About Us

The Chicago Federation of Musicians is an organization of 2,000 professional musicians. For more than 100 years, the CFM has been working to ensure fair pay and working conditions for musical artists. Our members perform in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Lyric Opera Orchestra, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the orchestras for Chicago’s Broadway shows, and many, many other ensembles. We represent musicians performing all styles of music: rock, soul, pop, classical, jazz, alternative, country, world, reggae, Christian rock, and others. Our members are active in recording popular music, commercials, television, and radio programs. We also perform for private and corporate events both locally and throughout North America.

We are a local of the American Federation of Musicians with 100,000 members nationwide. Our members are connected and informed on legislative issues, job vacancies, and health & welfare concerns which are discussed in publications, online, and in other forums available to members.

The musicians of the Chicago Federation of Musicians play classical music, jazz, rock, latin, reggae and more. Within our membership, you can find musicians who will play any style of music and perform that music to the highest professional standards. We work in the region’s professional orchestras and theater pits accompanying Broadway productions. We work in clubs, at corporate and private events, at conventions...anywhere live music is needed.