Chamber of Change with the Mud Theatre Project

Chamber of Change is a project led by Civic Orchestra of Chicago harpist and fellow Kari Novilla that brings together formerly incarcerated individuals to compose and perform original rap pieces rooted in the harmonic language of classical music.

This year in collaboration with The Mud Theatre Project, participants transform classical works into deeply personal stories drawn from their own lived experiences, culminating in a live performance alongside a fusion ensemble of classical, jazz, and hip-hop artists.

Inspired by the theme "Gardens Over Graves," the project reflects on how under-resourced communities can become sites of loss due to systemic inequities in basic needs like housing, education, and healthcare. Yet Chamber of Changeultimately centers defiance and possibility: like flowers growing in a graveyard, the work celebrates resilience, creativity, and the power to reclaim and repurpose one's environment. The result is a concert that is both an artistic collaboration and a profound act of community storytelling

— music that bridges worlds and affirms the humanity and strength of every voice on stage.

Doors open at 6pm.