Our 2025 salon concert series continues with a special afternoon of music written for the violin and piano, ranging from works by Bach, Mozart, and Brahms, to more contemporary selections by Irene Britton Smith and Ahmed Al Abaca. Attendees will be seated in the beautiful parlor and dining room of the house, while listening to selections presented by violinist Caitlin Edwards and pianist Jonathan Gmeinder, performing on the Glessners’ 1887 Steinway & Sons piano.

Caitlin Edwards is a visionary artist who seamlessly blends her cultural roots with her musical upbringing to curate performances that resonate with authenticity, impact and joy. In August 2021, Caitlin released her debut solo album, Exhale, a transcending work that merges the elegance of classical music with the soulful harmonies of gospel and neo-soul.

Jonathan Gmeinder works extensively as a coach, collaborator, and piano teacher, currently coaching opera students at Roosevelt, DePaul and Northwestern Universities in Chicago. Additionally, Gmeinder coaches and accompanies the young artists at the Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, as well as the Baumgartner studio artists at Florentine Opera in Milwaukee.  

Seating is strictly limited. The concert will last approximately one hour and will be followed by a reception where guests will have an opportunity to meet the artists.

Pack your picnic basket, grab your blanket and chairs, chill your favorite beverages, and head over for a special Courtyard Concert at Glessner House, part of our 2025 jazz series. Due to popular demand, we have added a fifth concert this season, so are starting a month earlier than usual and introducing a new performer, too!

Vocalist Petra van Nuis and guitarist Andy Brown settled in Chicago in 2003 where they regularly play such top jazz venues as the Green Mill, Jazz Showcase, Le Piano, Andy's Jazz Club, Winter's Jazz Club, Fitzgerald's Nightclub, and SPACE, as well as tour nationally and internationally. 

With a focus on swing-era music, Great American Songbook standards, and Brazilian bossa nova, their enormous repertoire encompasses obscurities as well as familiar favorites. Drawn toward songs with clever lyrics, lovely melodies, and rich harmonies, Petra and Andy are often praised for their elegant, nuanced approach and expressive, engaging demeanor, creating a presentation which blends technique with heart!