The Chicago Symphony Orchestra announces an essay contest in honor of the new Chicago Public Schools Arts Plan. Students, staff, parents and residents in the neighborhoods of CPS schools are all eligible to submit their ideas about how the CSO can help CPS schools function as cultural centers in their own neighborhoods.

The deadline for entries is Friday, Nov. 30. Five winners will be chosen. An ensemble of CSO musicians will perform at the neighborhood school of each of the winners, and their essays will be publicized on the CSO’s Citizen Musician website. Entries can be submitted via email to citizenmusician@cso.org or by mail to Citizen Musician, c/o Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, 60604. All entries must be received or postmarked by November 30. The winners will be announced by February 1, 2013. Launched in January 2011, Citizen Musician empowers musicians and music lovers to strengthen their communities through the sharing of music. For more information, visit citizenmusician.org.