🎧 Ravinia’s Legacy & Future | Conversation with Jeff Haydon, CEO of Ravinia Festival
Ravinia is more than a concert venue — it’s a Chicagoland institution.
In this episode of The Chicagoland Guide, host Aaron Masliansky sits down with Jeff Haydon, President & CEO of the world-famous Ravinia Festival in Highland Park.
Jeff shares Ravinia’s fascinating history — from its origins as a railroad amusement park to becoming America’s oldest outdoor music festival. We dive into how Ravinia has become a vital part of the Highland Park community, its educational outreach through Reach Teach Play®, and the ambitious Setting the Stage campaign, a $75 million campus renovation planned through 2029.
🎶 Whether you love classical, jazz, or pop — Ravinia brings people together like nowhere else.
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⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction
01:00 – The history of Ravinia
04:00 – Ravinia’s neighborhood roots in Highland Park
05:30 – Musical diversity & evolving programming
07:00 – Reopening after the pandemic
09:15 – What makes Ravinia unique as a nonprofit
13:00 – Jeff’s journey to leading Ravinia
15:00 – How Ravinia partners with Highland Park
17:00 – Reach Teach Play® and community programs
20:00 – Collaborations with Kurt Elling & Marin Alsop
24:30 – The $75M Setting the Stage renovation campaign
29:30 – 2026 reopening timeline and pavilion updates
32:00 – Why Ravinia matters to Chicagoland
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🎵 Highlights
•The story behind Ravinia’s founding and its evolution over 100+ years. • How Ravinia collaborates with the City of Highland Park to manage traffic and enhance community life.
•Music education initiatives serving more than 120 schools.
•The Breaking Barriers Festival, led by Marin Alsop, spotlighting women in classical music.
•Jazz legend Kurt Elling joining as Ravinia’s Jazz Advisor.
•Details on the Setting the Stage campaign to upgrade the 36-acre campus and pavilion.
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🌆 About the Guest
Jeff Haydon has over 30 years of experience leading major arts organizations. Since joining Ravinia in 2020, he has expanded community engagement, grown educational outreach, and guided the festival through a period of transformation and renewal.
👉 Learn more: https://www.ravinia.org
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🏡 About the Host
Aaron Masliansky is a Realtor and host of The Chicagoland Guide, where he highlights the people, neighborhoods, and organizations that make the region a great place to live.
Looking to move to or within Chicagoland? Aaron helps buyers and sellers navigate the market with local expertise and insight.
👉 Learn more: https://www.thechicagolandguide.com
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🔗 Useful Links
🎶 Visit Ravinia Festival – https://www.ravinia.org
💬 Explore The Chicagoland Guide – https://www.thechicagolandguide.com
🏡 Work with Aaron – https://www.thechicagolandguide.com/contact
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🔍 Search Keywords
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📢 Hashtags
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