## Sixteen Chicago Creatives Who Shone in 2024
Chicago’s vibrant arts scene roared back to life in 2024, delivering a year brimming with innovative ideas, exciting collaborations, and captivating new releases. This retrospective focuses on sixteen breakthrough creatives whose work resonated deeply with WBEZ arts reporters, showcasing a range from playful experimentation to profound engagement with global issues. These are artists we’ll be watching closely in 2025.
Ayanna Woods: Barely in her thirties, Ayanna Woods has already established herself as a significant contemporary classical composer. Her work has been presented by renowned ensembles like The Crossing, Chanticleer, and Chicago’s Third Coast Percussion. This spring, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago staged her three-act opera, *FORCE*, a powerful piece set in a prison waiting room and featuring performer Anna Martine Whitehead. Following its Chicago premiere, *FORCE* toured to Los Angeles, New York, and Portland. Adding to her impressive achievements, Ayanna is the sister of globally acclaimed singer Jamila Woods.
Blacknificent 7: Inspired by *The Magnificent Seven*, this collective of Black composers is making a significant impact on the contemporary classical genre, both individually and collaboratively. While their influence extends globally, their strong Chicago ties remain. Members include Shawn Okpebholo (whose *Songs in Flight* will be released on Cedille Records in early 2025), Jessie Montgomery (recently composer-in-residence with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra), Dave Ragland, Joel Thompson, Jasmine Barnes, Damien Geter, and Carlos Simon. Convened by soprano Karen Slack (Lyric Opera’s composer-in-residence), the group’s talent was showcased at Ravinia’s *African Queens*, a vocal concert celebrating historically overlooked queens.
Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson: Filmmakers Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson, co-directors of the 2024 film *Ghostlight*, drew heavily from Chicago’s thriving theater community for their cast. O’Sullivan, a former Chicago theater actor herself (and the film’s writer), tapped longtime collaborator Keith Kupferer, along with Kupferer’s daughter, Katherine Mallen Kupferer, and wife, Tara Mallen (founder of Rivendell Theatre). Released by IFC Films, *Ghostlight* garnered awards on the festival circuit and is now streaming on various platforms.
Jon Michael Hill: Already the youngest actor ever invited to join Steppenwolf Theatre’s ensemble, 2024 marked another significant year for Waukegan native Jon Michael Hill. His portrayal of the central photographer in the world premiere of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ *Purpose* at Steppenwolf earned him a Broadway call, where he will reprise his role in this family drama set against the backdrop of American politics.
Tova Wolff: Director Tova Wolff, who co-founded Refracted Theatre Company in New York before relocating it to Chicago, staged the world premiere of Laura Winters’ *Coronation*. This play, set in a future where women cannot be president, explores the creation of a monarchy as an alternative. The real-world unfolding of the 2024 election, including President Biden’s withdrawal, necessitated rewrites, leading to post-show discussions that provided a valuable platform for engaging with complex political and gender issues.
Jake Troyli: This rising visual artist, a former Division 1 basketball player, created a striking 30-foot mural on Chicago’s West Side for the Democratic National Convention, commissioned by SkyArt. His work has also been featured in group exhibitions at the Milwaukee Museum of Art and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and a solo show at Monique Meloche Gallery ran until January 11, 2025.
Klaus Mäkelä: The appointment of Klaus Mäkelä as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s youngest-ever maestro generated significant excitement this spring. While his official tenure begins in September 2027, his presence in Chicago is growing, including a series of concerts in the coming spring. Already leading orchestras in Oslo and Paris, Mäkelä expressed his enthusiasm for the CSO’s commitment to excellence.
Omar Apollo: 2024 saw Omar Apollo’s star rise further, with performances at Coachella and the Grammys, and opening for SZA. Beyond music, Apollo made his acting debut in Luca Guadagnino’s *Queer*, premiering at the Venice Film Festival and now part of the awards season circuit.
Miriam Paz: Chicago DJ Miriam Paz’s journey from being the sole female DJ at Sueños Music Festival three years prior to hosting a sold-out “girls only” party in 2024 is remarkable. Her Sorry Papi collective, billed as the world’s largest touring all-girl reggaeton party, drew a massive crowd at Sueños, highlighting the increasing visibility of female-identifying artists in the Latino music scene.
Isaiah Collier: Isaiah Collier’s 2024 album, *The World Is on Fire*, is a powerful statement released following the dissolution of his band, The Chosen Few. The South Side saxophonist’s work incorporates news clippings and spoken-word elements, directly confronting issues like the January 6th insurrection, climate change, and racial injustice.
Kia Smith: Kia Smith’s South Chicago Dance Theatre, born from a small pickup dance group in 2017, has become a force in Chicago’s contemporary dance scene. Smith’s commitment to commissioning new works was evident in a spring performance at the Auditorium Theatre, showcasing six world premieres from international artists. She envisions a 75-year plan for the company, including a “Choreographic Diplomacy Initiative.”
Finom (Macie Stewart and Sima Cunningham): The duo Finom, composed of Macie Stewart and Sima Cunningham, creates a unique blend of pop, folk, and free jazz influences. Their album *Not God*, produced by Jeff Tweedy, was a standout release of the year, defying easy categorization and showcasing their inventive approach to sound design.
Cassie Walker Burke, WBEZ’s arts and culture editor, curated this selection of Chicago’s most impressive creative talent.