About Red Jacket Optional

OCTOBER 17, 2026 | 6pm

The Geraghty | 2520 S Hoyne Ave

Founded in 1956, Uniting Voices Chicago was created with a singular belief: that music can change lives. 70 years later, what began as one choir on the South Side of Chicago now resonates far beyond our city, with decades of touring and collaborations with artists from around the world extending our impact nationally and globally. Join us at Red Jacket Optional on October 17 for an inspiring evening celebrating the extraordinary potential of the next generation of leaders and Uniting Voices Chicago’s 70th anniversary. Our singers are the stars forming a constellation that will guide us into the future, a living North Star for what is possible and a reflection of more than 100,000 young people who have carried our work forward in pursuit of a world shaped by belonging, unity and hope. We invite you to help sustain our movement and equip this generation of young people to lead with empathy and compassion, ensuring their voices continue to shape the future we share.

Tickets on sale August 26 - October 1, 2026

Honoring

chance the rapper

for his groundbreaking artistry, profound community impact and longstanding creative partnership.

Co-Chairs

Himal Agarwal & Shimul Lahoti

Heiji Choy Black & Brian Black

Design Chair

Tom Kehoe

About the honoree

We are honored to recognize Chance the Rapper at this year’s Red Jacket Optional for his groundbreaking artistry, deep commitment to Chicago and longstanding creative partnership with our organization.

Across a decade of artistic collaboration, Uniting Voices Chicago has appeared in performances and creative projects led by Chance the Rapper, including Coloring Book (2016), The Big Day (2019), Google’s 2020 Year in Search, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2021), and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve (2025/26) featuring Uniting Voices Chicago alumni.

Throughout his career, Chance the Rapper has remained committed to education, community investment, Chicago pride, and the belief that music has the power to connect people and elevate young voices. At Red Jacket Optional, we celebrate this partnership and the lasting impact it continues to have on young people across Chicago.

uniting voices chicago board of directors

Ellen-Blair Chube, Chair
Brian Egwele, Treasurer
Donielle McCutcheon, Secretary

Himal P. Agarwal
Eric Ashworth
Heiji Choy Black
Patrick E. Boehmer
Erin Brown
Monica Y. Carney
Caroline Dettman
Suzanne H. EL-Moursi
Theo Epstein
Robert L. Fealy

Jude Fernandes
Ebba Gebisa
Kathleen Gerdes
Jacqueline Griesdorn
Cornelia Grumman
Christina S. Hatherly
Jeff Haxer
Yusef Jackson
Melissa S. Kibler
David J. Koo
Erin Lane
Ann Marie Lipinski
Kala Moynihan
Suzanne Muchin

Michael A. Nemeroff
Matt Parr
Diane Pearse
Matt Roan
Patrick Rynell
Renee Sabo Salomon
Rahul Sekhar
Joseph Shanahan
Kanwar Singh
Jeff Steele
Laura Stern
Eduardo Valdes
Steven Won