Ravinia 2025 Issue 3

STUART CHAFETZ Stuart Chafetz is the Principal Pops Conductor of the Columbus, Chautauqua, and Marin Sym- phonies. A conductor celebrated for his dynam- ic and engaging podium presence, Chafetz is increasingly in demand with orchestras across North America—this season, he is on the po- dium in Detroit, Naples, Buffalo, Kansas City, Vancouver, and Seattle. He enjoys a special re- lationship with the Phoenix Symphony, where he leads multiple programs annually. Chafetz is well regarded for his experience working with a wide array of musicians across many genres. He has led concerts with such renowned artists as Ne-Yo, Leslie Odom Jr., Kenny G, David Fos- ter and Katharine McPhee, Chris Botti, Michael Bolton, Kool & The Gang, John Denver, Mar- vin Hamlisch, and Bernadette Peters. He was recently invited by Nas to conduct his residen- cy at the Wynn Casino in Las Vegas. Chafetz’s original programs are a signature of his artistic profile, with his popular crossovers—including Symphonic Genesis & Phil Collins and Totally ’80s —showcasing the orchestra in an especially entertaining way and attracting large audiences throughout North America. Chafetz previously held posts as resident conductor of the Milwau- kee Symphony Orchestra and associate conduc- tor of the Louisville Orchestra. As principal tim- panist of the Honolulu Symphony for 20 years, Chafetz also conducted annual performances of The Nutcracker with Ballet Hawaii and princi- pals from the American Ballet Theatre. Chafetz holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati and a master’s de- gree from the Eastman School of Music. Stuart Chafetz made his Ravinia debut last summer leading the Violent Femmes’ orchestral concert. NAS The son of a blues musician, timeless poet and rhyme-master Nas delivered his first full-length album, Illmatic , in 1994, barely more than a couple years removed from his breakout con- tributions to the Main Source album Live at the Barbeque and the Zebrahead soundtrack by MC Serch. Following widespread and continuing ac- claim for Illmatic in revitalizing East Coast hip- hop, Nas has subsequently released 16 albums, including six that have gone platinum—from the chart-toppers It Was Written (1996) and I Am… (1999) to the pointed collections Nastradamus (1999), Stillmatic (2001), God’s Son (2002), and Street’s Disciple (2004). Nas began gathering his 17 (so far) career Grammy nominations with “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)” off It Was Written , a track that featured Lauryn Hill and has been his best-selling single, and I Am… , collecting further Best Rap Album nominations with the chart-toppers Hip Hop Is Dead (2006), Nas (2008), and Life Is Good (2012) until finally hoisting the trophy with 2020’s King’s Disease . The award-winning album was the first of now two trilogies produced by Hit-Boy (frequent co-writing collaborator Chauncey Hollis Jr.), with Nas co-executive producing—the sequels King’s Disease II (2021) and King’s Disease III (2022) both also earned Grammy nominations, the latter highlighting Nas himself as the only featured vocal performer. Nas and Hit-Boy most recently completed their consecutive collabo- rations with the Magic trilogy, the first install- ment having appeared in 2021 and the final parts back-to-back in 2023, including only a handful of featured guests across the 35 total tracks, such as Lil Wayne, 50 Cent, ASAP Rocky, and DJ Pre- mier, with whom Nas is completing a collabora- tive album—the first single, “Define My Name,” dropped last spring. Most recently, Nas execu- tive-produced the concept album Warriors by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis, inspired by the 1979 film of the same name, set in his na- tive New York City. A legendary hip-hop mogul, the co-founder of Mass Appeal Records, and an actor and executive producer, Nas speaks vol- umes with his extensive catalog. Nas is making his Ravinia debut. Wintrust Chair and Table Rental, managed by the Ravinia Women’s Board and operated by The Festival Shop, benefits Ravinia and its Reach Teach Play education programs. RAVINIA.ORG RESERVE LAWN chairs and tables when you order tickets by clicking “ADD-ON items.” Wintrust chair & table RENTAL HEAVY lifting to us. Leave the RAVINIA.ORG  • RAVINIAMAGAZINE 57 PATJOHNSON(CHAFETZ)