Ilana Setapen Since her solo orchestral debut at age 15, Ilana Setapen has been flourishing as a violinist with a powerful and original voice. She is hailed by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as a violinist with “a sparkling sound” and “the kind of control that puts an audience completely at ease.” She is currently the First Associate Concertmaster of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

In recent seasons, Setapen has had solo performances with the Milwaukee Symphony, Festival City Symphony, and the Amarillo Symphony, among others. She also held the Assistant Concertmaster position of the Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra in Chicago for 6 years and is a favorite guest concertmaster with the Chicago Philharmonic. In recent summers, she has performed at the Olympic Music Festival on Bainbridge Island and the Lakes Area Music Festival in Brainerd, Minnesota. She has also served on the faculty at Luzerne Music Center summer festival in Lake Luzerne, New York and is currently on the faculty at Center Stage Strings at the University of Michigan.

At the age of 21, Setapen won the concertmaster position of the Riverside Philharmonic in Los Angeles. She has also held concertmaster positions with the Juilliard Orchestra, the Colburn Orchestra, the American Youth Symphony, the National Repertory Orchestra, and the USC Thornton Symphony. As a committed chamber musician, Setapen is in demand as a collaborator throughout the Midwest. She performs frequently with Present Music. Her talent has led her to collaborations with such distinguished artists as Ron Leonard, Lynn Harrell, Toby Appel, Cynthia Phelps, Joseph Kalichstein, Robert DeMaine, Paul Coletti, the Fine Arts Quartet, Stefan Hersh, David Geber, and Joan Tower. Solo and chamber music performances have brought her abroad to China, France, Brazil, Holland, England, Monaco, and Italy.

Hailed as “one of the world’s greatest violists” (American Record Guide), and “one of the foremost violists of her generation” (Fanfare magazine), Helen Callus continues to captivate audiences with her lyrical tone, technical command, and profound artistry. Sought after as a recitalist, chamber musician, and concerto soloist, Ms. Callus has performed with such world-class ensembles as the Tokyo and Juilliard String Quartets and the BBC Concert Orchestra, and delighted audiences around the world, in Russia, Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and throughout the US.

Ms. Callus’s career includes distinguished work as an award-winning recording artist. Her seven releases include the works of Walton, Prokofiev, Vaughn Williams, J.S. Bach, Gordon Jacob, and more, and have been met with high critical acclaim. The American Record Guide observed, “Only really great artistry can hold a listener in thrall like that, and that is the artistry of Helen Callus.”

Ms. Callus currently holds the appointment of Professor of Viola at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University. Sought after as a visiting professor, she has given over 200 master classes at many of the world’s leading schools of music. She also served as the first female President of the American Viola Society.

Born in England, Ms. Callus graduated from London’s Royal Academy of Music, and was bestowed an Honorary Associate (ARAM) and Fellow (FRAM) for her achievements in the field. She continued her graduate studies at the Peabody Conservatory with Paul Coletti.

Ms. Callus plays on a viola made for her by Gabrielle Kundert which is a copy of the ex-Primrose Amati.

Cellist Eric Kutz has captivated audiences across North America, Europe, and the Middle East. He is active as a teacher, a chamber musician, an orchestral musician, and a concerto soloist. His diverse collaborations cut across musical styles, and have ranged from cellist Yo-Yo Ma to jazz great Ornette Coleman. Kutz is also a founding member of the Murasaki Duo, a cello and piano ensemble that performs on chamber music series throughout the nation.

Kutz summers in Chicago as a member of the Grant Park Orchestra’s cello section. He has also appeared in the sections of the New York Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. He joined the faculty of University of Maryland School of Music in 2015. He was educated at the Juilliard School and Rice University.

Michael Hovnanian grew up in the Seattle area. His primary teachers were James Harnett and Ronald Simon of the Seattle Symphony. He also studied with Frederick Tinsley of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at California Institute of the Arts, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He was a member of the Victoria B.C. and San Antonio Symphony orchestras before being appointed to the Chicago Symphony in 1989 by Sir Georg Solti, where he remained until 2019. He is currently on the double bass faculty at DePaul University in Chicago.

