Hosted by the four-time Grammy Award winners Eighth Blackbird, the 2024 Blackbird Creative Lab has ticketed concerts and conversations with composers for the first time! This year’s Lab welcomes a talented group of ensembles: AREPO, Sputter Box, and Versa. The faculty and performers include musicians Lisa Kaplan, Matthew Duvall, Maiani da Silva, Aaron Wolff, Lina Andonovska, and Zachary Good along with composers Viet Cuong and Jonathan Bailey Holland. Internationally-acclaimed artist Ann Hamilton and legendary puppeteer Blair Thomas are also an electrifying part of the performances and programs this year.

From May 3oth to June 9th, our ticketed speaking engagements and concerts at Blackbird Creative Lab welcome an exhilarating, new era for Yerkes Observatory in our 127-year history. 

Ticket info: $50 suggested price for all events. $25 community special rate. $100 reserves your ticket + a donation to Blackbird Creative Lab and Yerkes Future Foundation. $200 reserves your ticket + donation. $300 reserves your ticket + donation. For the $300 ticket + donation, you also get special invitations to behind-the-scenes events and meet the musician evenings. We’ll reach out individually for those. If you would like to donate above and beyond this, simply click the Donate option in your transaction. Both BCL and YFF are nonprofits who are grateful for your generosity and participation!  GET MORE INFO AND TICKETS HERE!

The members of 8BB value their roles as curators, educators, and mentors. Beginning exclusively as a chamber music ensemble, 8BB has expanded in recent years to represent numerous mission-driven initiatives. Eighth Blackbird hosts at Yerkes Observatory this bold initiative, an inclusive two-week professional development immersion for performers and composers plus an ongoing community of practice for contemporary classical musicians and composers. The Lab fosters expansive artistic vision, collaboration, mentorship, and building a viable life as an artist. It continues its mission beyond the two-week collaboration to find opportunities for its network of alumni to present in professional engagement.