Clara Frantzen is a violinist, composer, arranger and conductor, and they are so honored to be taking part in Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Young Composers Initiative for the second year in a row. Clara has played with Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra for the last eight years and currently plays in CYSO’s Symphony Orchestra and CORE, both as principal second violin. Last year, Clara also played alongside Civic Orchestra musicians for the Chicago Youth in Music Festival.
Clara joined the top jazz band at Oak Park and River Forest High School last year and was awarded an Outstanding Soloist Award at the Purdue Jazz Festival in January. Clara was also the Assistant Conductor for Anthony Barrese for Die Kathrin at University of Chicago and conducted a soloist, choir and chamber group in the 2022 “Korngold in Song” concert for Folks Operetta. This year, Clara was accepted into the ILMEA All-State orchestra, District 1 jazz band, and won first place in ILMEA’s Composition Competition for their previous YCI piece, Ghost Light Vignettes.
Clara is a senior at their high school where they are the co-concertmaster in the Symphony Orchestra. This year, Clara won the high school concerto competition with Ravel’s Tzigane and performed it with their orchestra on May 13th. Clara has studied composition at the Young Composer’s Program at CIM, violin at Interlochen, and violin and conducting at Philadelphia International Music Festival.
Last summer, Clara was the concertmaster for NEC’s Summer Orchestra Institute and attended Berklee’s Film scoring program in LA. Clara studies violin with Rachel Brown and orchestration and conducting with Anthony Barrese. This fall, Clara will study under Sharan Leventhal at Boston Conservatory for violin performance.
