CSO musicians’ strike forces postponement of Old St. Patrick’s Church concert

An Irish-themed concert scheduled for Tuesday night is the first casualty of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians’ strike.

Old St. Patrick’s Church, which had planned to present its 23rd Siamsa na nGael celebration at Symphony Center, said Monday it has postponed the concert until March 19 and relocated it to the Auditorium Theatre.

The move is “a result of the strike by the musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra that was announced late Sunday evening,” the church said in a statement. The musicians have said they intend to picket at Symphony Center from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily until a new contract is reached.

“Old St. Pat’s apologizes for the inconvenience this will cause concertgoers,” the statement said.

Performers on the bill include singer Gavin Coyle, Catherine O’Connell, Rodrick Dixon and Beverly O’Regan; the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra; the Old St. Patrick’s Concert Choir; the Trinity Irish Dancers; bagpipers; the Irish Trad Band and the After School Matters singers.

Carol Marin, the NBC Chicago reporter, and Anne Roosevelt, granddaughter of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, are the narrators, telling stories of Mother Jones.