April 09--Access Contemporary Music: The group's yearlong "Composer Alive: Poland Project" culminates in the premiere of Polish composer Agnieszka Stulginska's "Dance With My Breath," along with works by Marta Ptaszynska and other contemporary Polish composers. 7 p.m. Friday, Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave.; $20, $8 for seniors; 773-777-8898, copernicuscenter.org
Ars Viva Symphony: Violinist Joshua Brown, young winner of the ensemble's Music Institute of Chicago Concerto Competition, plays Franz Waxman's "Carmen Fantasie." Music director Alan Heatherington also leads Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 2. 3 p.m. Sunday, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie; $30-$75; 847-673-6300, arsviva.org
Avalon Quartet: The ensemble concludes its downtown season with works by Brahms and Helmut Lachenmann. 2 p.m. Sunday, Fullerton Hall, Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave.; free with museum admission; avalonquartet.com
Bach Week Festival: Richard Webster leads the orchestra, chorus and soloists in the opening concert of the 42nd annual event, which this year will feature the complete Bach "Brandenburg" Concertos. A Candlelight Concert will follow the season opener. The festival continues May 1 and 3 at Chicago's North Park University. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston; $20-$30; 800-838-3006, bachweek.org
Centenary Weekend: The impact of World War I on composers and their music is explored in a multi-disciplinary festival of music, lectures and demonstrations in various University of Chicago venues. Artists taking part in the six events include the Pacifica Quartet, pianists Orion Weiss and Anna Polonsky, violinist Arnaud Sussmann and baritone John Brancy. The festival runs Friday through Sunday at the University of Chicago. Opening concert, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Mandel Hall, 1151 E. 57th St.; $15-$35; 773-702-2787, ticketsweb.uchicago.edu
Chicago a cappella: Guest music director Paul Langford leads a tribute to the Beatles. 8 p.m. Friday, Wentz Concert Hall, North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville; and 4 p.m. Sunday, Pilgrim Congregational Church, 460 Lake St., Oak Park (repeated April 17 in Chicago and April 18 in Evanston); $25-$38; 773-281-7820, chicagoacappella.org
Chicago Chamber Choir: Doreen Rao, the chorus' new artistic director, leads a program of Shakespeare-inspired American and British choral works, including Vaughan Williams' "Serenade to Music," led by departing director Timm Adams. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Our Lady of Victory Church, 4434 N. Laramie Ave. (repeated April 18 in Chicago and April 19 in Northbrook); $25; chicagochamberchoir.org
Chicago Symphony Orchestra: Former principal conductor Bernard Haitink leads Mahler's sprawling and elusive Symphony No. 7; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday; $33-$249. Beginning a two-week guest engagement, Semyon Bychkov directs an all-Russian program that holds Shostakovich's Eighth Symphony and Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 1, with Daniil Trifonov as soloist; 8 p.m. Thursday (repeated April 17-21); $33-$220. Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; 312-294-3000, cso.org
Fonema Consort: The Chicago contemporary ensemble performs vocal works by Scottish composer James Dillon, along with music by Mexican composer Julio Estrada. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Constellation, 3111 N. Western Ave.; $10-$12; fonemaconsort.com
Hilary Hahn: The American virtuoso is joined by pianist Cory Smythe for sonatas by Schumann and Debussy, also several of recently commissioned encores. 3 p.m. Sunday, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $36-$112; 312-294-3000, cso.org
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra: A weekend-long "Power of Music Festival" will comprise a screening of a film about Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, a lecture, piano recital by Lisa Smirnova and a concert by young local musicians. 8 p.m. Friday, Lincoln-Way North Performing Arts Center, 19900 S. Harlem Ave., Frankfort; $5-$50; 708-481-7774, ipomusic.org
Northbrook Symphony Orchestra: Music director Lawrence Rapchak concludes his multi-season survey, "In Mahler's Shadow," with the North American premiere of Czech composer Josef Foerster's warmly romantic Symphony No. 4 ("Easter Eve"). Works by Mozart, Dvorak and Weinberger complete the program. 4 p.m. Sunday, Sheely Center for the Performing Arts, Glenbrook North High School, 2300 Shermer Road, Northbrook; $30-$50; 847-272-0755, northbrooksymphony.org
OpenICE: Rebekah Heller and Levy Lorenzo perform new works for bassoon and electronics. 6 p.m. Sunday, Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave.; free; iceorg.org
Project FourthStream: The piano-saxophone duo of composers William Neil and Tom Gullion is joined by soprano Josefien Stoppelenburg for "Nostras Voces," a benefit concert. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, 1327 N. Noble St.; $25-$40; 773-278-2470, sanctuaryofthedivinemercy.org
Quintet Attacca: The wind quintet presents selections from its eclectic repertory. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center, 406 N. Main St., Rockford; $25; 815-964-9713, mendelssohnpac.org
Shulamit Ran retirement events: The longtime University of Chicago music professor and composer, who will retire in June, is celebrated with a free concert of her works, performed by eighth blackbird, the Pacifica Quartet and U. of C. Motet Choir. A film about Ran's group, Contempo, will screen at 2:45 p.m. Monday (Room 201). 6 p.m. Monday, Logan Center for the Arts, Performance Hall, 915 E. 60th St.; chicagopresents.uchicago.edu
William Ferris Chorale: The Chicago chorus under Paul French concludes its season with music for guitar and voices by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco and others. Guitarist You Wang is the soloist. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 708 W. Belmont Ave.; $20-$30, 773-508-2940, williamferrischorale.org
jvonrhein@tribpub.com
