Academy Student Spotlight: Sebastian Manning
October 28th, 2025
“The people from the Academy have not only taught me how to be a better musician, but they have also helped me in being a better person and I value that greatly.”
Every Friday, sixteen-year-old violinist Sebastian Manning travels four and a half hours by train from Quincy, Illinois to the Music Institute of Chicago Academy. It’s a long journey, but one he makes gladly. After moving back to the United States from Romania, the Academy became the place where he found a community that feels like home.
The move was a major transition, but Sebastian says the Academy quickly became a place of belonging. “Looking back to my first year, I now realize just how much the Academy has meant to me,” he shares. “When I moved back to the US, I did not know anyone, and I was in a totally unknown place. But even from the first week, the Academy community fully embraced me and for the first time since moving, I felt that I truly belonged somewhere.”
Sebastian has been playing violin for 13 years and currently studies with Almita Vamos in his second year at the Academy, where he is also a Scholarship Fellow. His love for the instrument began early, sparked by his parents’ passion for classical music. “My parents, although not musicians, have always been avid classical music fans, so the first interaction I had with music was watching performances on TV, but also at the local Philharmonic,” he says. “I would watch great artists (Joshua Bell was my personal favorite) and around the age of three, I decided I wanted to start the violin.”
After nine years at “Ion Vidu” High School of Art in Timișoara, Romania, Sebastian wanted to take his training to the next level. “The Academy was my first thought,” he says. “Even in Europe people knew about Mrs. Vamos, about the academy and its alumni, so I decided to send recordings and apply.”
Now, with two years of experience at the Academy, Sebastian says it’s not just the music that stands out, but the people. “The Academy is filled with dedicated people, whose sole purpose is to educate and help the students, and with young musicians who want to make the best of this wonderful opportunity. That's what really makes the Academy special.”
When asked about a favorite memory, Sebastian finds it impossible to choose. “From late night rehearsals with my chamber group and Orchestra concerts to the simple interactions and conversations over lunch, every experience is precious,” he says.
This past summer, he brought his artistry back to Romania to perform in the SoNoRo Musikland Festival. The festival brings classical music to unconventional places and audiences who might not otherwise have access to it and is one of his proudest musical experiences. “I had the privilege to play with amazing musicians - Alissa Margulis, Diana Ketler, Alexandra Tîrșu, Răzvan Popovici, Justus Grimm, to name just a few - and they welcomed me among them with incredible generosity,” he shares. “Together we toured the heart of beautiful Transylvania, and we played in old, fortified churches, in backyards, in lofts, etc., at all hours of the day for the most diverse audiences. It was truly about making music together and bringing it to everybody, which is what I think musicians should do.”
Sebastian has performed solo in several major venues across Europe. He has also earned recognition at numerous national and international competitions, including being a finalist or semi-finalist at the Leonid Kogan International Competition (Brussels), Kloster Schöntal International Violin Competition (Germany), Chicago Violin Competition, DePaul Concerto Competition, and the “Ion Voicu” International Competition in Bucharest, where he was the youngest competitor.
Between schoolwork, performances, and a long commute, Sebastian’s schedule leaves little downtime. Yet he continues to pursue his goals with focus and determination. “Looking ahead, I think one of the most important things the Academy has helped me with is confidence in myself,” he says. “I should probably add discipline as well. Changing continents was a bit challenging and my weekly commute is challenging at times as well, so I need to remain really focused on what I want to accomplish.” He’s now working to finish high school early and apply to conservatories.
Beyond musical training, Sebastian says his experience at the Academy has shaped him as a person. “The people from the Academy have not only taught me how to be a better musician, but they have also helped me in being a better person and I value that greatly.”