Thank You For Joining Us At Play On 2026!
Wednesday, October 28
Doors & Salsa Lessons 6pm · Show 7:30pm
City Winery Chicago – West Loop
1200 W Randolph St
Thanks to all who joined us at Play On 2026, featuring Victor Garcia Latin Jazz Orchestra and Merit’s Honors Jazz Combo!
It was a night of gorgeous music from Merit students past and present as we joined together to raise money to support equal access to high-quality music education in Chicago.
Stay tuned for Play On 2027 dates and information!
Experience an unforgettable night of world-class Latin jazz and salsa dancing while making a difference for the next generation of musicians. Join Merit School of Music at City Winery for the 8th annual Play On Benefit Concert, a special evening dedicated to expanding access to high-quality music education for young people across Chicago.
The night’s headliner is acclaimed jazz trumpeter Victor Garcia and his Latin Jazz Orchestra, whose electrifying performance promises to captivate audiences from the first note to the last. You’ll also hear from Merit’s talented Honors Jazz Combo, showcasing the remarkable students whose futures are shaped by your support. Come early to join us for a salsa dancing lesson so you can dance the night away during the show!
Browse the Raffle Packages
Learn more about the fantastic prizes and get your raffle ticket now! You need not be present at the event in order to win, but we do hope you’ll join us for a fabulous evening in support of music education.
Sponsor Play On
Interested in sponsoring Play On? Click the button below to complete our online sponsorship form. If you have any questions or would like to submit a payment via check, please contact Amy Riske at ariske@meritmusic.org.
Victor Garcia
Grammy-nominated Victor Garcia is a musical force to be reckoned with! Examiner.com’s Neil Tesser calls him “one of the most exciting young musicians.” Chicago Tribune’s Howard Reich says that he “stands out as an ebullient soloist offering a formidable technique and a radiantly polished tone.” JazzChicago.net’s Brad Walseth regards him as a “young lion trumpeter.”
Garcia is as versatile as he is creative. His trumpet talent heralds his international acclaim. He sings, plays percussion, and his songwriting, arrangements and charts have led him to professorial positions at Roosevelt University, Loyola University and the University of Illinois in Chicago.
The lineup of greats Garcia has performed with speaks for itself: Aretha Franklin, Arturo Sandoval, Spoon, Monty Alexander, Wynton Marsalis, Victor Manuelle, Nicholas Payton, La India, the Temptations, Steve Turre, BeBe Winans, Tito Puente, Jr., Paquito d’Rivera, Christian McBride, Randy Brecker, Branford Marsalis, The Isley Brothers, and Dr. John. He released his debut album, The Grind/The Groove, in 2018 and he’s recorded on dozens of other albums, three of them Grammy-nominated.
Honors Jazz Combo
The Honors Jazz Combo, under the direction of Alex Beltran, is Merit’s premier jazz performing ensemble comprised of the Alice S. Pfaelzer Conservatory’s most advanced student jazz musicians. Students audition for the program on an annual basis and hail from all over the greater Chicagoland area.
Sponsorships & Levels of Support
2026 Play On Sponsors
Presenting
Golden Hour
Jam
Builders Vision Philanthropy
Morgan Lewis
Abiman Rajadurai and Joanna Bartold
Interlude
Franczek P.C.
Ovative Group
Sonia Singh
Cadence
Mike Andrews and Ryan Ruskin
Doyenne Wealth Advisors
Flentke Legal Consulting, PLLC
Travis Larson and Brian Golinvaux
Ellard L. Pfaelzer, Jr.
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Dave Thomas and Vesna Radisic
Fulton Fithouse-West Loop
Riff
Brenda Becerra
Julie and Dan Baumeister
Fred Carmean @properties, Christie’s International Real Estate
The Gewargis Siblings
Jeff Leavitt and Annalisa Parziale
Raffle & In-Kind Donations
AIR Aerial Fitness – South Loop
Breath Energy
Cancun Cards
Chicago Bears
Chicago Symphony
Emagine
Field Museum
Four Seasons
Fulton Fithouse – West Loop
Get a Grip
Go Ape
Goodman Theater
Hyatt Place Chicago South/ University Medical Center
Lettuce Entertain You
Lyric Opera of Chicago
MachMachines
milk+honey
PRP Wine International
Solo Salon
Sophy Hotel
Train Moment
Threshld
UChicago Presents
Websters Wine Bar
Chicago White Sox
Become a Sponsor
Sponsor Play On →
If you have any questions, please contact Amy Riske.
Presenting | $20,000
- Premier tickets for 10 guests
- Lead billing for the event
- Onstage acknowledgment
- Sponsor tagged in event social media posts
- Merit e-blast promotions
- Merit event page listing
- Name or logo on City Winery lobby signs and event programs
- Recognition on Merit’s event page
- A poster signed by Victor Garcia
- A commemorative Play On bottle of wine
Groove | $10,000
- Premier tickets for 8 guests
- Onstage acknowledgment
- Sponsor tagged in event social media posts
- Merit e-blast promotions
- Merit event page listing
- Name or logo on City Winery lobby signs and event programs
- Recognition on Merit’s event page
- A poster signed by Victor Garcia
- A commemorative Play On bottle of wine
Jam | $5,000
- Premier tickets for 6 guests
- Sponsor tagged in event social media posts
- Merit e-blast promotions
- Merit event page listing
- Name or logo on City Winery lobby signs and event programs
- Recognition on Merit’s event page
- A poster signed by Victor Garcia
- A commemorative Play On bottle of wine
Interlude | $2,500
- Premier tickets for 6 guests
- Name or logo on City Winery lobby signs and event programs
- Recognition on Merit’s event page
- A poster signed by Victor Garcia
- A commemorative Play On bottle of wine
Cadence | $1,000
- Premier tickets for 4 guests
- Name or logo on City Winery lobby signs and event programs
- Recognition on Merit’s event page
- A poster signed by Victor Garcia
- A commemorative Play On bottle of wine
Riff | $500
- Premier tickets for 4 guests
- A poster signed by Victor Garcia
- A commemorative Play On bottle of wine
Play On 2026 photos courtesy of Chris Hurd Photography. View the full album on our Facebook.
