Chicago (Illinois), USA - The seventh annual multi-venue World Music Festival: Chicago 2005 will host five diverse admission-free concerts featuring internationally acclaimed artists at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., from Friday, Sept. 16 - Wednesday, Sept. 21. The World Music Festival culminates with concerts at the Chicago Cultural Center's closing event, the Open House, Thursday, Sept. 22.

Events include:

Friday, Sept. 16 at 12:15 p.m. in the Randolph Café Celso Fonseca (Brazil) makes his Chicago debut as part of World Music Festival. The captivating singer/guitarist has been a regular collaborator with such artists as Gilberto Gil, Marisa Monte and Caetano Veloso and has established himself as one of the most exciting new voices in Brazilian music.

Sunday, Sept. 18 at 3 p.m. in Claudia Cassidy Theater

A Moving Sound (Taiwan) makes its Chicago debut. A Moving Sound is a multinational group made up of Taiwanese singer Mia Hsieh, American Scott Prairie on French horn, bass, drums and vocals plus a Chinese erhu player, a Belgian guitarist and a Brazilian percussionist. Their music is rooted in Chinese tradition, but what sets them apart from the usual East / West collaborations are the African and Middle Eastern influences.

Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. in Claudia Cassidy Theater Ensemble N_JP (Japan/U.S.) makes its Chicago debut as part of the festival. Composer Gene Coleman formed the ensemble as a vehicle for his ongoing work with musicians from Japan. The main goal of the group is to explore and define new relationships between traditional and experimental aesthetics and to create a platform for cultural exchange. Japanese musicians from the traditional, experimental and contemporary classical music communities and guest artists and musicians from Europe and the U.S. unite in this project.

Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m. in Preston Bradley Hall

Brothers Rajan and Sajan Mishra (India) are two of the most beloved and highly regarded vocalists in India. They are perhaps the most successful Hindustani vocal duo in recent history and come from a family of great Indian Classical vocalists. Top ranking tabla maestro Kumar Bose joins them for this tour along with Rajan's two singing sons, Ritesh and Rajnish Mishra, who are currently making a name of their own in the Indian vocal world.

Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 7p.m. in Preston Bradley Hall

Qing Mei Jing Yue Quartet (China) makes its Chicago debut. The Qing-Mei-Jing-Yue Ensemble, which takes its name from the names of its four members, energetically promotes the development of Chinese music. Fan Weiqing (zheng), Yu Hongmei (erhu), Yang Jing (pipa) and Liu Yuening (yangqin) have successfully incorporated Western instruments and multimedia elements into their music. Their rich repertoire includes
traditional classics and contemporary pieces.

The 7th Annual World Music Festival: Chicago 2005 is organized by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs featuring the best in international music, Sept. 16 - 22. For more information, call the World Music Festival: Chicago 2005 hotline at 312-742-1938 or visit www.cityofchicago.org/WorldMusic.

World Music Festival: Chicago 2005 is made possible with generous support from The Boeing Company; The Comer Foundation Fund; United
"Chicago's Hometown Airline," the official airline sponsor; Borders Books & Music; and Chicago Public Radio WBEZ 91.5 FM, official radio sponsor.

[Photos: 1 - Celso Fonseca, 2 - Rajan and Sajan Mishra].