The Music Institute of Chicago Virtuoso Strings is a non-profit 403c performing and touring chamber ensemble comprised of 22 young performers from the Chicagoland area.
The ensemble integrates classical music, fiddle, ethnic, cultural, and religious selections into its performances. The performers are ready to perform weddings, holiday celebrations, auctions, private parties, gala events, and more. We provide a contract and requested honorarium amount. 100% of all donations go directly to offset the costs of continued education and tours that the students participate in.
Performances
- American String Teachers Association Conference, Opening Performance, Louisville, KY
- DuPage Community Arts Festival, DuPage County Fairgrounds, Wheaton
- Evangelical Child & Family Agency Auction, Abbington Banquet Hall, Glen Ellyn
- Fox Valley Mall, Holiday Performance, Aurora
- Glen Ellyn Public Library, Holiday Performance, Glen Ellyn
- Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Benefit Concert Performance, Wheaton
- Music Institute of Chicago Gala, Four Seasons Hotel, Chicago
- Martin Luther King Jr. Nichols Hall Performance, Evanston
- Paramount Theater, Opening Performances, Aurora
- Suzuki Association of the Americas Conference, Opening Performance, Louisville, KY
- St. Andrews Golf Club, Client Appreciation Performance, West Chicago
Tours
- 2022- Hawaii (O’ahu)
- 2023- Italy
- 2024- England
History
The Music Institute of Chicago presents Virtuoso Strings a chamber ensemble consisting of 22 young string performers from the Chicagoland Area. The group began in response to the Covid Pandemic of 2020. These violin, viola, cello, and piano students began their studies as young as three years old many having used the Suzuki Method.
Virtuoso Strings concert program consists mainly of classical music. This includes the music of Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, and more. The program also integrates different styles of music such as Fiddle, Irish, Ragtime, Broadway, and Sacred. The students are prepared to present a formal program for educational purposes, weddings, and special events.
Virtuoso Strings musicians have opened for professional musicians and artists at Symphony Center (Chicago, IL) and Paramount Theater (Aurora, IL). They look forward to touring both nationally as well as internationally. In 2022, they enjoyed their first performance tour to Hawaii. The current musicians have toured nationally to Washington and internationally to Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Morocco, Scotland, and Spain.
As a part of the program at the Music Institute of Chicago, Virtuoso Strings adheres to the philosophy of Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, the founder of the Suzuki Method. Dr. Suzuki, a survivor of World War II who returned to his war-torn country, believed that all children are born with a natural ability to learn. Through the medium of music, he demonstrated that each child could develop talent if educated and raised in a nurturing environment. This environment (teacher, parent, and student) was to create noble human beings splendid in mind and heart.
In addition to musical activities, these students round out their busy schedules with sports, student government, scholastic teams, choir, band, as well as their regular school studies.
If you are interested in learning more about the future performances of Virtuoso Strings, how they might entertain your group or organization, contact us at jbickel@musicinst.org or 630-202-4289.