Northeastern Illinois University announces 26th season of the Jewel Box Series

PR Newswire
Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at 6:11pm UTC

Northeastern Illinois University announces 26th season of the Jewel Box Series

PR Newswire

CHICAGO, Sept. 3, 2025

The seven-concert series kicks off Sept. 26 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chamber Musicians.

CHICAGO, Sept. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Northeastern Illinois University is pleased to announce the 2025-2026 Jewel Box Series. Produced by the University's Office of Cultural Events, the seven-concert series features local, national, and international artists and is widely recognized for its quality, diversity, innovation, and collaboration among the University and the Chicagoland Arts community.

Tickets are $10 for students with an ID, $19 for senior citizens and Northeastern employees with a valid University ID, and $27 for all other patrons. Discounts are available for seven-concert subscriptions and four-concert subscriptions. Tickets can be purchased online. To avoid fees, tickets can also be purchased at the Welcome Desk and Box Office on the Main Campus or by calling (773) 442-4636. All performances are held on Fridays and begin at 7:30 p.m. in either the Recital Hall or Auditorium on the University's Main Campus, 5500 North St. Louis Avenue in Chicago.

"I am thrilled that the Jewel Box Series is now celebrating its 26th season," said Christie Miller, Director of Northeastern's Offices of Cultural Events, and Community and Professional Education. "I think audiences will be very pleasantly surprised at the quality of concerts, the intimate setting and the diversity of our performers."

The Jewel Box Series is always thoughtfully curated, showcasing artists that often play venues like SPACE in Evanston or the Symphony Center. This year's seven-concert series begins Sept. 26 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chamber Musicians.

"I try to choose artists that will sound spectacular in our beautiful, 175-seat Recital Hall since that is the space we use most often for the Series," Miller said. "We always want a good balance between instruments and genres over the seven or eight concerts each year, but I also look for instrumentation or specific instruments that will sound great in the space."

Miller noted that House of Waters, performing on Nov. 21, features a jazz hammered dulcimer artist. She thinks the sound of that instrument will resonate beautifully in the space. Another highlight she's looking forward to is seeing the audience's reaction to Barcelona Guitar Trio, scheduled to perform in February 2026. Their cover of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" has garnered more than 15 million views on YouTube. 

This year's series also features brass septet Septura (from the United Kingdom); Trinidadian soprano Jeanine De Bique with Belgian-born Aaron Wajnberg on piano; Cuban-born classical guitarist René Izquierdo; the Irish and American folk trio One for the Foxes; and the U.S.-based Trio Globo, featuring Grammy Award-winning musicians Howard Levy (pianist, diatonic harmonica player and composer) with Eugene Friesen (cellist, composer, conductor) and Glen Velez (percussionist, vocalist and composer).

"With ample parking and affordable ticket prices, a Jewel Box Series concert is a great night out," said Miller.

2025-2026 Jewel Box Series Schedule
All performances begin at 7:30 p.m.

About Northeastern Illinois University

Northeastern Illinois University offers more than 40 undergraduate degree and certificate programs and more than 50 graduate degree, certificate, licensure and endorsement programs. The Main Campus is located on 67 acres in an attractive residential area on the Northwest Side of Chicago. Founded in 1867, Northeastern is a federally designated Minority Serving Institution and the longest-standing four-year public Hispanic-Serving Institution in the Midwest. The University has additional Chicagoland locations, including the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies, El Centro, and the University Center of Lake County.

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SOURCE Northeastern Illinois University