HARRIS THEATER PRESENTS BEETHOVEN X BEYONCÉ

Program

Performing Artists

Steve Hackman, conductor + creator Malia Civetz, vocals Brooke Simpson, vocals Brayla, vocals Nick Clark, bass TaRon Lockett, drums Andrew Lipke, guitar + keys Chicago Philharmonic

Artist Biographies

Steve Hackman

Composer, arranger, producer, songwriter, conductor, and pianist Steve Hackman is the musical polymath at the center of the most exciting productions in the orchestral space. Whether writing for the concert stage or screen, collaborating with today’s most compelling artists, or contributing to The Oscars and Emmys, Hackman is becoming the first call original voice shaping today’s most important musical events, scores, and concerts. Hackman has collaborated with Jon Batiste, Charlie Puth, Lizzo, RZA, Wyclef Jean, Steve Lacy, Doja Kat, Moses Sumney, Kanye West (on the opera Mary), and most recently with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo on the Wicked TV special for NBC. Hackman’s sixteen barrier-shattering orchestral fusions, which synthesize the great works of classical music with towering figures from contemporary popular music, have led to performances around the world of titles such as Brahms X Radiohead, Beethoven X Beyoncé, and Tchaikovsky X Drake, with orchestras in LA, New York, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, Boston, and over 50 others. Expansion into Europe and the Middle East is planned. 2026 will see an ambitious music release schedule from Hackman that will showcase the many sides of his artistry: music spanning from ballet scores which fuse electronics with orchestra, to his concept art-piece THE BRINK, to solo piano pieces, and to reimaginings of some of the great music of today, including Frank Ocean, Jacob Collier and Kendrick Lamar. Hackman’s first movie soundtrack comes out on November 26, for Netflix’s holiday caper Jingle Bell Heist. Trained classically at the Curtis Institute of Music in conducting, composition, and counterpoint, Hackman’s musical curiosity from the youngest age also led him to be immersed in alternative, rap/hip-hop, electronic and art music — which you can hear in every original note he writes today. Hackman is managed by Ty Stiklorious and Graham Parker. Follow Steve Hackman at @stevehackmanmusic

Malia Civetz

Malia Civetz has performed across the US and Europe in Steve Hackman's symphonic mashups for the past 10 years. You can see her in Beethoven v. Coldplay, Beethoven X Beyoncé, Tchaikovsky X Drake, Skull & Bones, and Bartok X Bjork. Malia, an LA-based recording artist and Warner Chappell published songwriter, has been in the industry since graduating from the USC’s Thornton School of Music's Popular Music Program. Post-college, she linked up with powerhouse songwriters, Ross Golan and JKash, signing to their newly created Friends With Pens. She initially made waves with the independent single ‘Champagne Clouds.’ Ryan Seacrest debuted the track on his radio show on KIIS FM and quickly the song surpassed 20M streams and made Taylor Swift’s “Favorite Songs” playlists on both Apple Music and Spotify. She then signed a record deal with Warner Records and made her major label debut with her first EP, The Flip, featuring her hit single Broke Boy followed by her EP, Heels in Hand. Surpassing 200M total streams as a songwriter and artist, Malia is independently taking charge of her next era of music and is back in the studio working on her next project as well as writing with other artists. Her musical accomplishments span over two decades with early highlights including performing as a Star of Tomorrow at the Apollo Theater in NY at age 13, having the privilege to sing for President Obama at age 16, and performing in Barry Manilow’s show at the Paris Las Vegas at 17. @maliafromvegas

Brooke Simpson

Brooke Simpson (she/her) is a queer Indigenous Artist from the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe. Brooke has had the opportunity to work with artists such as Miley Cyrus, Sia, and even more recently was featured in a global Nike N7 campaign. She was a finalist on NBC’s “The Voice” and a finalist on “America’s Got Talent!” Brooke made her Broadway debut in the revival of the Tony Award winning musical 1776, directed by Diane Paulus and Jeffrey Page, and has worked with Steve Hackman on his Beethoven X Beyoncé production. @brookesimpsonofficial

Brayla

Brayla is a 25 year old singer-songwriter. She is fast making her place in the industry through her music, which infuses the soulful harmonies of R&B with Gospel and Jazz infused rhythms to create a sound that is unique to only her. She favors her outstanding blend of background vocals as one of her most prized elements of her artistry, and has worked with Steve Hackman on several of his productions including Beethoven X Beyoncé and Taylor Swift: The Symphony Era. As she pushes forward in her pursuits, Brayla aspires to continue to be a student of music throughout her career. Her hope is to inspire many more like her to enjoy the freedom of expression that lies within the beauty of art. @brays.anatomy

