Working In Concert

Celebrate music, love, and community!

Experience curated short sets that showcase talented singers' unique artistry. Ruth Fuerst invites you to a Dinner Party; Alison Issen gladly accepts the invitation; Claudia Hommel can cook up more than music; Etienne Colvin believes in the power of love; and Rae-Myra Hilliard explores love’s unpredictable dance.

Join us for a captivating salon afternoon of solo performances featuring Rae-Myra Hilliard, Alison Issen, Ruth Fuerst, and Etienne Colvin, hosted by Claudia Hommel with Music Director Howie Pfeifer. Venue: Chief O’Neill’s, 3471 N Elston, Chicago. Date & Time: Sunday, April 26 at 3:30 pm

Proceeds support the SongShop Live Scholarship Fund. Enjoy delicious dinner and drinks—optional but always delightful.

As Women's History Month comes to a close, we celebrate the women who break barriers and move our industry and community forward.

Their stories don't end in March; they inspire us all year long — and we commit to empowering the next generation of performing arts women and girls.

Congratulations to all! Group photo from Bellissima Opera & Song's March 29 'Under 30' Concert at Pianoforte. From left to right: Peter Lorenzo, Brandon Burkhardt, Chiemerie Obianom, Harrison Mueller, Dana Brown, Hannah Grace Weber, Karissa Burkhardt, Jasmine Doll & Kunying Li.

Save the Date: the next instalments of "Solo Sets", a series of curated short sets supporting our associated artists. 💜

April 26 at Chief O'Chief O’Neill’s Pub Restaurant Garden Event Space Featuring: Alison Issen, Ruth Fuerst, Etienne Colvin, and Rae-Myra Hilliard
Chief O’Neill’s, 3471 N Elston, Chicago
Sunday, April 26 at 3:30 pm

Join Alison Issen for Accepting the Invitation; Ruth Fuerst’s set is all about the Dinner Party; Etienne Colvin has his heart set on the power of love; and Rae-Myra Hilliard follows the erraticity of love.

Proceeds will support the SongShop Live Scholarship Fund. Delicious dinner menu and drinks will be available, no minimums.

May 31 at Labyrinth Club
Featuring: I’m M$ B’Havin, Dion Walton, R. Darryl Thomas, Elisabeth Howard, and Sharon Waltham. Details to follow.

Sunday, May 31
Time: TBD - 2 Showtimes
Labyrinth Club 3658 N Pulaski Rd
Chicago, IL 60641

With Howie Pfeifer at the keyboard and Claudia Hommel as emcee.

SongShop Live Page
SongShop Live Group

From Friday, May 8 to Sunday, May 17, 2026, keep an eye out for singers from Working In Concert as they participate in the 5th Annual Chicago Cabaret Week.

The performers, fantastic venues, and organizers in the Chicago area are preparing for a wonderful festival experience. This event features contributions from Chicago Cabaret Professionals
Chicago Cabaret Project, Hilary Ann Feldman, Burnell Music, Charles Kouri, Claudia Hommel, Working In Concert, plus many more talents!

From Working In Concert's Executive Director Claudia Hommel

Passing the baton for Black Voices in Cabaret - The Journey Continues

I am very grateful to our board member Lynn Colbert -Jones for having shepherded Black Voices in Cabaret as interim managing director for the past two years.

Founded as an initiative of Working In Concert in 2020, Black Voices in Cabaret is so much stronger for Lynn's creativity, networking, and promotion of its mission “to showcase new and established Black performers, educate new audiences about the history of Chicago cabaret as seen through Black eyes, and to uplift the repertoire ...with a wide variety of performing styles."

Under Lynn's leadership, BVIC artists presented five group shows, gained praise from local newscasters and the Sun-Times, and won the accolades of new audiences from Park Forest to Hyde Park.

Since interim means "short-term", Lynn more than fulfilled her commitment. As she turns to her other projects, we have searched for the next managing director, and are delighted to present De'jah Perkins.

