Founded in 1919 by Frederick Stock, second music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), the Civic Orchestra of Chicago prepares emerging professional musicians for lives in music. Civic members participate in rigorous orchestral training, September through June each season, with Principal Conductor Ken-David Masur, musicians of the CSO, and some of today’s most luminary conductors.
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From 2010 to 2019, Yo-Yo Ma was a leading mentor to Civic musicians and staff in his role as CSO Judson and Joyce Green Creative Consultant, and the programs and initiatives he established are integral to the Civic Orchestra curriculum today. Civic Orchestra musicians develop as exceptional orchestral players and engaged artists, cultivating their ability to succeed in the rapidly evolving world of music in the twenty-first century.
The importance of the Civic Orchestra’s role in Greater Chicago is underscored by its commitment to present concerts of the highest quality at no charge to the public. In addition to the critically acclaimed live concerts at Symphony Center, Civic Orchestra performances can be heard locally on WFMT (98.7 FM).
Civic musicians also expand their creative, professional, and artistic boundaries and reach diverse audiences through educational performances at Chicago Public Schools and a series of chamber concerts at various locations throughout the city including Chicago Park District field houses and the National Museum of Mexican Art.
To further expand its musician training, the Civic Orchestra launched the Civic Fellowship program in the 2013–14 season. Each year ten to fifteen Civic members are designated as Civic Fellows and participate in intensive leadership training that is designed to build and diversify their creative and professional skills.
The Civic Orchestra’s long history of presenting full orchestra performances free to the public includes annual concerts at the South Shore Cultural Center (in partnership with the South Shore Advisory Council) as well as numerous Chicago Public Schools. The Civic Orchestra is a signature program of the Negaunee Music Institute at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, which offers a wide range of education and community programs that engage more than 200,000 people of diverse ages, incomes, and backgrounds each year, in Chicago and around the world.
Civic Orchestra 2023/24 Season Roster
VIOLINS
Kimberly Bill
Polina Borisova
Kristian Brusubardis
Darren Carter
Hsuan Chen
Isabelle Chin
Julianne Oh
Valentina Guillen Menesello
Shao-che (Sean) Hsi
Ran Huo
Jonah Kartman
Shin Lan
Gabriela Lara
Hojung Lee
Jesus Linarez
Freya Liu
Elise Maas
Marian Antonette Mayuga*
Nelson Mendoza
Munire Mierxiati
Matthew Musachio*
Annie Pham
Hee Woo Seo
Pok Hei Hobart Shi
Subin Shin
Janani Sivakumar
Alec Tonno
Matthew Weinberg
Lina Yamin*
José Andrés Robuschi
VIOLAS
Junghyun Ahn
Michael Ayala
Jason Butler*
Siyang Calvin Dai
Amanda Kellman
Carlos Lozano Sanchez
Sava Velkoff
Derrick Ware
Megan Yeung
CELLOS
David Caplan
J Holzen*
Lidanys Graterol
Miles Link
Buianto Lkhasaranov
Francisco Malespin*
Abigail Monroe
Lindsey Sharpe
Cameron Slaugh
Brandon Xu
BASSES
Ben Foerster*
Te-Hsin Kung
Daniel Meyer
Broner McCoy
Hannah Novak
Olivia Reyes
Victor Stahoviak
James O'Toole
FLUTES
Aalia Hanif*
Katarina Ignatovich
Jungah Yoon
OBOES
James Jihyun Kim
Jonathan Kronheimer
Andrew Port*
CLARINETS
Hae Sol (Amy) Hur*
Elizabeth Kapitaniuk
Tyler Baillie
BASSOONS
Nina Laube*
Seo Young (Michelle) Min
Ian Schneiderman
HORNS
Loren Ho
Asuncion Martínez
Jacob Medina
Mark Morris
Ryan Williamson
TRUMPETS
Quentin Erickson
Sean Whitworth
Abner Wong
TROMBONES
Felix Regalado
Hugo Saavedra Arciniegas*
BASS TROMBONE
Alexander Mullins
TUBAS
Nick Collins*
Benjamin Poirot
TIMPANI
Tomas Leivestad
PERCUSSION
Alex Chao
Charley Gillette
Sehee Park
HARP
Janna Young
*Denotes Civic Orchestra Fellow
