Rotary Rocks The Raue: The Chicago Experience
Saturday, October 4, 2025 @ 7 pm
@ Raue Center For The Arts
The Chicago Experience is the nation’s premiere tribute to the legendary band “Chicago.” This performance is sponsored by and a fundraiser for The Rotary Club of Crystal Lake Dawnbreakers.
The Chicago Experience is the ultimate tribute concert honoring the legendary rock band Chicago! You will experience a group of devoted musicians blending to recreate the sound and feel of Chicago’s hit songs that have spanned generations of fans. The Chicago Experience invites you to reminisce about a timeline in your life with memories of the music you fell in love with and cherish to this day. You’ll enjoy hits from Chicago Transit Authority’s 1968 self-titled album, like Beginnings and Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?, as well as Chicago’s 80’s hits like Hard To Say I’m Sorry, Hard Habit To Break, and You’re The Inspiration. You’ll enjoy classics like 25 or 6 to 4, Make Me Smile, Just You ’n’ Me and more radio hits, plus several “deep album cuts”. The Chicago Experience combines rockin’ guitars, stunning vocals, and sizzling brass to transport you to an unforgettable evening of Rock with Horns!
Learn more at thechicagoexperience.com
This event is sponsored by
Brian Hemstock – Lead Vocals
Brian Hemstock loves singing all the Cetera vocals for The Chicago Experience, but before that he toured the world as the male vocalist for The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra. Touring the United States, Canada, and even Japan, Brian worked with the famous big band for almost three years. Born and raised in Wisconsin, his mother, a music teacher, got Brian interested in music at an early age. After high school, Brian attended Western Michigan University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies with an emphasis in Voice. You can find Brian around Chicagoland performing with TCE, local big bands, and many other jobbing groups.
RON BRANDT – GUITAR – LEAD VOCALS
With early influences from Terry Kath and the school jazz band, Ron couldn’t be happier filling the Guitar/ Lamm Vocal/ Musical Director roles. With a career spanning over thirty years playing nationally as well as locally, it is with The Chicago Experience that Ron is extremely grateful for the opportunity to perform the music he is passionate about to this day.
Eric Caliendo – LEAD VOCALS
Eric has been singing and playing keyboards and horns in various rock bands in the Chicagoland area for over 35 years. Chicago has always been one of his absolute favorite bands, and he is super excited to be filling the Terry Kath vocal role for The Chicago Experience. With a Bachelor’s degree from the NIU School of Music and a Master’s degree from St. Xavier, Eric loves being a junior high band director by day while still being able to keep up his performing skills on nights and weekends.
Tim Rutter – Bass Guitar – Vocals
Born and raised in the western suburbs, Chicago has always been Tim’s hometown. Tim began his musical endeavors on the trumpet as a child and has remained a fan of horn music from his early days and first exposure to bands like Chicago, Tower of Power, and Earth, Wind and Fire. After playing both lead and bass guitar for many years, Tim began to study the bass guitar as a main instrument after exposure to players like Alphonso Johnson, Marcus Miller, and Jaco Pastorius in the early 1980s. Tim has played bass and sung professionally for well over two decades ,including a run with the Chicago-area band The Cryan’ Shames from 1986-2002 and has shared the stage with artists such as Graham Nash, The Turtles, The Coasters, The Drifters, The Temptations, Edgar Winter to name a few
Paul Wood – Keyboards
Hailing from Bolingbrook, Illinois, the keyboards are powered by Paul Wood. Paul has played for many successful Rock acts including The Drifters, The Coasters, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, The Chicago Bear Band, Scramble, The Shadows of Knight, and Chicago’s own Cryan’ Shames. Additionally, Paul has written music for, directed scores for and engineered recording sessions for orchestras and industrial shows across the country, including rock shows, society orchestras and symphonies.
After 22 years of service, Paul is now retired from his position as Worship Director at Good Shepard Church.
ADAM COWGER – DRUMS/PERCUSSION
Adam Cowger is an Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Percussion Studies at Joliet Junior College. His duties include applied percussion, percussion ensemble, steel band, music literature, American music and world music courses. Adam is the founding director of the JJC Steelband, which began in the spring of 2021.
