• Open Call: OES Fall 2026

    Applications are open now through July 1 for the Fall 2026 cohort of Outer Ear Sessions (OES). OES provides free recording studio access to artists from all genres and career stages who are working to push the boundaries of their practice.

    More info & apply

  • Open Call: Sonic Pavilion 2026

    ESS seeks proposals for multichannel sound compositions for the overhead trellis loudspeaker array at Jay Pritzker Pavilion in the heart of downtown Chicago, to be presented as part of its annual Sonic Pavilion Festival. Sonic Pavilion is included in this year’s America250 programs, a national series of arts programs on the occasion of the 250th birthday of the United States.

    SUBMIT A PROPOSAL

  • Open Call: Florasonic 25th Anniversary Installation

    in celebration of Florasonic’s 25th anniversary, ESS is seeking proposals for four-channel sound compositions created for installation in the Lincoln Park Conservatory Fern Room.

    SUBMIT A PROPOSAL

  • Navigations: One's Position (and a route)

    Experimental Sound Studio and Roman Susan are pleased to announce “Navigations: One’s Position (and a route),” a multi-faceted group exhibition opening this spring at ESS’s Audible Gallery. Each week, a different artist is featured on the Audible Gallery sound system, amplifying work that is taking place across the City.

    LEARN MORE
  • OPTION 2026

    2026 OPTION Series

    The 2026 OPTION series season lineup is live! Featuring weekly concerts and interviews in ESS's beautiful garden with artists who are pushing the boundaries of exploratory music. Curated by Andrew Clinkman, Lily Finnegan, and Dorothy Carlos.

    Check out the full line-up
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    • We are a community supported non-profit dedicated to the curation, evolution, and exploration of sound.

    For 40 years Experimental Sound Studio has nurtured avant-garde and exploratory artists through production, presentation, education, and preservation.

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    Exploding Star Orchestra at Adler Planetarium

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