs for over 500 cancer patients and their families each year across a variety of Chicagoland healthcare partnerships, including Northwestern Medicine, Lurie Cancer Center and Gilda's Club Chicago.

For more information about our mission and programming, visit our website at www.sharing-notes.org

Get your tickets today to next week’s game which is sure to be an unforgettable evening!

☘️🚨Irish Fest on the Patio Artist Announcement 🚨☘️

Steve Martin and Ethan Sellers are two Sharing Notes all-star musicians whose performances blend extraordinary musical talent with a deep commitment to personal connection through music. Together, they bring decades of experience, warmth, and artistry to audiences and patients alike.

Ethan Sellers is a singer, keyboardist, guitarist, music teacher, bandleader, songwriter, composer/arranger, producer/engineer, and independent label operator based in Chicago. He leads five acclaimed bands across a wide range of genres, including bluegrass, Irish and Scottish music, soul, Cajun/zydeco, and rock. His recordings have earned international radio airplay, critical acclaim, and support from both the Illinois Arts Council and Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Sellers is currently working on a fourth album with his rock band, Tautologic, a project that has taken him to Real World Studios, founded by Peter Gabriel. Among his many musical accomplishments, Ethan considers his performances through Sharing Notes to be some of the most personally meaningful opportunities to share both music and human connection.

Steve Martin, from Morton Grove, recently retired after 42 years of teaching elementary band and physical education at North Shore Adventist Academy. Holding a master’s degree in music education, he has received numerous awards for his teaching and takes special pride in having taught multiple generations within the same families, as well as several students who went on to professional music careers. Steve’s lifelong love of music began with a banjo he received at age 10 and has since grown into a collection of more than 50 instruments. In retirement, he now performs with nine professional bands and organizations, including Sharing Notes, delighting audiences and hospital patients alike with the joyful sounds of his many instruments—especially his beloved banjo.

Together, Steve and Ethan performances are filled with musicianship, heart, humor, and connection, embodying the spirit of Sharing Notes through music that uplifts and inspires.

Catch them LIVE on June 17!

Tickets available here: https://IrishFest.givesmart.com

Irish Fest on the Patio Artist ANNOUNCEMENT! ☘️🚨

“New to Us” Artist: Liam Kantor🌟

Liam Kantor is a traditional musician, teacher, and researcher based in Evanston, Illinois, specializing in folk-singing styles from around the world and Irish fiddle music. Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, he grew up with a wide range of folk-music influences, eventually landing squarely in the Irish-trad world when he moved to the Chicagoland area. Right now, his favorite tune is O’Keeffe’s Flower of the Flock, and he also can’t get enough of Sliabh Luachra polkas.

Catch him in action at Chief O’Neill’s on June 17, 2026 🎶

Tickets available: https://IrishFest.givesmart.com

Silent auction item alert! ☘️🤩

One lucky bidder will win a $5,000 gift card to Chicago Cut Steakhouse—right on the Chicago River! 🥩✨

Treat yourself (and 9 guests!) to an unforgettable evening featuring a decadent dinner with perfectly paired wines.

Huge thanks to Chicago Cut Steakhouse for supporting Sharing Notes! 💚

Don’t miss your chance to bid: https://e.givesmart.com/s/:UsfZoAX6fNe/e/Nlh/i/_All/zRav/?search=

P.S. Even if you can’t make our event on June 17th, you can still bid on this phenomenal prize and support our mission while doing so!

Irish Fest on the Patio HEADLINER ANNOUNCEMENT! ☘️🚨

Back by popular demand: The Boils! 🔥

For over 20 years, The Boils have enchanted audiences with a spirited blend of Irish traditional dance music and an eclectic repertoire of classic pub songs and contemporary favorites. Members Jack Callahan (guitar, banjo, vocals), James Conway (tin whistles, harmonicas) and Mike Austin (bodhran, percussion) maintain the musical traditions of Ireland while also celebrating modern influences, reflecting their Irish-American heritage.

Catch them in action at Chief O’Neill’s on June 17, 2026 🤗

Tickets available here: https://e.givesmart.com/s/:UsfZoAX6fNe/e/Nlh/

We are still truly blown away and feeling incredibly inspired after last week’s benefit concert by the brilliant pianist 🎹

Claire’s performance showcased works by mostly female composers. Her playing combined technical precision with expressive depth, bringing fresh attention to voices that are too often overlooked in the classical canon. The recital felt both intimate and purposeful, making it a fitting occasion for Sharing Notes and reflections within the local Chicago music community 🎶🎼

Thanks to our generous event sponsors Nick and Susan Yasillo, we raised almost $3,000, which will go directly to supporting live music in hospitals and senior living facilities around the Chicagoland area.

Thanks to everyone who made the evening such a success!

Meet the team behind Sharing Notes…weren’t they adorable?! 🥹 Today, they lead the work of bringing live music into hospitals and care communities across Chicago! 🎶

🎉 We’re halfway through the year and already hitting major milestones!

As we close out the first half of our fiscal year (Sept–Feb), we’re proud to share that Sharing Notes has already met or exceeded several of our annual goals:

✨ 105% of our staff and family reach goal
✨ 101% of total individuals served
✨ Over 2,600 patients reached and 3,936 total individuals served

And we’re just getting started.

Behind these numbers are moments of connection. Patients singing along, families finding comfort, and communities coming together through live music. 💛

We’re incredibly grateful to our musicians, partners, and supporters who make this work possible every single day.

Here’s to building on this momentum in the months ahead! 🎶