Musical Partnership Award

Cedille Records is a Grammy winning not-for-profit recording company that promotes Chicago’s world-class performers and composers by recording, distributing, and promoting their work. Through its high-quality recordings, Cedille furthers the careers of outstanding Chicago classical music performers and composers as they present innovative programs featuring the music about which they are most passionate. Our success is augmented by the efforts of like-minded partners in a dedicated and vibrant classical music community.

Cedille Records presents the Musical Partnership Award to an organization that has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the classical music community in Chicago. Through their support of the Chicago musical community’s most valuable asset — its musicians and composers — Cedille’s Musical Partners complement our mission of promoting the work of Chicago’s world-class musical artists.

2026 Honoree

The People’s Music School envisions a society where all children have access to the unique social, emotional, intellectual benefits achieved through musical excellence. We believe music is transformative and empowers the lives of youth, families and communities. Founded in 1976 by Dr. Rita Simó, a Juilliard-trained pianist from the Dominican Republic, the legacy of tuition-free music education began in a repurposed barber shop, until a vacant lot on a residential block in Uptown eventually became its permanent home.