An Intimate Evening with Freedom Sings, Presented by Encore Center for Performing Arts

The Encore Center for Performing Arts (ECPA) is bringing a powerful and deeply meaningful community experience to Elmhurst, where personal and compelling stories of local veterans will be transformed into original songs through a unique collaboration with Grammy Award-winning and Grammy Award-nominated songwriters from Freedom Sings USA.

At the heart of the program is a simple but profound idea: not every story can be easily told, but every story deserves to be heard. During Memorial Day week 2026, an especially poignant time for military families, small group of veterans from the western suburbs will meet privately with the songwriters. Through one-on-one conversations, veterans will share their experiences at their own pace, while songwriters listen, interpret, and transform those stories into original songs. These songs will be performed later that same day at a special community event sponsored by ECPA.

For many veterans, the experience offers something difficult to find elsewhere: a way to express what they have carried, without the pressure of speaking publicly.

The event also arrives at a meaningful moment, taking place during Memorial Day week, as communities across the country pause to reflect on service and sacrifice. As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, initiatives like this highlight the importance of listening to and honoring the voices of those who have served.

The Freedom Sings experience will culminate in a live performance open to the community:

Thursday, May 28, 2026

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm CDT

American Legion

310 W. Butterfield Road

Elmhurst, IL

Tickets are $50 for this moving and patriotic experience, offering a meaningful opportunity to honor our veterans.

Tickets are now available.