RH's four programs of concert production, audience education, community partnerships and internships work together to create a weekly experience designed both to cultivate new and younger audiences to classical music and to refresh and renew older audiences relationship with the art form. Known as Great Music for Busy Lives, Rush Hour Concerts at St. James Cathedral (RH) was created in response to the tension between the increasing demands of contemporary lifestyles and the ongoing need for regular access to the arts, helping listeners with active lifestyles access great chamber music in a format that fits their demanding schedules. Founded in 2000 by concert pianist Deborah Sobol, RH presents free, innovative, one-hour concert events performed by Chicagos finest musicians (members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Chamber Musicians, and other eminent artists) each Tuesday evening throughout the summer. The public is welcomed by a reception of light refreshments and can chat with the performers before the concert, at 5:15 p.m. A 30-minute concert follows at 5:45 p.m., featuring an introduction to the music presented by the performers. RH strives to build community, connecting audience members of all backgrounds through the shared experience of generous hospitality and cultural enrichment. As live classical music audiences have decreased, RHs audience has steadily grown: 2700 in the 2004 season, 3800 in 2005 and more than 4,000 attendees in 2006 and an average of roughly 400 listeners weekly. RH is committed to fiscal soundness and has ended each season with a balanced budget. Now in its 8th season, RH is drawing over 400 people weekly and has become an important weekly destination in Chicagos summer cultural life.

Rush Hour Concerts at St. James Cathedrals (RH) mission is to promote the experience of classical music in a welcoming, widely accessible, relevant, and culturally rich environment by presenting weekly, free, world-class concert events throughout the summer in Chicago.

RH currently conducts four programs: its Great Music for Busy Lives Program, its Audience Enrichment Program, its Community Partnership Program, and its Internship Program. Great Music for Busy Lives is RHs primary program, presenting free, weekly summer classical music concert events from June through August. Each event consists of a 30-minute reception and a 30-minute concert., as described in the history above. Its Audience Enrichment Program was created in 2005, in in response to data gathered from several audience focus groups of all ages and backgrounds. This programs focus is to enhance the summer concert events by creating a complete weekly experience for the audience. It has several components: a website and blog containing comprehensive information about RH, an archive of program notes from the current season (along with past seasons) advance program notes for upcoming concerts, and a Fanfare Committee section which recounts behind-the-scenes activities of RHs young professional auxiliary committee; weekly email alerts containing a preview of the upcoming concert with artistic commentary; program booklets featuring program notes written for RH by Norman Pellegrini, founding program director of WFMT, and Artistic Director Deborah Sobol Rush Hour artists are available before the concert, to mingle and chat with the audience one on one, and after the concert. They also introduce the concert program, sharing their insights into the works about to be performed. RHs Community Partnership Program partners with Chicago Consulates General and other cultural organizations (such as the Poetry Foundation) to present and promote culturally-themed concert events and broaden RHs community reach. Its Internship Program, launched in 2006, invites talented college and graduate students to gain first hand experience inside an arts organization. This program, which like the Audience Enhancement Program and the Community Partnership Program runs year-round, has expanded to three paid positions during the summer months and is directed by RHs Managing Director. RHs Artistic Director plays an active role in mentoring the interns throughout their term.