Why Highland Park Musicians Trust Us

Highland Park stands out on the North Shore for its deep connection to live music and performance, anchored by Ravinia Festival’s decades of world-class programming. Growing up in or living in a community where the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs every summer and where music education is woven into the cultural fabric creates musicians who understand what professional artistry sounds like. Whether you’re a folk artist recording acoustic guitar and vocal arrangements influenced by years of attending intimate Ravinia concerts, a classical musician tracking piano or orchestral instruments, or a narrator capturing professional voiceover work, you’ll find a studio that matches Highland Park’s appreciation for technical excellence and artistic depth. Musicians from Highland Park don’t need convincing that quality matters—they’ve experienced it firsthand at Ravinia’s Martin Theatre and Pavilion stages, and they expect that same level of craft in their own recordings. As Chicago’s #1 rated recording studio on Google, Untold Stories has earned that recognition by delivering work that meets the standards of artists who’ve been immersed in professional music their entire lives. Your session is about capturing the refinement, emotion, and precision your music deserves—the same qualities that make Highland Park’s music scene exceptional.

Getting Here from Highland Park

From Highland Park, the drive to our Pilsen studio at 1007 West 19th Street takes approximately 40-45 minutes via I-94 S (Edens Expressway) and I-90/94 S (Kennedy Expressway). Head south on Green Bay Road or access I-94 S from several entry points, continue as the highway merges with the Kennedy, exit at California Avenue, and head south into Pilsen. The route is entirely on major expressways with clear signage and no downtown navigation required. Street parking in Pilsen is completely free and abundant throughout the neighborhood, typically within half a block of the studio. No meters, no permits, no circling for spots like you’d experience closer to downtown. If you prefer public transit, the Metra UP-N line runs from Highland Park Station directly to Ogilvie Transportation Center downtown, where you can catch a rideshare southwest to Pilsen in about 10-12 minutes. Many Highland Park artists appreciate the drive as transition time—it’s far enough to mentally shift from daily responsibilities into creative focus, but manageable enough to make multiple sessions practical. By the time you arrive at the studio, you’ve left the lakefront and tree-lined streets behind and you’re fully prepared to engage with your music. Plan to arrive right on time for your session, and you’ll find parking effortless, access simple, and the neighborhood’s artistic character a natural complement to the work you’re about to do.

What Makes Highland Park Artists Unique

Musicians and voice actors from Highland Park bring a cultural awareness and technical preparation that reflects the community’s deep arts heritage. Growing up surrounded by Ravinia’s programming—from classical orchestras to contemporary folk artists to jazz ensembles—creates musicians who’ve been exposed to excellence across every genre and understand what separates good performances from exceptional ones. Highland Park artists arrive at the studio prepared: material rehearsed to performance standard, arrangements refined through countless hours of practice, and realistic expectations for what professional recording requires. They understand that great recordings emerge from the collaboration between a prepared artist and an experienced engineer who can capture their vision authentically. We see singer-songwriters tracking intimate acoustic arrangements, folk artists recording guitar and vocal performances, classical musicians capturing piano and string instruments like violin and cello, rock bands tracking full instrumentation, and voice actors recording for audiobook and commercial projects from Highland Park. Many are artists who’ve studied music formally, performed in community ensembles, or simply grown up attending concerts at Ravinia and absorbed what professional artistry sounds like. What sets Highland Park artists apart is their understanding that recording is about creating something lasting and meaningful—not content for social media, but work that represents their abilities and artistic vision at the highest level. They’ve researched their options, they know what distinguishes amateur recordings from professional work, and they choose Untold Stories because we deliver the quality and attention their projects deserve. When you walk into our studio from Highland Park, you’re working with an engineer who respects the cultural background you bring, values your preparation, and is committed to capturing your music with the clarity, warmth, and precision it requires.