CSOradio
CSOtv
CSOradio
Being a Civic Fellow, says violinist Marian Mayuga, involves "a huge amount of responsibility, both as a musician and a member of the community."
For more than a century, young musicians have received expert training through the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, which offers performance opportunities with top-tier conductors and mentorship from musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Currently in its 10th anniversary season, the Civic Fellowship program provides additional professional development for a select group of Civic Orchestra members. The mission of the Fellowship is to prepare participants for multifaceted careers in music through four pillars of concert curation, music education, social justice and project management.
In the interview below, current Civic Fellow Marian Mayuga shares her experiences of the program so far.
What is your background with music and your instrument?
My mother is a pianist, so I grew up in a home filled with music. My sisters and I all learned the piano early on, but after hearing the orchestra as a child, I thought I would like to give the violin a try. My parents started bringing me to violin lessons when I was 7 and have been unconditionally supportive of me since. My love for music grew when I first experienced playing with a youth orchestra in Manila, and even more so when I started playing chamber music.
What led you to audition for the Civic Orchestra?
It has always been my dream to become an accomplished orchestral and chamber musician and to perform in a major international concert hall. I frequently attended concerts at Symphony Center while I did my master’s at DePaul, and I truly admired the Civic Orchestra for the quality of their concerts, the thoughtful programming and diverse roster of musicians.
How has being a Civic Orchestra member and Fellow helped you professionally and personally?
While being a member and Fellow of the Civic Orchestra is an incredible honor, it also entails a huge amount of responsibility, both as a musician and a member of the community. As a values-based program, the Civic Fellowship constantly urges us to think about the purpose of our music and whose lives we are impacting. This is the kind of approach I would like to adapt for my future endeavors.
What do you think sets the Civic and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association as a whole apart from other orchestras?
As reflected in the Fellowship Program, Civic and the CSOA are led by people who are mindful of promoting values that create a positive impact on the lives of people who need it most. This institution is not only interested in musical skill, there also is a genuine concern for issues outside the concert hall. While I think this is an important aspect that makes us stand out, I do hope other orchestras around the world that do not practice this yet will start to do so.
What have been some of your favorite moments, events or projects as a Civic Fellow so far?
Notes for Peace, where the Civic Fellows write songs in collaboration with family members who have lost loved ones to gun violence, has been the most powerful Civic project I have experienced so far. It was an incredible honor to have the opportunity to use music in such a meaningful way, because as musicians, we always have to ask ourselves why we do what we do, who are we making music for and what kind of impact it has on the people we share it with.
What concerts or events are you most looking forward to the rest of this season?
I am looking forward to the next Notes for Peace project and the activities with the incarcerated youth of Chicago. I am also excited to hear and perform the chosen selections for this year’s call for scores. The first chamber-music concert that happened last month and featured music by all-living composers was something I had eagerly looked forward to since the start of the season, and it was a success!
What are your plans/dreams for what you’ll do when your time in Civic comes to an end?
Naturally, I hope to teach and perform as an orchestral and chamber musician. But even before I got into Civic, I have always wanted to help my fellow musicians of Filipino heritage receive opportunities and exposure on the big stage as I am able. The farther on this journey I go, the more confident I feel that I could bring them along, such as in my collaborative projects with the Filipino-American Music Foundation and the Filipino String Teachers Association.
Why should donors support the Civic Orchestra?
The Civic Orchestra trains musicians in both musical excellence and community awareness, and every bit of support goes far beyond the concert stage to touch lives across the city of Chicago as well. Close collaborations with Chicago Public Schools, victims of gun violence in Purpose Over Pain and the incarcerated youth of the city are some examples of projects that make the Civic Orchestra worth supporting.
