The Performance Closet Project

The Performance Closet:

Stage ready. Priced right

A student-led event at the Music Institute of Chicago:

Features gently used, high quality concert attire
Promotes sustainability & reuse
Makes performance wear affordable
Supports fellow students
Gives back to the institute we love

You’ll find:

Dresses, suits, shirts, pants
Shoes & accessories
Curated, high-quality items

Simple pricing:

$10 per set
$5 per piece
$2 per accessory
$2 credit toward a purchase if bringing one performance-ready item (limit one per person)
Optional donations

Event details:

Saturday, May 2, 2026
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Evanston Campus (Lower-Level Lobby)

All proceeds support MIC.

So... be a part of it!

Help us reach our goal of 100 items redistributed and $1000 given back to the MIC, whether you're donating, shopping, or spreading the word.

Violinist Rachel Barton Pine shares how thrifted dresses carried her through early performances and why access to concert attire matters.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1LbBmbvuzV/

Performance Attire Donations:
We welcome donations of performance attire. Collection bins will be available at the Music Institute of Chicago’s Lake Forest campus (40 E Old Mill Rd, Lake Forest, IL 60045) on Saturdays, April 18 and 25.

For inquiries, please contact: keystoconnection.net@gmail.com

Acknowledgement:

We would like to give our sincerest thanks to the many people who made this event possible, including but certainly not limited to:

• Mr. Scott Verschoor, our biggest supporter and advocate

• Ms. Rachel Barton Pine, for her outstanding support, kindness, and generosity

• MIC leadership and campus directors: Ms. Sue Polutnik, Ms. Jennifer Bienemann, Ms. Jen Hanson, Ms. Erin Fusco, Mr. Patrick O’Malley, Ms. Marie Alatalo, Mr. Clem Leek, Ms. Hana Marek

• Our amazing MIC teachers: Dr. Matt Hagle, Ms. Elaine Felder, Mrs. Brigitte Gray, Ms. Bianca d’Avila do Prado, Mr. Avi Friedlander, Dr. Soo Young Lee, Ms. Christina Tio, Ms. Lisa Zilberman

• New Trier teachers: Ms. Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Tony Knuth

• So many others in our community who supported this effort

Selected inventories