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 the Women's Ensemble, food, drinks, a photobooth, and a chance to catch up with old friends
USO Alumni Orchestra Open Rehearsal
7:30–9:30pm, 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
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. Light refreshments will be served.
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. Admission is free!
Sunday, May 10, 2026
ISAC Museum Tour
1:30-2:30pm, Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures Museum
Opus 50 Concert
3:00pm, Mandel Hall
Featuring the Brahms Academic Festival Overture, plus Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, Resurrection. Admission is free!
Musician & Alumni End-of-Year Picnic
4:30pm, Classics Quad
Join us for the annual USO picnic.
Carillon Tribute
5:50pm, Rockefeller Memorial Chapel
Students from the UChicago Carillon Guild will perform Ode to Joy in honor of Barbara at the end of their 5-6pm spring program. We invite you to wander over to Rockefeller around 5:50pm with your picnic drinks/snacks to catch this musical tribute!
All events are free for USO alumni. Admission to the May 9 and 10 concerts is free, with donations accepted at the door (suggested $10 general/$5 students).
Alumni Orchestra Information
If you have signed up to play in the Alumni Orchestra, you will receive an email asking to confirm your participation in the alumni orchestra performances, your attendance at rehearsals, and your listing in the alumni orchestra roster for the printed program. Please respond by Sunday, April 26.
Dress code:
- Option A: Floor- or tea-length black dress, or black top with black slacks/floor- or tea-length skirt. Purple flair (i.e. scarf, ribbon, bow) is optional.
- Option B: Black tux with white shirt, or closest possible approximation. We will provide purple bowties!
- Please note, Mandel Hall is still not air-conditioned. If the weather is warm, you will not be required to wear your jacket during the performance.
Printed parts will be available for all rehearsals and performances.
Call time for the Saturday, May 9, concert is 7:30 PM, and Sunday, May 10, is 2:30 PM.
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 by contacting Janelle Jara at jjara@studyhotels.com or 630.364.9209.
Sophy - Hyde Park - 1411 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615
Hyatt Place Chicago South - 5225 S Harper Ave, Chicago, IL 60615
Directions & Parking on Campus
There is free street parking around the Reynolds Club at 1131 E. 57th St. (home of the McCormick Lounge and Mandel Hall). McCormick Lounge and Mandel Hall are both on the first floor of the Reynolds Club.
There is free street parking near Goodspeed Hall/Fulton Recital Hall at 1010 E. 59th St. Use the address provided to locate Goodspeed Hall. From 59th street, go all the way through the archway to the quadrangle. The pathway and doors to Goodspeed Hall will be to the left. Fulton Recital Hall is on the 4th floor.
Find additional information about visitor parking on campus, including parking garage details and rates, on the University's website.
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 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.
Venue Accessibility
The Department of Music strives to ensure access to performances and an enjoyable and enriching experience for everyone. Accessible seating is available at all of our venues, and all of our venues also have accessible entrances with parking available nearby.
Learn about the accessibility of our venues:
For questions regarding accessible seating or other requests for services or accommodations, please contact Lara Madden, Manager of Operations, at madden1@uchicago.edu or 773.702.9075.
To read more about accessibility at the University of Chicago, please visit the University's resource page.