
The Levy Senior Center Foundation is proud to bring the talents of young, award-winning classical musicians to the Levy Senior Center.
The outstanding lineup continues to honor the memory of Fran Randall who loved classical music and played an important role in opening the current center.

The Levy Senior Center Foundation is proud to bring the talents of young, award-winning classical musicians to the Levy Senior Center.
The outstanding lineup continues to honor the memory of Fran Randall who loved classical music and played an important role in opening the current center.


January 29 at 1:30pm
Prerecorded Concert
CA frequent recipient of the question, "How high was that note!?", Lauren Shafer is a light coloratura soprano. Ms. Shafer received her Bachelor of Music at Illinois Wesleyan University studying under Professor Robert Mangialardi. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with her Masters under the tutelage of Professor James Doing, Ms. Shafer was honored with the opportunity to perform the national anthem at her commencement ceremony. Recent performances include featuring as a guest artist at the Champagne Gala for Prairie Fire Theatre in Bloomington, IL. Ms. Shafer was also a semi-finalist in the Harold Haugh Light Opera Competition in February 2020. Previous roles include Adele in Die Fledermaus and Gretel in Hansel and Gretel.
Sarah Williams holds a Master's in Collaborative Piano from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is particularly passionate about chamber music and accompanies a wide variety of soloists. A graduate of UW-Oshkosh, she received her bachelor's in piano performance, where she was the winner of the UW-Oshkosh Concerto Competition, the UW-Oshkosh Honors Competition, and UW-Oshkosh Celebration of Scholarship.
Besides performing as a soloist and working with duos, Sarah has accompanied a wide range of ensembles. Currently, she continues to work with soloists and ensembles within UW-Madison and throughout the community.


January 29 at 1:30pm
Prerecorded Concert
CA frequent recipient of the question, "How high was that note!?", Lauren Shafer is a light coloratura soprano. Ms. Shafer received her Bachelor of Music at Illinois Wesleyan University studying under Professor Robert Mangialardi. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with her Masters under the tutelage of Professor James Doing, Ms. Shafer was honored with the opportunity to perform the national anthem at her commencement ceremony. Recent performances include featuring as a guest artist at the Champagne Gala for Prairie Fire Theatre in Bloomington, IL. Ms. Shafer was also a semi-finalist in the Harold Haugh Light Opera Competition in February 2020. Previous roles include Adele in Die Fledermaus and Gretel in Hansel and Gretel.
Sarah Williams holds a Master's in Collaborative Piano from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is particularly passionate about chamber music and accompanies a wide variety of soloists. A graduate of UW-Oshkosh, she received her bachelor's in piano performance, where she was the winner of the UW-Oshkosh Concerto Competition, the UW-Oshkosh Honors Competition, and UW-Oshkosh Celebration of Scholarship.
Besides performing as a soloist and working with duos, Sarah has accompanied a wide range of ensembles. Currently, she continues to work with soloists and ensembles within UW-Madison and throughout the community.

The Levy Senior Center Foundation is proud to bring the talents of young, award-winning classical musicians to the Levy Senior Center.
The outstanding lineup continues to honor the memory of Fran Randall who loved classical music and played an important role in opening the current center.

The LSCF is proud to sponsor the Levy Lecture Series, an educational program for older adults who are passionate about learning. The series is free, but registration is required.
Do you have questions about the Levy Lecture Series? We have answers.
Are you new to Zoom? Watch this video to become acquainted.
Talking Senior Advocacy with AARP’s Philippe Largent
Presented via Zoom.
Mark your calendars for a Levy Lecture Tuesday, April 18 at 1:30 p.m. via Zoom with AARP’s new state director, Philippe Largent, in conversation with moderator Shane DuBow.
Last March, Largent became the new director of AARP Illinois, the state’s largest outreach and advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of those 50+. He and DuBow (old Evanston friends) will discuss AARP national and state priorities, including caregiving and recognition of caregivers, planning and saving for retirement, and improving the quality of nursing home care.
Learn more:
Philippe Largent
Philippe Largent has spent the last 25 years advocating for greater access to quality, affordable health care and other issues central to the well-being of Illinois residents. He is dedicated to leading AARP Illinois’ efforts to ensure that older adults across the state experience the health, financial security and livable communities they deserve.
Shane DuBow
Shane DuBow is a veteran writer, editor, and college essay coach with a background in long-form journalism (National Geographic, The NYT Magazine, This American Life), academia, and museum exhibit design. Contact him via his website (shanedubow.com) with any Levy Lecture comments or suggestions.
Lecture Archive
Visit our YouTube channel to watch more recorded Zoom lectures.
Note: Not all lectures are recorded.
Quilting, Community, and the African American Aesthetic
Tracy Vaughn | Ph.D., Assistant Professor of African American Studies, Charles Deering McCormick Distinguished Professor of Instruction at Northwestern University
A Circumnavigator's View: The Gorillas of Rwanda with Virginia Mullin
Virginia Mullin | Ph.D., at Mullin Vickrey Communications
A Black American's Experience in Theater
Tim Rhoze | Artistic Director at Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
Chicago by Gaslight: A History of Chicago's Netherworld
Rich Lindberg | Author, Journalist, Research Historian
Dark Money: The Money Behind Our Politics
Julie Strauss | Lecturer in American Politics
Understanding the Persistence of Unethical Behavior
Maryam Kouchaki | Associate Professor of Management and Organizations at Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
When Women Invented Television
Jennifer Armstrong | Writer
Akbar Imhotep: Frederick Douglass, Orator and Abolitionist
Akbar Imhotep | Storyteller and Puppeteer
The International Space Station
Michelle Nichols | Director of Public Observing, Astro Educator