Here is a selection of my year in music photography, leading off with an image from the Chicago Children's Choir that sums up 2017 in general. It's a pretty awesome privilege to be able to do this for a living.
All photos Β© copyright 2017 by Elliot Mandel. All rights reserved.
![Chicago Children's Choir raising voices at its 61st Annual Red Jacket Optional Gala. ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53273e1de4b0eeecbb689b43/1513190860906-7WGDW1PVFVXDAMEYT6SB/CCC_RJO_10.20.17_by_ElliotMandel-25.jpg)
Chicago Children's Choir raising voices at its 61st Annual Red Jacket Optional Gala.
![The triumphant Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra performs at its 70th Anniversary Gala.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53273e1de4b0eeecbb689b43/1513190867258-SGWBVIY84MXM5ZO20HWL/CYSO_2.11.17_by_ElliotMandel-119.jpg)
The triumphant Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra performs at its 70th Anniversary Gala.
![Victor Goines at the Green Mill. Selected as "Best Photo in a Club" during the Logan Center for the Arts jazz photography exhibit.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53273e1de4b0eeecbb689b43/1513190880834-Z09B1XVQY4Z6DXTFUV1T/VictorGoines_5.27.17_by_ElliotMandel-4-2.jpg)
Victor Goines at the Green Mill. Selected as "Best Photo in a Club" during the Logan Center for the Arts jazz photography exhibit.
![Bitter Jester Music Festival](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53273e1de4b0eeecbb689b43/1513190856940-I6W3D630IXQ9AG6SBVFI/BitterJesterBattle_7.4.17_by_ElliotMandel-1.jpg)
Bitter Jester Music Festival
![Chuck Webb at Navy Pier](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53273e1de4b0eeecbb689b43/1513190867727-QF450SZCVAXRSOKXN0GL/ChuckWebb_7.15.17_by_ElliotMandel-1.jpg)
Chuck Webb at Navy Pier
![Birds-eye-view of Bella Voce at the Museum of Contemporary Art.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53273e1de4b0eeecbb689b43/1513190854260-L1VSNE9G06A6L49C1IRQ/BellaVoce_6.10.17_by_ElliotMandel-61.jpg)
Birds-eye-view of Bella Voce at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
![Benny Golson plays his classics at Jazz Showcase.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53273e1de4b0eeecbb689b43/1513190854215-681TXVIQYLDJ9SL4FCY5/BennyGolson_8.10.17_by_ElliotMandel-2.jpg)
Benny Golson plays his classics at Jazz Showcase.
![Kurt Elling lights up the Green Mill. ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53273e1de4b0eeecbb689b43/1513190870632-68YDFPDZ6HBJ70Y4CSA5/KurtElling_8.11.17_by_ElliotMandel-4.jpg)
Kurt Elling lights up the Green Mill.
![Myra Huang, Shannon McGinnis, Sarah Shafer, Douglas Williams, and Nicholas Phan at the Collaborative Works Festival.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53273e1de4b0eeecbb689b43/1513191120010-0WFF023NRXKX59FRW0FP/CAIC_9.6.17_by_ElliotMandel-36.jpg)
Myra Huang, Shannon McGinnis, Sarah Shafer, Douglas Williams, and Nicholas Phan at the Collaborative Works Festival.
![Susanna Phillips and Myra Huang give a glowing recital during the Collaborative Works Festival.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53273e1de4b0eeecbb689b43/1513190856539-GWJPDFTSPOO4HPH53FCY/CAIC_9.7.17_by_ElliotMandel-5.jpg)
Susanna Phillips and Myra Huang give a glowing recital during the Collaborative Works Festival.
![Jorge Federico Osorio plays Brahms for the Cedille Records gala. ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53273e1de4b0eeecbb689b43/1513191022885-OE9854KGKOBL7DFA81XN/Cedille_9.10.17_by_ElliotMandel-108.jpg)
Jorge Federico Osorio plays Brahms for the Cedille Records gala.
![My on-stage view of Jane Glover conducting Music of the Baroque. ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53273e1de4b0eeecbb689b43/1513190873368-AXE3U6UIB9UYUDDVFK8R/MOB_9.16.17_by_ElliotMandel-43.jpg)
My on-stage view of Jane Glover conducting Music of the Baroque.
![Chicago Children's Choir Gala](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53273e1de4b0eeecbb689b43/1513190858808-Z51PJ3GRV9NE2D15RMQC/CCC_RJO_10.20.17_by_ElliotMandel-16.jpg)
Chicago Children's Choir Gala
![The Chicago Philharmonic opens its season with Carmina Burana. ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53273e1de4b0eeecbb689b43/1513190863571-BAU2A4YTIL1DME9BKQHI/ChicagoPhilharmonic_10.15.17_by_ElliotMandel-121.jpg)
The Chicago Philharmonic opens its season with Carmina Burana.
![Third Coast Percussion premiering a work by Augusta Read Thomas with the Chicago Philharmonic.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53273e1de4b0eeecbb689b43/1513190866157-GFVAIK3T4GHQQCFAV52X/ChiPhil_11.12.17_by_ElliotMandel-7.jpg)
Third Coast Percussion premiering a work by Augusta Read Thomas with the Chicago Philharmonic.
![Nicholas Kraemer conducts Bach with Music of the Baroque.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53273e1de4b0eeecbb689b43/1513190875545-AOHC4J261UXH7187JJ6U/MOB_11.20.17_by_ElliotMandel-6.jpg)
Nicholas Kraemer conducts Bach with Music of the Baroque.
![Kate Carter and Louise Chan perform on the Dame Myra Hess series at the Chicago Cultural Center.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53273e1de4b0eeecbb689b43/1513190870490-8CWZNPPE6K21VFBCEQVX/IMF_11.22.17_by_ElliotMandel-4.jpg)
Kate Carter and Louise Chan perform on the Dame Myra Hess series at the Chicago Cultural Center.
![Steve Reich backstage with percussionists at Northwestern University. ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53273e1de4b0eeecbb689b43/1513190878723-N251VUEZTHJ9RZG6IT9L/NU_11.15.17_by_ElliotMandel-11.jpg)
Steve Reich backstage with percussionists at Northwestern University.
![Steve Reich takes a bow with percussion ensembles at Northwestern University.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53273e1de4b0eeecbb689b43/1513190877889-BAZ0BRQ9HS8LQ82MN5WH/NU_11.15.17_by_ElliotMandel-9.jpg)
Steve Reich takes a bow with percussion ensembles at Northwestern University.