Prior to moving into full-time college teaching, Adam operated a successful private lessons studio of as many as 40 middle and high school percussionists. Additionally, Mr. Cowger has worked with several high school marching percussion sections including the Lincoln-Way and Lockport school districts.
As a versatile performer, Adam maintains an active schedule with The Chicago Experience, the JJC Faculty Jazz Quintet and numerous professional ensembles in the Chicagoland area. Adam has performed at such prestigious events as the Percussive Arts Society International Convention and Montreux Jazz Festival on multiple occasions. He can be heard drumming on Live, a recent album from The Chicago Experience.
Adam holds a master’s degree from Northern Illinois University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota, both in percussion performance. His principal teachers include Dr. Cliff Alexis, Dr. Greg Beyer, Michael Blake, Robert Chappell, Rich Holly, Liam Teague and Rodrigo Villanueva. Adam is proud to endorse Innovative Percussion and Prologix Percussion.
TERRY VIANO – TROMBONE
Trombonist Terry Viano spent 20 years performing in the United States Air Force Bands, including the world-famous “Falconaires” Jazz Ensemble. Terry has had the privilege of performing with Danny Seraphine, The Buckinghams, The Temptations, Diane Schuur, Bighorn, and Conjunto Colores, and he is honored to be performing with The Chicago Experience.
STEVE FROST – TRUMPET/FLUGELHORN
Steve Frost is a graduate of DePaul University’s School of Music with a Bachelor of Music Performance. For over 35+ years in the Chicago area, he has performed and recorded with numerous local and national artists, like Chicago’s own #1 hit legends “The Buckinghams.” Steve has had the honor of performing with “Chicago” founding member Danny Seraphine, and his group “CTA” (California Transit Authority). The Chicago Experience gives Steve the opportunity to come full circle and perform the music that has had a significant impact on him. Among many trumpet players, Lee Loughnane was one of his earliest influences. Steve is a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS).
JIM MASSOTH – SAXOPHONES/FLUTE
Jim Massoth is one of Chicago’s finest saxophone players. He has performed with such notable artists as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Donna Summer, Johnny Mathis, Faith Hill, Lou Rawls, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Mel Torme, The 5th Dimension, Frankie Valli, Steve & Edie, Frank Sinatra Jr, and many others. He has also been a productive recording engineer, with over 100 CDs and jingles to his credit.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tim Paul, board president
John Jacobsen, vice president
Jerry Trachsler, treasurer
Luanne Flavin, secretary
Mike H. Johnson
Richard Kuranda
Jack Minsley
Rich Naponelli
Michelle Nowland
Sandra Pierce
Steven Szalaj
Stacey McInerney
RAUE CENTER STAFF
Richard Kuranda
Raue Center CEO & Founding Artistic Director of Williams Street Repertory
Justin Wellington
Managing Director
Jenna Klaproth
Operations Manager
Meredith Schaefer-Flowers
Director of Marketing &
Institutional Advancement
Michele V. Knight
Marketing Manager
James Knight
Economic Development Manager
Rob Scharlow
Raue Center School for the Arts
Director of Education
Maribeth Ling
Front of House Manager
Chris Tumblin
Raue Center Director of Production
Lisa Giebler
Technical Director
Ryan Meadow
Raue Center Production Manager
James Mablin
Resident Music Director
Box Office Associates
Naomi Unverzagt
Max Powers
About Raue Center For The Arts
Raue Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of all through the arts. For 20 years, they have provided quality programming – striving to make it pertinent, available, and affordable to all. As a painstakingly restored, 1920s regional showcase theatre named for its benefactor—Lucile Raue—Raue Center has attracted the finest stars, Broadway shows, musicians and artists. Named on the League of Historic American Theatres, Raue Center is one of the finest examples of restored art and decor in the nation. The 750-seat theatre, located in historic downtown Crystal Lake, Illinois, is a gathering place for our region’s citizens and has become a true destination.
For additional information follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or visit rauecenter.org.
