Engelbach-Hart Music Festival returns to Illinois College with three free concerts

Illinois College will welcome the return of the Engelbach-Hart Music Festival November 6-8, 2026, as part of the College's 47th Fine Arts Series season.

The annual festival will feature three free concerts showcasing a diverse range of musical styles, from innovative chamber music and multimedia performances to classical selections and Latin jazz.

A gift to the Jacksonville community, the admission-free festival brings accomplished musicians to campus while celebrating the talents of Illinois College's own music faculty.

The festival opens Friday, November 6, at 7:30 p.m. with CreArtBox, a New York-based chamber music and multimedia ensemble known for transforming traditional concerts into immersive artistic experiences. Led by flutist Guillermo Laporta and pianist Josefina Urraca, the ensemble also features violinist Emilie-Anne Gendron, violist Matthew Cohen and cellist Julia Yang.

Blending classical and contemporary music with original visual art, stage design and storytelling, CreArtBox creates multidimensional performances that invite audiences to experience music in new ways. The ensemble's inventive approach combines visual creativity with the emotional depth of live musical performance.

On Saturday, November 7, at 7:30 p.m., the festival continues with the annual Faculty Collage Concert, featuring performances by Illinois College music faculty. The concert offers an opportunity for the community to experience the musical talents and artistry of the faculty members who teach and mentor Illinois College students.

The festival concludes Sunday, November 8, at 3 p.m. with The Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project. The ensemble brings the energy and vibrant rhythms of Latin jazz to the stage, combining Afro-Cuban musical traditions with dynamic improvisation. The performance will celebrate the rich heritage and continuing evolution of Latin music.

All three concerts are free and open to the public.

The first Engelbach-Hart Music Festival took place in 2011. The late A.C. Hart '25 H'76, Illinois College trustee emeritus, and the late Charlotte Engelbach Hart '26 H'85 graduated from Illinois College in 1925 and 1926, respectively. The College awarded them each honorary degrees in recognition of their long-standing support of the music program. In 1979 the Hart Sesquicentennial Organ in Rammelkamp Chapel was dedicated in their honor. The baby grand piano in the choral rehearsal room was also named in their honor in 2003.

The Engelbach-Hart Music Festival is part of the Illinois College Fine Arts Series, which brings professional artists, musicians and performers to Jacksonville and the surrounding community throughout the academic year.

For more information about the Engelbach-Hart Music Festival and upcoming Fine Arts Series events, visit ic.edu/fas.