Michael has appeared as double bass soloist with the Seattle Symphony, Northwest chamber Orchestra and the Highland Park Strings. As a chamber musician, he has performed at the Northwestern Winter Chamber Music Festival and the CSO Chamber Series. He his currently a member of Music of the Baroque, The Chicago Philharmonic, The Chicago Opera Theater, and performs with a variety of other local ensembles.

In addition to classical music Michael has an interest in various styles of music. He founded The Growlers: a double bass ensemble. He is also member of The Gunnelpumpers, a drum-and-bass centered, groove-oriented improvisational ensemble.

Robert Morgan recently completed a long tenure as solo English Horn and Assistant Principal Oboist of the Lyric Opera of Chicago. He is a founding member of Rembrandt Chamber Musicians . An active teacher as well as performer, Mr Morgan is Senior Lecturer in Oboe Performance and Chamber Music at Northwestern University Beinen School of Music and maintains a private studio. Morgan has been featured soloist with many local musical organizations including Music of the Baroque, Chicago String Ensemble, the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra and American Chamber Symphony performing concertos of Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart, Strauss, Vaughn Williams, Joan Tower and the world premiere of Jon Polifrone’s Oboe Concerto. At the invitation of Sandor Salgo, he was Principal Oboe of the Carmel Bach Festival for three seasons. In addition, Mr. Morgan served as Acting Associate Principal Oboe of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Acting Assistant Principal Oboe of the St Louis Symphony, and performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Ravinia and on their regular subscription concerts. He has performed under noted conductors, Carlo Maria Giulini, Sir Georg Solti, Zubin Mehta, Erich Leinsdorf, Sir Mark Elder, Sir Andrew Davis and many others. He has also performed with the Guarnieri Quartet. An avid supporter of new music, Morgan has commissioned and performed works by David Schrader, Jon Polifrone, Sebastian Huydts, Howard Levy and Ilja Hurnik.

Robert Morgan received his BM and Performer’s Certificate from Indiana University. He studied with Ray Still privately and at Northwestern University, John Mack for several years, Marc Lifschey when at home in California, Arnold Jacobs and wind master teacher, Keith Underwood. He also studied Alexander Technique with John Henes

Emma Gerstein was appointed second flute of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 2017 by Music Director Riccardo Muti. Before joining the Orchestra, she appeared as a guest several times, including performances during the CSO’s 2016 tour to Asia with Muti. Most recently, Gerstein served as the section principal flute of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra in New Zealand.

Previously, she was a flute fellow with the New World Symphony from 2013 to 2016, and principal flute of the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra in Kentucky for the 2012–13 season. She also has performed as part of the flute section of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and as guest principal flute of the Seattle Symphony. Gerstein has participated in the Aspen, Spoleto USA, Sarasota, Orford and Cabrillo music festivals.

Beyond her post in the Orchestra, Gerstein regularly appears on the CSO MusicNOW, CSO Chamber, and Once Upon a Symphony series. She is an active chamber musician and soloist, recently performing Paquito D’Rivera’s flute concerto, Gran Danzon, with the Lexington Philharmonic. Gerstein has performed with Eighth Blackbird, Chicago Chamber Musicians, Dempster Street Pro Musica, Civitas Ensemble, and Spektral Quartet.

A native of Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, she began her flute studies at the age of eight with Susan Levitin and later was a member of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. She went on to study at the Manhattan School of Music with Robert Langevin and at Indiana University with Thomas Robertello.

Gerstein teaches at Roosevelt University and has given masterclasses at the University of Kentucky, Auckland University, Northwestern University, Indiana University, the Australian National Academy of Music and as a guest of the Chicago Flute Club and the Utah Flute Association. She also serves as a flute coach for the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and the New World Symphony.