Academy Student Spotlight: Neal Eisfeldt
February 26th, 2026
"Without a doubt, music has instilled in me a discipline and work ethic that will serve as the bedrock for all my future endeavors."-Neal Eisfeldt
Before Neal Eisfeldt ever held a violin, his earliest memories were filled with the sound of one in his home. He remembers his father practicing for concerts. “The sound of the violin felt almost magical, it was love at first sight.” By age three, he was at his first lesson. “From then on, the violin became a part of who I am.”
Now 16, Neal has been playing violin for 13 and a half years. He has studied with Injoo Choi for nine years and Almita Vamos for six. A Merit Scholarship Fellow, he is in his third year in the Academy at the Music Institute of Chicago.
What continues to drive him is growth and the limitless potential to keep pushing himself. “Music is the one place where I feel completely myself,” he says. He is equally focused on the impact music has on others. “When my playing has succeeded in communicating what the artist intended and I see people feel joyful experiencing that, then my job is done and it never fails to remind me of why I fell in love with the violin in the first place.”
Part of what sustains that motivation is the Academy environment. “The Academy is truly a unique place,” he says. “Of course, it offers the opportunity to be surrounded by a cohort of talented musicians I can make music and grow alongside—but what makes it especially meaningful to me is the program’s curriculum. It is incredibly comprehensive, integrating recitals, master classes, music theory, and more along with orchestra and chamber music which provide a firsthand glimpse into what a conservatory life could be like.”
Neal made his solo debut at age ten at Carnegie Hall and has since appeared with several Illinois orchestras. At 14, he became the youngest winner of the Arthur D. Montzka Concerto Competition, performing the complete Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Kishwaukee Symphony. His honors include top prizes in major regional competitions and international awards, including the Bonn and Salzburg International Virtuoso Competitions and the Grand Prize at the Enkor International Festival. A From the Top Fellow, he has been featured on NPR and WFMT, and has performed at Symphony Center and other leading venues. He has also appeared with the National Pathways Orchestra and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and was a Fischoff semifinalist.
One performance in particular stands out. He recalls appearing with the Peoria Symphony Orchestra for an audience of more than 700 students and adults. The concert was part of an initiative to introduce young people to live classical music, and the turnout was so large he performed twice.
“Watching the huge hall fill up as I was preparing was nerve wrecking,” he says. Afterward, the applause and conversations with students stayed with him. “Hearing the hall erupt in applause and then speaking with the excited students afterward made me realize the powerful impact my music can have on a community. The pride and joy I felt in the moment is something I will never forget.”
Behind the scenes, he finds his practice both demanding and meaningful. “It is not always easy. Sometimes it takes months of patiently chipping away at the same instructions before the results finally appear, often just when I feel ready to give up.” He adds, “That moment of realization, when the hard work finally pays off, has taught me the significance of learning from experience. Understanding that growth comes from patience and dedication has been the most rewarding lesson of all.”
The impact music has made on him shows through even outside the practice room. “The focus and dedication required to overcome technical and musical challenges in the practice room have carried over into everything I do,” he explains. “They have strengthened my time-management skills, to be very organized, and—most importantly—taught me perseverance and the determination to never give up, to know that anything is achievable with hard work. Without a doubt, music has instilled in me a discipline and work ethic that will serve as the bedrock for all my future endeavors.”
When he is not practicing, Neal spends time with his sister and gets outside whenever he can. He also enjoys cooking, especially a well cooked steak.
Next on his calendar is performing Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 with the Oistrakh Orchestra of Chicago. It will be his first time performing Mozart with an orchestra, and he looks forward to working with the smaller orchestra Mozart’s music requires.
He remains deeply involved in his community, continuing to share music at senior centers and memory care homes. “I’ve learned that music has a unique ability to reach people at every stage of life, even when other forms of connection may be difficult,” he says. “I am especially touched when I hear stories of their personal musical journeys in their youth after my performances. Being able to share music in these settings is incredibly meaningful to me.”
As he looks ahead, he returns to guidance from his teachers that continue to shape his path: “measure yourself by how much you have grown from the previous lesson or performance.” And, “becoming a musician is a journey- enjoy it.”
