Karen I. Hirsch Photography

Fifth Star Awards - Chicago

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Yesterday, the City of Chicago honored five Chicago cultural icons: Lou Conte, dancer, choreographer and founder of Hubbard Street Dance; Richard Hunt, metal sculptor who has completed more public  sculptures than any other U.S. artist; Ramsey Lewis, jazz musician who has recorded more than 80 albums, Lois Weisberg, who served as cultural affairs commissioner of Chicago from more than 20 years and created major music and food festivals in the City, and the Auditorium Theater of Roosevelt University, first home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Opera Company, now a Chicago landmark.  


To honor these people and institution, there were noted presenters and performances at the Pritzker Pavillion at Millennium Park in the center of Chicago.

Among the performers were jazz singers Kurt Elling and Spider Saloff, the Hubbard Street Dance Company, Welz Kauffman, CEO of the Ravinia Festival who played a duet with teenager Alexis Lanier, the Four Star Brass Band, Second City, Orbert Davis and the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble featuring singer  Roderick Dixon.


Ad agency Leo Burnett provided video tributes to the honorees.

3 men and 3 women ballet dancers

Hubbard Street dancers