Nicholas Clark

Nicholas Clark is a producer, musical director, and bassist from Fort Worth, Texas. Prior to his music career, he was a student-athlete who excelled in college football at Texas State University, where he also achieved a Masters in Physics. After graduate school, he worked as a Semiconductor Engineer at Samsung Austin Semiconductor while integrating himself into the Austin,Texas music scene. After five years as a professional engineer, he decided to fully immerse himself into the Austin music scene and has since worked alongside monumental artists across multiple genres of music. His credits include Jon Batiste, Kanye West, Usher, JoJo, H.E.R, Demi Lovato, Keyon Harrold, Janelle Monae, Cory Henry, Steve Hackman and many others. Nick has played integral roles in producing music and programming shows for Coachella, YEEZY SZN 8 Paris Release, SXSW, ACL, nationally-broadcast award ceremonies, late-night television, and continues to collaborate with top artists in the industry. Now based in Los Angeles, Nick’s versatility and joy he brings to music propels him to many stages and musical endeavors across the world. @ncbassphysics

TaRon Lockett

Dallas native, TaRon Lockett is a 3x Grammy Nominated drummer and producer. TaRon has worked with Snoop Dogg, Prince, Ceelo Green, Erykah Badu, Willie Nelson, Sheila E., Ledisi, Cory Henry & the Funk Apostles, and Steve Hackman in his productions of Beethoven X Beyoncé, Resurrection Mixtape, Igor Damn Stavinsky, and Taylor Swift: The Symphony Era. @taronlockett_

Andrew Lipke

Andrew Lipke is a South African-born, Emmy-nominated composer, producer, arranger, conductor, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and educator based in Philadelphia, known for his work across a wide range of musical genres. He has composed for acclaimed ensembles such as The Aizuri and Carpe Diem String Quartets, Variant Six, and The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, and has released seven self-produced albums spanning styles from madrigal to hard rock. Lipke has collaborated extensively with Amos Lee, providing orchestration and conducting performances with major American symphonies. He has also toured nationally as vocalist and multi-instrumentalist with Get The Led Out, and as a vocalist and in Steve Hackman’s symphonic fusion projects, including Brahms v. Radiohead. Lipke’s orchestrations have been performed by many prominent American orchestras including the Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Diego, Oregon, and Seattle Symphony Orchestras and past conducting engagements include The National Symphony Orchestra at Kennedy Center, The Atlanta, Nashville, Dallas, Colorado, Utah, Grand Rapids, and Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestras. His most recent work includes a concept album trilogy inspired by Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha, with a new project, IRIS, forthcoming. @andrewlipke

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About the Chicago Philharmonic

The Chicago Philharmonic is re-imagining the orchestra concert experience through culturally diverse, genre-bending programs breaking barriers of exclusion in orchestral music. With nearly 200 musician members, diverse and trailblazing leadership, and a deeply collaborative artistic model, the Philharmonic is one of the most versatile, innovative, and ambitious orchestras in the country.

The Chicago Philharmonic presents 30+ concerts annually and year-round, featuring diverse musicians and drawing new-to-the-symphony audiences. 2025–26 partners include Artist in Residence Njioma Chinyere Grevious, Disney Concerts, Chicago composers Damien Geter and Stacy Garrop, Marta Aznavoorian, Sleeping At Last, Cedille Records, The Joffrey Ballet, The Auditorium, Harris Theater for Music and Dance, and Ravinia Festival.

The Chicago Philharmonic was created by Lyric Opera principal musicians in 1989 and is now a crucial part of Chicago’s music ecosystem, creating thousands of jobs for 400+ musicians annually for its 250,000 audience members. The orchestra proudly collaborates with the greatest artists of our time, in every genre, including Laufey, Nas, Tank and the Bangas, the American Ballet Theatre, Lady Gaga, and more.

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Support the Harris Theater

With your generous contribution, you can play a key role in our mission to be Chicago's primary residence for music and dance, connecting diverse audiences with outstanding artists from across the city, the nation, and the world.

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Land Acknowledgement

The Harris Theater for Music and Dance resides on the traditional homelands of the Council of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations. Many other tribes such as the Miami, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac, and Fox have also called this area home. The region has long been a center for Indigenous people to gather, trade, and maintain kinship ties. Today, one of the largest urban American Indian communities in the United States resides in Chicago, and members of this community continue to contribute to the life and culture of this city.

To learn more about the practice of land acknowledgement and the importance of honoring native land, visit usdac.us. The Chicagoland region is home to over 65,000 American Indians and the country’s oldest urban-based Native membership community center, American Indian Center Chicago (AIC). Visit aicchicago.org to learn more about AIC’s mission to foster physical and spiritual health in the community, an active connection with traditional values and practices, stronger families with multigenerational bonds, and a rising generation of educated, articulate, and visionary youth.

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Photo Credits: Harris Theater Exterior by Hedrich Blessing. Harris Theater Nevelson Reflection by Kyle Flubacker. Beethoven X Beyonce Performance by Tom Russo. Chicago Philharmonic by Todd Rosenberg. Harris Theater donors by Kyle Flubacker.