USO Alumni & Friends: May 8-10, 2026

Please join the Department of Music and the Division of the Arts & Humanities for the culmination of the season-long Opus 50 celebration with a full weekend of events on campus, including an alumni mixer, an alumni orchestra performance, and much more. 

Friday, May 8, 2026  

USO Alumni Mixer 
6:00–7:30pm, McCormick Lounge in the Reynolds Club
Featuring musical performances by Performance Program musicians

USO Alumni Orchestra Open Rehearsal
7:30–10:00pm, Mandel Hall 
Open rehearsal for Johannes Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture

 

Saturday, May 9, 2026   

Tour of the Logan Center for the Arts
10:00-11:00am, Logan Center for the Arts 

USO Alumni Orchestra Open Rehearsal
2:00-3:00pm, Mandel Hall
Open rehearsal for Johannes Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture with special activities for alumni who are not performing in the orchestra

Alumni Group Photo & USO Stories
4:00-5:30pm, Classics Quad & Fulton Recital Hall
Meet in the Classics Quad, just outside of Goodspeed Hall for an alumni group photo, then head to Fulton Hall to hear and share stories and memories with fellow USO alums from the past five decades

Opus 50 Concert & Livestream
8:00pm, Mandel Hall
Featuring the Brahms' Academic Festival Overture, plus Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, Resurrection, followed by a reception.

 

Sunday, May 10, 2026

ISAC Museum Tour
1:30-2:30pm, Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures Museum

Pre-Concert Rehearsal and Soundcheck
2:00-2:30pm, Mandel Hall 

Opus 50 Concert
3:00pm, Mandel Hall
Featuring the Brahms Academic Festival Overture, plus Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, Resurrection

Musician & Alumni End-of-Year Picnic
4:30pm, Classics Quad
Join us for the annual USO picnic

Accommodations

The Study at University of Chicago - 1227 E 60th St, Chicago, IL 60637

A block of rooms for the Opus 50 May weekend has been arranged at The Study, with a limited number of Deluxe King rooms available at the reduced rate of $239 per night. This block is available for check-in beginning on May 8, through a checkout date of May 11. Opus 50 guests can access this room block online at this link, by calling the Hotel directly at 773.643.1600, or emailing reservations.chicago@studyhotels.com and referring to Opus 50. 

Sophy - Hyde Park - 1411 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615

Hyatt Place Chicago South - 5225 S Harper Ave, Chicago, IL 60615

Exploring Hyde Park

Hyde Park is home to the world-famous Museum of Science and Industry and the Frank Lloyd Wright Robie House, as well as many ethnic restaurants, family parks, bookstores, coffee shops, and more. Hyde Park has a number of cultural and educational attractions and entertainment venues, and hosts a variety of annual events in the summer and fall. Learn more.