The Maestro and the Monster

About this event

The Maestro and the Monster

Saturday, November 21, 2026

3:00 PM – Doors Open

3:30 PM – Concert Starts

Nichols Concert Hall

1490 Chicago Avenue

Evanston, IL 60201

Registration Fee:

$30 Members / $40 Non-Members / $10 Students

Special thanks to our sponsor:

Concert Program

View the full program (PDF)

REGISTER HERE!

Meet the Performers

Reiko Wada

Pianist

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Patrick Godon

Pianist

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Meghan Guse

Vocalist

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Monster-Sized Raffle! 🦖

Godzilla is stomping into Chicago this November, and you could take home a piece of kaiju history!

To celebrate The Maestro and the Monster, our November 21 concert of Akira Ifukube’s legendary Godzilla music at Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston, the Japan America Society of Chicago is raffling off five special treasures for fans and collectors. They include posters signed by two legends of Toho’s golden age, Nakajima Haruo, the original actor inside the Godzilla suit, and Sahara Kenji, star of Rodan and veteran of more Godzilla films than any other actor. There are also autographed books by renowned Godzilla scholar William M. Tsutsui and a striking framed poster where Godzilla meets the art of ikebana.

Each item has its own raffle, so you can put your tickets toward the prize you want most, or try your luck on all five!

Tickets : $5 each, or 5 for $20

To enter the raffle, click on the item(s) you’d like to win and purchase tickets:

• Item 1: Godzilla Meets Ikebana Poster

• Item 2: Rodan Poster Signed by Sahara Kenji

• Item 3: Gojira Poster Signed by Nakajima Haruo

• Item 4: Autographed Godzilla on My Mind by William M. Tsutsui

• Item 5: Autographed In Godzilla’s Footsteps edited by William M. Tsutsui and Michiko Ito

The drawing will be held online on November 18, and winners will be notified by email. Prizes may be picked up at the JASC office ( 500 W. Madison Street, Suite 1000, Chicago ) or at The Maestro and the Monster on November 21. You need not be present to win.

Proceeds support scholarships, language education programs, and year-round programs that encourage dialogue, cooperation, and lasting friendship between Japan and the United States.

From Nichols Concert Hall