A musical theatre graduate of Columbia College, De’jah has more than six years experience in nonprofit performing arts programming, producing, and community engagement. She brings to Black Voices in Cabaret her expertise in artist relations, event production, and cross-promotional partnerships that expand community access to the arts, along with a passion to create and lead original programming that centers Black and POC stories.

Her other experiences and association include the Old Town School of Folk Music, Acts Of Kindness Cabaret, Guitars Over Guns, Black Ensemble Theater, and the Chicago Children’s Theatre. She is a member of Black Arts & Culture Association and Women of Color in the Arts.

Thank you Lynn for leading BVIC and now helping De'jah to carry forward the baton.

Artists on the BVIC roster can expect to hear from De'jah in the next month as she begins putting together a schedule of meetings and concerts.

Discover the next generation of classical singers!

Showcasing eight of Chicago area’s rising young performers. They have been coached by Carl Ratner, Christine Steyer and Claudia Hommel to explore a cabaret approach to telling tales and creating characters from Bernstein, Brel and Burleigh, Guettel, Handel, Mendelssohn, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Saint-Saëns, to Shenton & Steyer.

Music directed by

Top: Harrison Mueller, Karissa Burkhardt, Peter Lorenzo, Chiemerie Obianom

Bottom: Brandon Burkhardt, Kunying Li, Hannah Grace Weber, Jasmine Doll

A special shout out to everyone involved in Bellissima Opera & Song's wonderful International Women's Day concert yesterday in Oak Park. (left to right) violin Becky Coffman; piano Alyssa Arrigo and Jennifer McCabe; singers Marissa Howard, Lauren Sutherland, Christine Steyer, Jennifer Kosharsky and Dominique Frigo; composer Dodie Morris Whitaker; art teacher Lindsay Hammer.

SongShop Live Spring concerts in two parts

SongShop Live presents A Quartet of Solo Sets
with Staci Michelle, Sheri Flanders, Michele Williams, and Susan Dennis
March 15 💜💜✨️
Hosted by Claudia Hommel
Music director Howie Pfeifer

A Blooming of Solo Sets
featuring Rae-Myra Hilliard, Alison Issen, Ruth Fuerst, Etienne Colvin
April 26 💜💜✨️
Hosted by Claudia Hommel
Howie Pfeifer, Music Director

DePaul Community Music Division
Chief O’Neill’s Pub Restaurant Garden Event Space
SongShop Live Group
Claudia Hommel's Music

Working In Concert honors Women's History Month.

This year's IWD Concert theme, "Give to Gain," is inspired by the spirit of the IWD and emphasises the power of reciprocity and support. When people, organisations, and communities give generously, opportunities and support for women increase. Giving is not a subtraction; it's intentional multiplication. When women thrive, we all rise.

Together, let's help forge gender equality through abundant giving. You can support women in the arts on March 8 and through sustained actions all month and beyond.

Be the change you wish to see in the world!

Join Us for our 5th Annual IWD Concert Extravaganza! Centerstage are singers Dominique Frigo, Marissa Howard, Jennifer Kosharsky, Christine Steyer and Lauren Sutherland joined by violinist Becky Coffman, and pianists Alyssa Arrigo and Jennifer McCabe.

Tickets: $10-$60 Ticket link in comments

The concert features music of Ritika Bhattacharjee, Ashley Eyre, Pauline Viardot Garcia, Liza Lehmann, Dodie Morris, set to words of rachel e. morris, Christine Steyer, Sara Teasdale and others. Set to a backdrop of images by students at Ascension School.

SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2026, 7:30-8:30pm at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 611 Randolph Street, Oak Park. Doors open 7pm. On-site reception to follow. Free street parking.

Bellissima Invites You to our IWD26 March 8 Concert Celebrating Women Join Us for our 5th Annual IWD Concert Extravaganza! Centerstage are singers Dominique Frigo, Marissa Howard, Jennifer Kosharsky, Christine Steyer and Lauren...