Chicago Folklore Ensemble

Crossing Borders Through Music And Story

Interweaving World Music And Oral History

Learning From Immigrant Musicians

We study with master musicians, gathering songs and stories and learning musical styles from around the world.

Arranging Across Mediums

We arrange our own repertoire by interweaving the music and stories we gather, arranging dramatic pieces that feature simultaneous music and spoken word.

Presenting High Quality Performances

We work with accomplished professional artists to captivate audiences with beautiful shows that celebrate world cultures.

Bringing People Together

Our work is based on values of inclusivity and diversity. Our goal is to build interaction and understanding among Chicago’s vibrant communities and cultures.

NEW ALBUM COMING SOON
Chicago Folklore Ensemble's second album, Praner Alap: Meeting of Hearts, will present arrangements of songs from Rabindranath Tagore's Gitanjali sung by Bengali vocalists in Chicago. (Click the image below for a preview!)


THE WORLD IN CHICAGO: BOOK AND CD
Songs and stories of musicians who immigrated to Chicago from Argentina, Thailand, Jordan, Ghana, and Serbia.