MaddBear Arts Foundation

08/30/2026

With Mickey Mantas, President of the Arlington Heights Art Guild. Thrilled to be a sponsor for such a successful community event. Perfect day, and we found several new treasures!

08/15/2026

An annual community gem!

08/14/2026

Happy to be sponsoring the Guild for their 55th annual Walk in the Park event. Mark your calendars for Sunday, August 30th. See you at North School Park!

Sponsor Spotlight!

Art connects us—and sponsors help create the space for those connections to happen.

We’re grateful to for supporting A Walk in the Park Art Fair on Sunday, August 30 10am-5pm at North School Park. Their generosity supports the Arlington Heights Art Guild’s continued commitment to fund Scholarships for High School District 214 graduating students.

Thank you for helping artists shine, young creatives grow, and our community gather.

Visit MaddBear Arts Foundation online to learn more! https://maddbearaf.org

07/13/2026

MaddBear Productions was thrilled to record four new tunes by The Abram Collier Nonet today!

Abram Collier, baritone sax and vocals, Constantine Alexander, trumpet, Neil Carson, alto saxophone, Roy McGrath, tenor saxophone, Henry Carpender, trombone, Shanth Gopalswamy, guitar, Aval Stanley, piano, Marion Mallard, bass, and Joel Baer, drums.

https://www.facebook.com/abram.collier.2025/
Abe is a rare talent! Not to be missed if you can see him live.

07/07/2026

Congratulations to Henry Beardsley, newly appointed Arts Commissioner!

06/20/2026

Inaugural Director’s Grant recipient David Hayes

05/17/2026

We're thrilled to announce that Neil Carson has been selected as our latest Director's Grant recipient!

Neil is a Chicago-based saxophonist, composer, arranger, producer, and educator whose work blends jazz, pop, and rock into a fresh, melodic sound. He brings an infectious sense of joy to every performance he gives. A graduate of the prestigious Frost School of Music, Neil earned degrees in Jazz Saxophone and Studio Jazz Composition while performing with the award-winning Frost Concert Jazz Band and sharing the stage with artists including Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin, Terrence Blanchard, Maria Schneider, and Barry Manilow.

Neil’s award-winning compositions and arrangements have been performed nationwide. His big band work “Ballad for the Hopeless Romantic” won first prize in the ASMAC Bill Conti Arranging Competition, while his composition “Listen” was featured at the 2019 ISJAC Symposium. Equally at home on stage and in the studio, Neil leads the Chicago-based 9-piece ensemble New Nostalgia, performs with a variety of jazz and contemporary groups, and has mixed and produced recordings for numerous artists.

An inspiring educator and clinician, Neil maintains an active teaching schedule throughout the Chicago area. Whether composing, performing, producing, or teaching, he brings deep musicality, versatility, and passion to every project.
Check him out: https://neilcarsonmusic.com/ and better yet, see him in person!

05/08/2026

Congratulations to Marion Mallard, recipient of our latest Director's Grant!

Marion Mallard is one of the most exciting young bassists emerging from Chicago’s vibrant jazz scene. Originally from Decatur, she moved to Chicago in 2020 to pursue a degree in Jazz Studies at DePaul University.

Mallard has earned many honors in her career - she has been a Louis Armstrong Jazz Award winner, JEN Sisters in Jazz Selectee, selected for the prestigious Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program, and was recently named a finalist for the Luminarts Jazz Fellowship.

A sought-after performer throughout the Chicago jazz community, Mallard leads projects under her own name while also performing alongside acclaimed musicians every day, including names like the renowned vibraphonist Joel Ross. Beyond the stage, she is an accomplished composer, educator, studio musician, and bandleader whose artistry reflects both technical command and a fearless creative voice.

05/02/2026

Henry Beardsley, executive director, presents the first-ever TillMoo Inspiration Award to Matthew Tillman in recognition of his support and influence in creating the MaddBear Arts Foundation. Congratulations Matt!

04/29/2026

Get out there and support live music!