Midwest Young Artists Chamber Music Program is recognized as a national leader in chamber music training for young musicians. Over the past 17 years, MYA’s chamber groups have won 13 medals at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and have been featured on broadcasts including NPR’s From the Top radio program numerous times, ABC, CBS, Music da Camera, WFMT 98.7 FM, and WFN 720 AM. With more than 60 chamber ensembles, MYA recognizes the value of chamber music training at every level and encourages its students to experience the excitement of performing major chamber works in venues across Chicago.

MYA prides itself in offering the most comprehensive, yet fully individual and personalized, Chamber Music Program possible for our students. Very few programs in the nation are as large as MYA and no other youth program has experienced the competitive success that MYA has had at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition over the past 17 years - both indicators of the quality that MYA offers our students.

Chamber music is an integral part of a well-rounded musician’s education.  Often it is both the most long-lasting activity as well as the highlight of a "classically-trained" musician.  Avid lifetime amateur chamber musicians included Albert Einstein and Thomas Jefferson.  MYA believes that the chamber musician is the most flexible musician.  They are leaders when the part calls for it; they are responders when others are in the position to lead; they are joiners when they play the same part as others; they are cooperators when their part fits with or into another.  Chamber musicians who have learned to listen to fit their part with others make the best orchestra musician as well as the best soloists!

All of MYA’s Symphony and Concert Orchestra members must be available for placement in MYA’s Chamber Music Program. When requested, every attempt is made to place interested Philharmonia Orchestra students as well. In addition, some students audition to be considered just for the Chamber Music Program.

Chamber Music Program Offerings

Ensemble Chamber Music  - trios, quartets, quintets, sextets, septets or octets. Often this is what we traditionally think of as chamber music. MYA has expert coaches and ensembles for the following:

There are two expectations/participation levels in MYA’s Chamber Music Program.  

Audition for Chamber Music 

Chamber Music Questionnaire - to be considered for MYA’s Fall Chamber Music Program, all current MYA Members must fill out the Chamber Music Questionnaire. Please note: All Symphony & Concert Orchestra members are required to participate in chamber music if placed. Filling out the Chamber Music Questionnaire facilitates preferences for placement.

Coachings

Ensembles are coached one hour per week by a member of our faculty. Intensive chamber music ensembles are coached more often and have a coach for each instrument over the semester. Intensive chamber music ensembles also have preference on participation with master class teachers that MYA brings in.

Performances

Sunday Soirees! & Beyond the Fort , Chamber Music Series
Throughout our season, join us for several inspirational afternoons of chamber music at MYA and beyond! Free and Open to the Public!

Click here for more information.

Master Classes

Throughout the year MYA students have the opportunity to work with outstanding musicians. In recent years, MYA welcomed the following master teachers:

       Avalon String Quartet                                              Gavriel Lipkind (Solo Cellist)
       Illinois Quartet (University of Illinois faculty)               Charlie Pikler (Chicago Symphony Orchestra)                        
       N-E-W Trio (2008 Fischoff Winners)                          Alice Schoenfeld (Professor Emerita of Violin, University of Southern California)
       Barbara Butler (Chicago Chamber Musicians)            Rami Solomonow (Chicago Chamber Musicians)
       Carrie Dennis (Berlin Philharmonic)                           John Bruce Yeh (Chicago Symphony Orchestra)                                                          

3:00 PM Saturdays or 11:30 AM Sundays
MYA Center at Fort Sheridan
Free and Open to the Public
Click here for more information.

Awards & Accomplishments

Although not the goal of the Chamber Music Program, MYA has been very successful in chamber music competitions.

Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, Junior Division

Fischoff Web Site

Rembrandt Chamber Players Chamber Music Competition

Coleman Chamber Music Competition

Coleman Competition Web Site

Isaac Stern Chamber Music Workshop, Carnegie Hall

Chamber Music Program

SEARCH
CONTACT US
SUBSCRIBE