Founded by assistant principal oboist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Michael Henoch, Dempster St. Pro Musica is a chamber music organization that is by no means conventional.  It was established to present concerts in residence at SPACE, Evanston, Illinois’ new performance venue. 

Dempster St. Pro Musica has a flexible personnel and therefore, no limitation to its repertoire.  Its mission is to bring concerts of high quality and interest to the diverse population of Evanston.  Musicians performing with Dempster St. Pro Musica are associated with many other outstanding chamber music ensembles locally and nationally and also are often members of the Chicago Symphony and other world-class orchestras.  They join together as colleagues to participate in projects that challenge their abilities and broaden their artistic horizons.

Oboist Michael Henoch received the Theodore Thomas Medallion for Distinguished Service upon his retirement from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  He held The Gilchrist Foundation Endowed Chair, completing 50 years as the longest-serving oboist in the CSO’s 131-year history. Henoch was appointed to the orchestra by Music Director Sir Georg Solti in 1972 while still a student at Northwestern University, where he has also served as Associate Professor of oboe for the past 22 years.  Henoch studied with Rhadames Angelucci, Gladys Elliot, and Ray Still. 

He has performed as principal oboe on more than 50 CSO recordings over the course of his career that has included the Music Directorships of Solti, Daniel Barenboim, and Riccardo Muti.  He appeared as soloist on several occasions performing the Mozart oboe Concerto and Sinfonia Concertante, Francaix’s Flower Clock, Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante, and Bach’s Concerto for violin and oboe. He has participated in the Marlboro Music Festival, Carmel Bach Festival, and Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival. 

Henoch performed Mozart’s oboe Quartet (Summit Records) which was a Grammy Award Finalist in 2006, as well as Cedille Records 20^th Century French Wind Trios, Chamber Music of David Diamond, and La Vie est une Parade.  For many seasons, Henoch was the Artistic Co-Director of the Chicago Chamber Musicians leading the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art productions of Music at the Millennium (1998-2000) in close collaboration with conductor/composer Pierre Boulez. In 2008 Henoch founded Dempster St. Pro Musica, a chamber music collective that continues to present concerts at SPACE in Evanston, Illinois.

"Even before it's performed a single note, Dempster St. Pro Musica, based at the Society for the Preservation of Art and Culture in Evanston(SPACE at 1245 Chicago Ave.) promises to enrich the classical scene of the north suburbs." 

Chicago Magazine,                August 2008 

"The theme of the afternoon was fascinating, the program was unusual and was played by musicians who are among the best in Chicago. So it is not surprising that Henoch’s winning approach to chamber music is now in its fifth season." Evanston Review(Dorothy Andries)- November 5, 2012

The 2022-2023 Season has been announced. Click on left margin headings for information.

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OUR NEW PHONE NUMBER:

847-790-6015